The Ministry of Tribal Affairs offers the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2025 to promote higher education among Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The scheme is divided into two parts:
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Part A: Fellowship for M.Phil. and Ph.D. Programs
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Part B: Scholarship for Graduate and Postgraduate Professional Courses
This scheme provides substantial financial assistance, encouraging academic advancement and professional empowerment among ST communities.
Scheme Key Highlights (Short Summary)
• Launched By: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India
• Target Group: Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students
• Mode of Application: Online
• Application Portals:
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Fellowship: fellowship.tribal.gov.in
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Scholarship: scholarships.gov.in
• Coverage: Full tuition fees, stipend, contingency, computer accessories support, and more
• Academic Levels Covered: M.Phil., Ph.D., Graduate and Postgraduate professional courses
Benefits
Fellowship (M.Phil. / Ph.D.)
| Course | Stream | Monthly Fellowship | Annual Contingency |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Phil. | Humanities & Social Sciences | ₹31,000 | ₹10,000 |
| M.Phil. | Science/Engineering/Technology | ₹31,000 | ₹12,000 |
| Ph.D. (First 2 years) | Humanities/Science | ₹31,000 | ₹20,500 – ₹25,000 |
| Ph.D. (Next 3 years) | Humanities/Science | ₹35,000 | ₹20,500 – ₹25,000 |
• HRA: 8%, 16%, or 24% based on the city classification (as per UGC norms)
• Escort Allowance (Divyangjan candidates): ₹2,000 per month
Scholarship (Graduate/Postgraduate)
| Component | Financial Support |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee & Admission Fee | Full for government institutes (Ceiling ₹2.5 Lakh/year for private institutes) |
| Books & Stationery | ₹5,000 per annum |
| Stipend | ₹3,000 per month |
| Computer & Accessories | ₹45,000 (One-time) |
Eligibility Criteria
Fellowship (M.Phil. / Ph.D.)
• Must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community
• Must have completed a Postgraduate degree with at least 55% marks
• Admission in a recognized university/institute (approved under UGC/AICTE norms)
• Maximum age limit: 36 years as of 1st July of the award year
• No family income limit
Scholarship (Graduate/Postgraduate)
• Must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community
• Family income should not exceed ₹6 lakh per annum
• Admission must be secured in Ministry-approved premier institutions (252 listed institutions)
• No admission through management quota allowed
Exclusions
• Students receiving similar scholarships from Central or State Government are not eligible.
• Undergraduate courses are not covered under the Fellowship (only under Scholarship).
• Private management quota admissions are not eligible for the scholarship.
Application Process
Fellowship Application Process (M.Phil./Ph.D.)
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Register at fellowship.tribal.gov.in using Aadhaar.
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Complete the profile by uploading required documents via DigiLocker.
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Fill in academic details, personal details, and supervisor details.
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Fetch supporting documents from DigiLocker or upload manually.
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Submit the application and approach your university for verification.
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Only verified applications are considered for selection.
Scholarship Application Process (Graduate/Postgraduate)
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Register at scholarships.gov.in.
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Complete the “One-Time Registration (OTR)” with Aadhaar and bank details.
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Select National Scholarship for ST Students.
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Upload the necessary documents.
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Submit the application and track status through the portal.
Documents Required
Fellowship (M.Phil./Ph.D.)
• Aadhaar Card
• 10th Marksheet for DOB proof
• Post-Graduation Marksheet
• ST Caste Certificate
• Bonafide Admission Certificate from University
• Disability Certificate (for Divyangjan candidates, if applicable)
• PVTG Certificate (for PVTG candidates, if applicable)
• DigiLocker registered documents
Scholarship (Graduate/Postgraduate)
• Aadhaar Card
• ST Caste Certificate
• Income Certificate (for Scholarship applicants)
• Bank Passbook copy
• Admission/ Fee Receipt
• Last Qualifying Exam Marksheet
• Bonafide Certificate from Institution
Number of Seats
| Scheme | Number of Slots |
|---|---|
| Fellowship (M.Phil./Ph.D.) | 750 Fellowships every year |
| Scholarship | Based on admission in premier institutions (No fixed slot limit) |
Priority Categories for Fellowship (Fellowship Only)
• Divyangjan (5%)
• PVTG Students
• Female Candidates (30% reservation)
• Remaining open for ST category students
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who Are Eligible To Apply For National Fellowship Scholarship Schemes?
The candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST) who have passed the Post-Graduation examination and fulfilled the Scheme guidelines of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) are eligible to apply for these fellowships. - What Type Of Universities/Institutions/Colleges Is Covered Under Fellowship?
The candidates should get admission and registration for regular and full time M.Phil/Ph.D Courses in Indian Universities / Institutions / Colleges as indicated below:-
i. Universities/institutions/Colleges included under section 2 (f) / 12(B) or 2(f)
and 12(B) of UGC Act.
ii. Deemed to be Universities included under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956
and eligible to receive grants-in-aid from UGC.
iii. Universities/ Institutions/ Colleges funded by Central/ State Government
iv. institutes of National importance. - How Many Slots/Seats Available For Fellowship?
There are 750 slots/seats available for fresh fellowship each year. - Is There Any Family Income Criteria Required For Availing Scholarship?
There is no family income criteria required for availing scholarship. - If A Student Is Unable To Complete His /Her Course, What Will Happen In That Case?
If a student is unable to complete the course for any reason, he/she is liable to refund 50% of the total fellowship amount received by him/her to the Ministry. - What Is The Starting Date Of The Fellowship?
The starting date of fellowship for the selected year is the date from which they have taken admission/joined an M.Phil/Ph.D. course in the same election year. Otherwise, the fellowship will be eligible for the remaining period of the course duration in case of the students have joined prior to the Selection year. - Is There Any Gap Period For The Registration In Ph.D. After Completion Of M.Phil Course?
The gap period for the registration in Ph.D. after completion of M.Phil in the case of Integrated M.Phil. + Ph.D. is one year and the Fellowship will lapse if the gap period is more than one year. In the case of a Ph.D., the candidate is required to apply as afresh, even though he/she has completed M.Phil. - Can I Avail Of Any Other Scholarship From The Central/ State Government For The Same Study?
The ST students once considered eligible for the Fellowship shall not be entitled to any other scholarship of the Central or State Government for the same study. If selected, the candidate should refund the money to the concerned agency for the selected year. - Can I Transfer The Fellowship From One Universities/Institutes/Colleges To Other Universities/Institutes/Colleges?
Answer: The Selected Students of Fellowship will be permitted to transfer the
fellowship from one Universities/Institutes/College to another Universities/Institutes/College subject to online submission of `No Objection Certificate from both the Universities/Institutes/Colleges. Thereafter, approval of the Ministry is required to complete the process of transfer. - How Can A Student Upgrade A Course From M.Phil To Ph.D?
The Student is required to submit an upgradation certificate issued by the Committee of three members comprising of the Head of the Department, Supervisor, and one outside subject expert to be constituted by the concerned Department of the University/Institution/College for evaluation of the work of student. - What Are The Reasons For The Cancellation Of The Fellowship?
There are the following reasons for the cancellation of the fellowship:
If the awardee is found to be ineligible to receive the award, at any point of time during the entire duration of the fellowship.
Misconduct of awardee.
Unsatisfactory progress of research work.
Any other fellowship is drawn from other sources (s)/ drawn fellowship or selected by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Fellowship earlier.
Concealment of facts and any other ground of misconduct. - What Should Students Do, In Case They Face Any Problems While Filling The Application Form In Google Chrome?
Answer: If students face any problems while filling out the application form in Google Chrome, students are advised to use internet explorer. In case of any issue/error in internet explorer as well, they are advised to clear browser history /cache and try again. They can send mail given in portal at “Contact us”. - What Should Be The Type And Size Of The Documents And Profile Photo To Be Uploaded?
All documents should be uploaded in pdf file and the Profile Photo should be in .jpg/.jpeg format (Size: – 50 KB-100KB). - Which Fields I Can Edit Before The Final Submission Of The Application?
You can edit all details except “Registration Details” except Pre-filled
information. It may be noted that once you ‘finally submit your application it will be forwarded to the next level and after that editing is not possible. Therefore before Final Submission, it should be ensured that details are filled in correctly and documents uploaded. - Which Fields In The Application Form Are Mandatory?
Fields provided with a black asterisk (*) mark are mandatory fields. - Do I Have To Fill Up The Online Application In One Sitting?
No, you can fill up the online application in many settings by clicking the ‘Save & Next’ button from the Personal Information to Candidate Document Tab. The application is at every stage until you click on the ‘ Final Submit’ button finally.