UGC Scholarship 2024: Eligibility Criteria, Rewards, Apply

Key Information

Conducted By University Grants Commission
Eligibility Students with an undergraduate and postgraduate degree
Region India
Rewards Up to INR 46,500
Last Date of Application January 15, 2024

The UGC scholarship is initiated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under MHRD. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) of the Government of India.

The commission is dedicated to maintaining the standard of higher education in the country. The University Grants Commission (UGC) provides over 20,000 UGC scholarships and fellowships to students. The UGC scholarship 2024 last date for the Indira Gandhi single girl child scholarship scheme was January 15, 2024.

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 UGC Scholarship Program List 2023-24

The UGC scholarship 2024 schemes are available to students pursuing education at college and university levels. Listed below are the UGC scholarships and fellowships provided by the University Grants Commission:

  • Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child
  • Post Graduate Merit UGC Scholarship for Rank Holders in University
  • Post Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ ST Candidates
  • UGC Ishan Uday Scholarship for North East Region
  • Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Sciences
  • Emeritus Fellowship
  • Dr S Radhakrishnan Post Doctoral Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Dr D S Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship for Women Candidates
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship to SC/ ST Candidates
  • National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students
  • National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students
  • National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities
  • Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority students
  • National Fellowship for OBC Candidates 

UGC Scholarship Eligibility Criteria 2023-24

The candidates should fulfill all the requirements before applying for the UGC scholarship. The UGC scholarship eligibility criteria for age, educational qualification, and annual family income differ for each scheme. The details of the UGC scholarship eligibility criteria are as follows:

UGC Scholarship Schemes

Eligibility Criteria

Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child

  • Girl students who are at the most 30 years of age at admission to the PG courses are eligible.

  • She should be the only girl child of the family to be eligible for this UGC scholarship for pg students.

  • The applicant should be admitted in the first year of a regular full-time Master's degree course at any recognised university/ post-graduation college.

Post Graduate Merit UGC Scholarship for Rank Holders in University
  • The applicant should have graduated from Life sciences/ Chemical Sciences/ Physical Sciences/ Social Sciences/ Languages/ Commerce/ Mathematical Sciences/ Earth Sciences.
  • They should be a 1st/ 2nd rank holder with a score of at least 60% at the UG level and should be enrolled in a full-time Master's degree course from any recognised college/ institution.
  • The applicant's age should not be more than 30 years at the time of admission to the PG course.
Post Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ ST Candidates
  • The candidate should be pursuing the first year of the professional program at the PG level at any known college/ university.
  • The professional courses for which the scholarship is relevant are approved by guiding regulatory organisations such as MCI/ NCTE/ Bar Council of India/ PCI/ AICTE/ Development Authority of India/ RCI/ DCI/ NCTIS/ Forensic Regulatory, INC, and ICAR.
UGC Ishan Uday Scholarship for North East Region
  • The applicant should be a domicile of the North Eastern Region (NER).
  • The candidate should have passed the Class 12 or equivalent examination and be enrolled in a technical, professional or general degree course from a reputed college/ institution.
  • The annual family income of the applicant should not exceed INR 4,50,000 from all sources.
Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Sciences
  • Only the single girl child of the family is eligible to apply.
  • She should be pursuing a regular full-time PhD program in Social Science from a known university/institution.
  • Candidates seeking PhD through distance learning are not eligible to apply.
  • The age limit for the general category applicant is 40 years (relaxation of 5 years given to SC/ ST/ OBC/ PWD).
  • Transgender candidates are eligible to apply for this UGC scholarship for PhD students.
Emeritus Fellowship
  • Highly qualified, superannuated and trained teachers of reputed institutions/ colleges can apply for the fellowship.
  • The candidate should have contributed quality research and published work in their service career.
  • The Emeritus fellowship allows all the awardees to work with a well-defined time-bound action plan up to 70.
Dr S Radhakrishnan Post Doctoral Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences
  • The applicant should be an unemployed researcher under the age of 35 (5 years relaxation given to this UGC scholarship for SC ST/ OBC/ PWD/ Women) at the time of online application submission.
  • The minimum marks to be scored by the general category applicants is 55% at UG level and 60% at PG level (5% relaxation given to this UGC scholarship for OBC/ SC/ ST/ PWD).
  • Transgender candidates can also apply for the fellowship.
Dr D S Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme
  • Applicants below the age of 35 (relaxation of 3, 5, and 10 years to SC/ ST/ OBC, Women and PWD candidates) who hold a PhD degree under science faculty are eligible to apply.
  • Teachers under the age of 35 working in a confirmed post can apply.
  • Applicants who have earlier applied for the UGC scholarship and were unsuccessful can re-apply.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship for Women Candidates
  • Women candidates who are unemployed and hold a PhD degree are eligible to apply.
  • The applicant should not exceed 55 years of age (relaxation of 5 years given to SC/ ST/ OBC/ PWD applicants).
  • General category students should score at least 55% at the UG level and 60% at the PG level (relaxation of 5% marks given to SC/ ST/ OBC/ PWD candidates).
  • Transgender applicants are eligible to apply for the fellowship.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship to SC/ ST Candidates
  • Fellowship is open for unemployed candidates who have a PhD degree in the relevant subject.
  • The age limit for male applicants is 50 years, and for female applicants, it is 55 years.
  • The candidate should have scored 50% marks at the UG level and 55% at the PG level.
  • Transgender candidates are eligible to apply.
National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students
  • The applicant should have passed the post-graduation examination and registered for an MPhil/Ph.D. degree.
  • Transgender candidates are eligible to apply for the fellowship.
National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students
  • The applicant should be a post-graduate and enrolled in a full-time PhD/ MPhil from a University/ Institution recognised by the UGC.
National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities
  • Applicants with disabilities enrolled in an MPhil/Ph.D. program from a university/ educational institution can apply for the fellowship.
Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority students
  • Students belonging to minority communities such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains, and Buddhists can apply.
  • Candidates should be enrolled in a regular full-time MPhil/Ph.D. program.
  • The annual family income of the applicant should not exceed INR 2,50,000 from all sources.
  • The candidate should have scored a minimum of 50% marks at the PG level.
  • Transgender applicants are eligible to apply.
National Fellowship for OBC Candidates
  • Students who have passed post-graduation and have registered for MPhil/Ph.D. courses can apply to this UGC OBC scholarship for PhD and MPhil degrees
  • The annual family income of the applicant should not exceed INR 6,00,000 from all sources.
  • Transgender candidates are also eligible to apply for the fellowship.

