National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Higher education and research can open up valuable career opportunities, but the cost of pursuing a Ph.D. can create financial challenges for students with disabilities. The National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) is a Central Government scheme designed to support eligible students with benchmark disabilities who want to pursue full-time research in India. Under the published fellowship rates, selected scholars receive ₹37,000 per month for the first two years and ₹42,000 per month for the next three years, subject to the applicable conditions. They may also receive a contingency grant, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and ₹2,000 per month for escort or reader assistance, wherever eligible. The scheme provides 200 fellowships annually, with 150 allocated through UGC-NET and 50 through Joint CSIR-UGC NET.

The National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities is part of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme for Scholarships for Students with Disabilities. It is administered by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, with the National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) serving as the implementing agency. The fellowship is intended for Indian nationals with benchmark disabilities of 40% or more who meet the applicable examination, research admission, and other eligibility requirements. A valid disability certificate and Unique Disability ID (UDID) are required under the relevant guidelines. There is no separate NFPwD application form; candidates enter through UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET and must complete the prescribed selection, institutional verification, and joining formalities.

The fellowship supports eligible full-time research in recognised Indian institutions, subject to the scheme rules and current UGC regulations. Candidates should check the latest guidelines for course eligibility, research duration, document verification, and payment conditions before applying. For help with fellowship verification and continuation, applicants can contact their university's nodal officer. They can also refer to the official DEPwD scholarship section for government notifications, guidelines, and selected-candidate lists.

Students looking for other education-related assistance can also explore the Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities, which supports eligible students pursuing higher education at notified institutions, and the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, intended for eligible students studying in Classes IX and X. These schemes cater to different stages of education and have separate eligibility criteria and application procedures.

Scheme Benefits

The National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (NFPwD) provides financial assistance to eligible students with benchmark disabilities pursuing higher research studies. The main benefits of the scheme are as follows:

• Selected scholars receive ₹37,000 per month for the first two years of research under the Junior Research Fellow (JRF) category.
• After completing the first two years, eligible scholars can receive ₹42,000 per month for up to three additional years under the Senior Research Fellow (SRF) category, subject to satisfactory research progress.
• Scholars receive an annual contingency grant of ₹10,000 during the first two years and ₹20,500 per year afterwards for Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, Arts and Fine Arts subjects.
• For Science, Engineering and Technology subjects, the contingency grant is ₹12,000 per year during the first two years and ₹25,000 per year afterwards.
• Eligible scholars with disabilities can receive ₹2,000 per month for escort or reader assistance, subject to institutional verification.
• Scholars who are not provided hostel accommodation may receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) at the applicable rate of 9%, 18% or 27%, according to government rules and city classification.
• The fellowship can provide financial support for up to five years for eligible Ph.D. research, subject to the scheme's conditions and the applicable thesis-submission rules.
• Eligible scholars can receive medical facilities and leave benefits, including maternity leave, according to the applicable UGC fellowship guidelines.
• The fellowship helps students with benchmark disabilities pursue research and improve their opportunities for academic and research careers.

Financial Assistance under the National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD)

The National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing full-time M.Phil. or Ph.D. research, subject to the applicable scheme guidelines. The fellowship amount and other benefits are given below.

Note: The fellowship is available for a maximum period of five years, subject to the applicable rules and satisfactory research progress. The revised fellowship rates are effective from 1 January 2023.

Eligibility Requirements

Students who want to receive financial assistance under the National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) must meet the following eligibility conditions. Before applying, candidates should check their disability status, research programme and examination qualifications.

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• The applicant must have a benchmark disability of 40% or more under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. A valid disability certificate issued by the competent authority is required.
• A valid Unique Disability ID (UDID) is mandatory for fellowship beneficiaries under the applicable guidelines.
• The applicant must follow the prescribed UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET selection process. The fellowship is intended for eligible candidates who qualify for NET but do not qualify for JRF.
• The applicant must pursue a regular, full-time M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme at an eligible university or research institution in India, subject to the applicable UGC rules.
• Fellowship support for M.Phil. is subject to the courses permitted by UGC. Under the published guidelines, M.Phil. admissions in Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Social Work were permitted only up to the 2025–26 academic session. Applicants should check for any subsequent official updates.
• The applicant must be enrolled at an institution covered by the scheme, such as a UGC-recognised university, an eligible accredited university, a fully government-funded degree-awarding institution or an Institution of National Importance.
• Employees of universities, colleges, educational institutions or Central, State and Union Territory Governments are not eligible, even if they are on study leave or extraordinary leave.
• The applicant must not receive another fellowship, scholarship, stipend, salary or other monetary benefit prohibited under the scheme rules. Candidates already receiving such assistance may need to give it up to accept the NFPwD fellowship.
• The applicant must not have previously received the NFPwD fellowship, either fully or partially, for a Ph.D. The fellowship can be awarded only once in a lifetime.
• Candidates who have not secured admission when the fellowship is awarded must join an eligible regular, full-time research programme at the first available opportunity and within three years of the award.
• The published NFPwD guidelines do not specify a separate family income ceiling for this fellowship.
• The scheme guidelines do not specify a separate age limit. However, applicants must meet the age and academic eligibility requirements of the relevant UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination.

Note: Applicants should check the latest official guidelines and examination notifications before applying, as eligibility conditions may be updated.

Candidates should read the official NFPwD guidelines published by NDFDC and check the latest notices before applying, as eligibility conditions and examination rules may be updated.

Required Documents

Students selected for the National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) must submit the required documents to verify their eligibility and activate their fellowship. The following documents and details should be kept ready for the joining and verification process.

