National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

For many Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, higher education can bring significant expenses, from tuition and living costs to the additional requirements of professional and research programmes. To support students at these stages, the Government of India runs the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students, a Central Sector Scheme that provides financial assistance for higher studies and research.

The scheme has two separate components. The National Fellowship supports eligible ST scholars pursuing Ph.D. research, while the National Scholarship, also known as the Top Class Scholarship, helps eligible ST students meet the cost of prescribed higher-education courses in notified premier institutions. Together, these components provide financial support across different stages of higher education.

Under the fellowship component, 750 fresh fellowships are provided every year, while the current Ph.D. fellowship rate is ₹37,000 per month for the first two years and ₹42,000 per month for the remaining three years, along with applicable contingency, HRA and other assistance. The Top Class Scholarship is an open-ended component for eligible students and can cover applicable tuition and non-refundable fees, along with ₹3,000 per month for living expenses, ₹5,000 per year for books and stationery, and ₹45,000 as a one-time computer and accessories assistance, subject to the scheme rules.

The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The Ministry implements the fellowship component through the National Tribal Fellowship Portal, while applications for the scholarship component are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The fellowship is intended for eligible ST students pursuing prescribed regular and full-time research programmes, with current eligibility conditions including the prescribed Post-Graduation marks, qualifying UGC-NET or Joint UGC-CSIR NET requirements, age criteria and admission in an eligible institution. The scholarship component is available to eligible ST students admitted on merit to prescribed courses in 265 notified premier institutions, subject to the applicable conditions, including a family income limit of ₹6 lakh per annum.

The financial support under the scheme is designed to reduce the cost of higher education at different stages. Fellowship beneficiaries can receive monthly financial assistance during their research programme, while eligible scholarship beneficiaries can receive support towards fees, living expenses, books and computer-related costs. Payments are processed through the Government's digital payment and DBT framework, with verification requirements applicable to the respective component. Students should therefore carefully check the current notification, eligibility conditions, document requirements and verification deadlines before submitting an application.

For students looking for other higher-education support, related schemes on GovtSchemes.in may also be useful. The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme provides financial support for eligible students pursuing Master's and Ph.D. studies abroad. Students can also explore other scholarship and fellowship schemes available on the portal based on their category, course and level of study.

Scheme Benefits

The scheme provides financial support to eligible ST students at the research and higher-education levels. The benefits depend on whether the student is applying for the National Fellowship or the Top Class Scholarship.

• Eligible Ph.D. scholars receive a monthly fellowship of ₹37,000 for the first two years and ₹42,000 per month for the next three years, subject to the applicable conditions.
• The National Fellowship can provide financial support for up to five years to eligible Ph.D. scholars for their research and academic work.
• Fellowship holders can also receive annual contingency assistance for eligible research and academic expenses. The amount depends on the subject and applicable scheme rules.
• Eligible scholars may receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) according to the applicable UGC rates and scheme conditions.
• Eligible Divyangjan scholars can receive ₹2,000 per month as escort or reader assistance under the applicable provisions.
• Under the Top Class Scholarship, eligible ST students can receive assistance towards tuition fees and other eligible non-refundable fees as prescribed under the scheme.
• Scholarship beneficiaries receive ₹3,000 per month towards living and day-to-day educational expenses.
• Students receive ₹5,000 per year for books and stationery.
• A one-time assistance of ₹45,000 is provided for purchasing a computer and accessories during the eligible course.
• The Top Class Scholarship covers eligible ST students studying prescribed courses in 265 notified premier institutions.
• Scholarship payments are processed through the Government's DBT/PFMS system after the required verification and documentation.

For students studying in eligible private institutions, tuition and other fee assistance is subject to the applicable scheme ceiling, which is currently up to ₹2.50 lakh per year. The actual amount received depends on the course, institution and conditions applicable to the student.

Financial Assistance

The scheme provides financial support through two components: the National Fellowship for eligible ST scholars pursuing Ph.D. research and the Top Class Scholarship for eligible ST students pursuing higher education in notified premier institutions. The assistance varies according to the component, course and applicable scheme conditions.

National Fellowship

Top Class Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility conditions depend on whether the applicant is applying for the National Fellowship or the National Scholarship component. Students should meet the required academic, community, income, age and admission conditions before applying.

• The applicant must belong to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community and should meet the applicable ST eligibility requirements.
• For the National Fellowship, the applicant should have completed a Master's degree with at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade.
• For the National Fellowship, the applicant must have qualified UGC-NET or Joint UGC-CSIR NET as prescribed under the scheme.
• The applicant must have secured admission or be admitted to an eligible institution and an eligible research programme as required under the fellowship rules.
• The maximum age for National Fellowship applicants is 36 years, subject to the applicable age-relaxation rules.
• There is no family income limit for applicants under the National Fellowship component.
• For the Top Class Scholarship, the student's annual family income from all sources should not exceed ₹6 lakh.
• For the Top Class Scholarship, the student must be admitted on merit to a prescribed course in one of the notified premier institutions.
• The course and institution must fall within the courses and institutions covered under the current scholarship guidelines.
• Applicants must complete the required online application, verification and document-submission process within the prescribed dates.

