National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students

The National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students initiative comes from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs of the Government of India. This initiative offers financial support to outstanding students from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, allowing them to advance their education in the nation. This program originally included two sub-schemes. The initial sub-scheme is the National Fellowship Scheme, which aids students pursuing M.Phil. or PhD courses after finishing their Master's degree. The second sub-scheme is the National Scholarship Scheme, primarily intended for individuals enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programs at top government and non-government institutions in professional fields.

Candidates can check out the important dates and events for the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2025.

The highlights related to the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students are listed below.

Also Read: BML Munjal University MBA Scholarship

Candidates can check the program-wise eligibility criteria for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students.

1. Eligibility Criteria for National Fellowship

• The candidate from the ST category must have completed the Post-Graduation examination to qualify for the Fellowship. The applicant must secure admission and registration for regular, full-time M.Phil/Ph.D. programs in universities or academic institutions accredited by the UGC under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act or by ICAR, by meeting the admission requirements of that university or institution. 
• The list of Universities/Academic Institutions will be determined by the ministry.
• The ST students who were previously deemed eligible for the Fellowship shall not qualify for any other scholarship from the Centre or State Government for the same course of study. 
• The fellowship will be disbursed once the student has gained admission and commenced the research work. 
• To be eligible for the Senior Research Fellowship, a candidate must meet the UGC/ICAR criteria set forth for this purpose. 

2. Eligibility Criteria for National Scholarship

• ST students who have been admitted to the designated institutions by the norms established by the various institutions will be eligible for the scholarship under the plan.
• The student will be eligible to join only the institutions identified by the Ministry.
• To be eligible for this scholarship, the candidate's total annual family income from all sources must not exceed INR 6.0 lakh.
• The scholarship will be paid once the student has been admitted and begins attending school.
• The scholarship offered will be valid till the student completes the course, assuming satisfactory performance.

Also Read: Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities

Candidates can check the application process for the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students below.

• Fellowship: The Scheme of Fellowship will be promoted in media, including Employment News. Candidates must apply online through the National Tribal Fellowship Portal after being registered/admitted to the notified universities/institutions and assessing their eligibility and suitability based on the Fellowship criteria.
• Scholarship: Candidates must apply online through the Scholarship Portal within the cutoff date and time specified in the advertisement after registering/admission to the notified universities/institutions and assessing their eligibility and suitability based on the criteria prescribed for the scholarship.

Note: The Fellowship/Scholarship amount of the scheme for STs would be paid through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism via the Aadhaar Payment Bridge into the recipients' Aadhaar bank accounts from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Also Read: INSPIRE Scholarship 

Candidates seeking to enter the National Fellowship Scheme must provide the following documents: 

• Recent coloured passport-sized photo 
• ST/PVTG certificate provided by the appropriate authority 
• Class 10/Matriculation/Equivalent certificate as proof of date of birth. 
• Certificate for Divyangjan provided by the appropriate authority. 
• Postgraduate degree marksheet [total marks in percentage]/Equivalent % marks for CGPA (A conversion formula from CGPA to percentage provided by the Institute/University must be submitted.) 
• Certificates of admission/joining for M.Phil/Ph.D./Integrated M.Phil + PhD from the relevant university. 
• Admission offers for students accepted into IITs/IIMs/IISERs/AIIMS. 

Individuals seeking to apply for the National Scholarship Scheme must provide the following documents:

• Receipt for payment
• Certificate/mark sheet of the qualifying exam
• A certificate of bonafide issued by the Institute
• A scanned version of the bank passbook (The name on the passbook must correspond to the name provided in the application form)
• ST/PVTG certificate (Caste Certificate must be signed and stamped by the appropriate authority)
• Income certificate (for the financial year before the selection year issued by the relevant authority of the respective state/UT)

Also Read: NSP Scholarship

The National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2025 is an initiative aimed at supporting students from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community to pursue higher education in India. 

This program is intended to provide financial assistance and enable students to achieve their educational goals. Below are some key benefits of this fellowship and scholarship scheme:

• Under this plan, financial aid in the form of fellowships and scholarships would be granted to ST students.
• The primary goal of implementing this plan is to provide financial help to ST-category students.
• With the support of this initiative, students will be able to pursue further education without worrying about any financial obstacles.
• This award will help students improve their academic performance.
• This scholarship will bring about significant positive changes in rural society.
• This grant will allow students from rural locations to pursue an education.
• Students in the ST category will have the opportunity to improve their future.
• The National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education will help students enhance their future.

Also Read: PFMS Scholarship