• Aadhaar card and 12-digit Aadhaar number.
• Valid disability certificate issued by the competent medical authority.
• Unique Disability ID (UDID) card and UDID number.
• Postgraduate qualification details, including marks obtained, percentage and year of passing.
• NFPwD selection details, including the selection year, candidate ID and fellowship award letter.
• Admission and registration proof for the eligible M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme, including the admission date, registration date and registration number.
• Details of the university, institution, department, research supervisor and research topic.
• Institution Certificate confirming that the candidate is pursuing regular, full-time research and meets the applicable scheme conditions.
• Declaration regarding employment and whether the candidate receives any other fellowship, scholarship or financial assistance.
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP) One Time Registration (OTR) number, where required by the prescribed joining form.
• Bank account details linked with Aadhaar for receiving fellowship payments through the prescribed payment system.
• A recent photograph and any other information requested in the prescribed Verification Form cum Joining Report.

During the fellowship, scholars may also need to submit a continuation certificate, half-yearly research progress report, contingency grant accounts and utilisation certificate, HRA certificate, and the assessment report for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) to Senior Research Fellow (SRF) upgradation, wherever applicable.

The university's nodal officer verifies the documents and uploads the required information to the fellowship portal. For the latest forms and document requirements, refer to the official NDFDC scholarship page, which provides the current NFPwD guidelines and prescribed annexures.

Steps to Apply

Applying for the National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) involves qualifying through the prescribed national eligibility examination and completing the fellowship verification process. There is no separate NFPwD application form at the initial stage. Eligible candidates must follow the steps below to be considered for the fellowship and receive financial assistance.

• First, open the official UGC-NET website or the Joint CSIR-UGC NET website, depending on your subject and eligibility. Check the latest examination notification and confirm the registration dates before starting your application.
• Register for the relevant examination and enter your personal, educational and disability details carefully. Select the applicable PwD/PwBD category, provide your UDID details as required, and choose the JRF option where applicable. Make sure your details match your supporting documents.
• Complete the examination application, upload the required documents, pay the applicable examination fee and submit the form before the deadline. Download or save a copy of the submitted application for future reference.
• Appear for the UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination and check the result published by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Under the NFPwD selection procedure described in the scheme guidelines, eligible candidates with benchmark disabilities who qualify for NET but do not qualify for JRF may be considered for the fellowship through the prescribed merit-based selection process.
• Check the DEPwD scholarship section for the NFPwD selection list, award information and related notices. Selection is subject to the available fellowship slots, eligibility conditions and the department's final decision.
• After selection, secure admission to an eligible regular, full-time research programme within the period allowed under the fellowship rules. The research programme and institution must meet the applicable scheme and UGC requirements.
• Open the NDFDC scholarship page and find the link for the Canara Bank Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP). Use the portal registration link and the current user manual provided on that page to understand the registration and document-submission process. A valid UDID is mandatory for the fellowship portal.
• Prepare the prescribed Verification Form cum Joining Report and Institution Certificate, along with your award letter, Aadhaar details, UDID card, disability certificate, research admission and registration details, and bank account information. Submit these documents to your university's nodal officer as instructed.
• Your university's nodal officer will verify the documents and upload the required information to the fellowship portal. Follow up with the institution if any document needs correction or additional verification before the fellowship is activated.
• After the fellowship begins, submit the required continuation certificates, research progress reports, contingency grant records and other documents within the prescribed timelines. Ensure that your bank account is Aadhaar-seeded and your Aadhaar and UDID details are correctly updated for fellowship payments through the Aadhaar Based Payment System.

For assistance with the application and verification process, candidates can contact NDFDC at [email protected] or call 011-45803730. They can also consult their university's nodal officer for help with joining documents, portal verification and continuation formalities.

Fellowship Duration

The duration of the National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities depends on the research programme and the conditions specified in the scheme guidelines. The fellowship follows the Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Senior Research Fellow (SRF) pattern, with financial assistance available for a maximum period of five years for eligible Ph.D. research.

• M.Phil. research: Fellowship support is limited to two years or until the dissertation is submitted, whichever occurs earlier, subject to the courses permitted under the applicable UGC rules.
• Ph.D. research: Fellowship support is available for up to five years or until the Ph.D. thesis is submitted, whichever occurs earlier.
• Integrated M.Phil. and Ph.D. research: The maximum fellowship tenure is five years, subject to the applicable scheme conditions and thesis-submission rules.
• JRF period: Scholars receive ₹37,000 per month for the first two years under the published fellowship rates.
• SRF period: After the first two years, eligible scholars may receive ₹42,000 per month for up to three additional years, subject to satisfactory research progress and the prescribed assessment.
• JRF-to-SRF upgradation: The scholar's research progress must be assessed under the prescribed procedure, including the assessment committee requirements specified in the scheme documents.
• No extension: The fellowship cannot continue beyond the maximum permitted tenure. For Ph.D. scholars, it ends earlier if the thesis is submitted before the five-year limit.
• Fellowship payments generally begin from 1 April of the selection year, the date of research registration, or the date of joining the programme, whichever is later, according to the scheme guidelines.

For the latest provisions on fellowship duration, research progress and JRF-to-SRF upgradation, refer to the DEPwD scholarship documents and the NDFDC fellowship guidelines.

Relevant Links

• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) – Scholarship Section
• National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) – NDFDC Scheme Portal
• National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (NFPwD) Guidelines – NDFDC
• UGC-NET Official Website
• Joint CSIR-UGC NET Official Website

Contact Information

National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC)

• Phone: 011-45803730
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Unit No. 11 & 12, Ground Floor, DLF Prime Tower, Okhla Phase-I, Near Tehkhand Village, New Delhi – 110020.
• NDFDC Contact Information

For help with fellowship documents, joining reports, continuation certificates or portal verification, candidates can also contact their university's nodal officer. For departmental notifications and selection lists, refer to the DEPwD Scholarship Section.