Eligibility rules, qualifying examinations, course coverage and application requirements can vary between the two components. Applicants should therefore check the latest notification or portal instructions before submitting the application.

Required Documents

Applicants need to keep the required documents ready before starting the online application. The exact documents may vary depending on whether you are applying for the National Fellowship or the Top Class Scholarship.

• Valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate issued by the competent authority.
• Recent passport-size photograph and a valid identity document, as required on the application portal.
• Academic marksheets and certificates, including the Master's degree documents for National Fellowship applicants.
• UGC-NET or Joint UGC-CSIR NET qualification details and certificate, where applicable for the National Fellowship.
• Proof of admission or a joining/admission letter from the eligible institution.
• Bonafide or institutional certificate, if required during verification.
• Valid bank account details linked with Aadhaar, wherever required for scholarship or fellowship payment.
• Income certificate for Top Class Scholarship applicants, showing annual family income within the prescribed ₹6 lakh limit.
• Aadhaar or other documents required for identity verification and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Any additional certificate or document specifically requested by the National Scholarship Portal, fellowship portal or institute during verification.

Applicants should upload clear and valid documents in the prescribed format and size. It is also advisable to keep the original documents safely available, as the institute or concerned authority may ask for them during verification.

Steps to Apply

The National Fellowship and Top Class Scholarship are applied for through different online systems. Fellowship applicants use the National Tribal Fellowship Portal, while students applying for the scholarship component use the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Follow the process that applies to the benefit you are seeking.

For National Fellowship Applicants

• Open the National Tribal Fellowship Portal of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• On the homepage, select the appropriate student registration option. A fresh applicant should choose the option for new student registration, while an eligible renewal applicant should use the applicable renewal option.
• Enter the required personal details, including your name, date of birth, mobile number, email address and other information requested on the portal.
• After registration, log in using your registered credentials and complete the fellowship application with your academic, qualifying examination, research and institution details.
• Upload the required certificates and supporting documents according to the file format and size specified on the portal.
• Review every detail before submitting the application. Make sure your academic, ST and research information matches your supporting records.
• Submit the application within the fellowship application period announced by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Save the submitted application details or acknowledgement for future reference. The application is subsequently processed through the prescribed verification procedure, including verification by the concerned university or institution.

For Top Class Scholarship Applicants

• Open the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and enter the Student section.
• Complete the required One Time Registration (OTR) process if you do not already have an OTR number.
• Log in to the NSP using your registered details and look for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs scholarship titled "National Fellowship And Scholarship For Higher Education Of ST Students - Scholarship".
• Select the scholarship component and start the online application.
• Fill in your personal, academic, admission, income and bank account details as requested. Check that your course and institution information matches your current admission records.
• Upload the required documents in the prescribed format and complete any mandatory details shown in the application.
• Review the application carefully before submitting it. Check your personal details, academic information, institution, bank details and uploaded documents.
• Submit the application online and save the final application or acknowledgement details for future reference.
• After submission, the application goes through the prescribed verification process. Keep in contact with your institution if any verification, correction or additional information is required.

The two application schedules are announced separately. Students applying for the Top Class Scholarship should follow the latest dates displayed on the NSP, while National Fellowship applicants should check the latest notification issued through the National Tribal Fellowship Portal.

Fellowship and Scholarship: Key Differences

The scheme covers two different forms of financial support for ST students. The National Fellowship is meant for higher-level research, while the Top Class Scholarship supports eligible ST students pursuing prescribed undergraduate and postgraduate courses in notified premier institutions.

The National Fellowship Portal states that 750 fresh ST students are selected every year on merit, with selection based on the prescribed academic and UGC/CSIR-NET criteria. The fellowship rate for Ph.D. is currently ₹37,000 per month for the first two years and ₹42,000 per month for the remaining three years.

For the scholarship component, the Ministry has notified 265 premier institutions, and the scheme provides benefits to eligible ST students whose annual family income does not exceed ₹6 lakh.

Important Dates

The application schedule is different for the fellowship and scholarship components. Students should check the respective portal because the Ministry may extend application or verification deadlines through separate notices.

The National Scholarship Portal currently shows the 2026-27 Top Class Scholarship application window as 1 June 2026 to 31 October 2026, followed by institute and nodal-level verification deadlines.

Relevant Links

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India
• National Tribal Fellowship Portal
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students Scheme Guidelines

Contact Information

For questions related to the National Fellowship for ST students, applicants can contact the Scholarship Division of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs using the following details:

• Phone: 011-23345770
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Jeevantara Building, New Delhi – 110001