UGC Scholarship Rewards and Benefits 2023-24

The Government grants UGC scholarship amounts to help deserving students aspiring to pursue research studies in different areas. The details of the UGC scholarship amount are listed below:

UGC Scholarship Schemes Amount
Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child
  • INR 36,200 per annum for two years.
Post Graduate UGC Merit Scholarship for Rank Holders in University
  • The scholars will receive INR 3,100 per month for two years under this UGC PG scholarship scheme.
Post Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ ST Candidates
  • The students will get INR 7,800 per month for two years under this UGC scholarship for MTech/ ME scheme.
  • Students in other professional courses get INR 4,500 per month for two years.

UGC Ishan Uday Scholarship for North East Region

  • INR 5,400 per month for students pursuing general degree courses.
  • INR 7,800 per month for students pursuing Technical/ Medical/ Professional studies.

Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Sciences

  • Fellowship amount of INR 25,000 per month for the initial two years and INR 28,000 per month for the remaining tenure.
  • Contingency grant of INR 10,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 20,500 per annum for the remaining term.
  • Escort and Reader assistance of INR 2000 per month for persons with disabilities.
Emeritus Fellowship
  • INR 31,000 per month for two years.
  • Contingency grant of INR 50,000 per annum.
Dr S Radhakrishnan Post Doctoral Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Fellowship amount of INR 38,800 for the first year, INR 40,300 for the second year, INR 41,900 for the third year
  • Contingency amount of INR 50,000 per annum for three years
  • Escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month for PWD candidates. 
Dr D S Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme
  • Normal fellowship amount of INR 43,400 for the first year, INR 45,000 for the second year, INR 46,500 for the third year
  • Higher fellowship amount of INR 46,500 for the first, second, and third year
  • Contingency grant of INR 1,00,000 per annum.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship for Women Candidates

  • Fellowship amount of INR 38,800 per month for two years and INR 46,500 per month after two years
  • Contingency amount of INR 50,000 per annum for five years.
  • Escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month for PWD candidates.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship to SC/ ST Candidates

  • Fellowship amount of INR 38,800 per month for two years and INR 46,500 per month after two years
  • Contingency amount of INR 50,000 per annum for five years.
  • Escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month for PWD candidates.

National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students

  • For fellowship in Social sciences, Humanities, and Sciences, fellowship amount of INR 25,000 per month for two years and INR 28,000 per month for the remaining tenure.
  • The contingency grant for Humanities and Social Science is INR 10,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 20,500 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The contingency grant for Science, Engineering, and Technology is INR 12,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 25,000 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The physically handicapped blind candidates will receive an escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month.

National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students

  • For fellowship in Social sciences, Humanities, and Sciences, fellowship amount of INR 25,000 per month for two years and INR 28,000 per month for the remaining tenure.
  • The contingency grant for Humanities and Social Science is INR 10,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 20,500 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The contingency grant for Science, Engineering, and Technology is INR 12,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 25,000 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The government will offer an escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month for blind and physically handicapped candidates.

National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities

  • Monthly stipend of INR 16,000 for the initial two years and then INR 18,000 for the remaining tenure.
  • The contingency grant for Humanities and Social Science is INR 10,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 20,500 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The contingency grant for Science, Engineering, and Technology is INR 12,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 25,000 per annum for the remaining time.
  • In addition, they will recieve departmental assistance of INR 3,000 per annum.
  • HRA as per institutional policy.
  • The government will offer an escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month for blind and physically handicapped candidates under this UGC NET scholarship.

Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students

  • The UGC scholarship amount for JRF is INR 25,000 per month for the initial two years and a senior research fellowship of INR 28,000 per month for the remaining tenure.
  • The contingency grant for Humanities and Social Science is INR 10,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 20,500 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The contingency grant for Science, Engineering, and Technology is INR 12,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 25,000 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The blind and physically handicapped candidates will receive an escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month.

National Fellowship for OBC Candidates

  • The UGC scholarship amount for JRF position is INR 25,000 per month for the initial two years and the senior research fellowship of INR 28,000 per month for the remaining tenure.
  • The contingency grant for Humanities and Social Science is INR 10,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 20,500 per annum for the remaining time.
  • The contingency grant for Science, Engineering, and Technology is INR 12,000 per annum for the initial two years and INR 25,000 per annum for the remaining time.
  • Escort and reader assistance of INR 2,000 per month for blind and physically handicapped candidates under this UGC NET scholarship for OBC category.

UGC Scholarship Application Process 2023-24

Eligible candidates can submit the UGC MHRD scholarship application forms online. The stepwise process for application is given below.

  • Candidates should visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or the UGC scholarship portal.
  • New applicants should first register themselves on the website.
  • They should fill in all the necessary details in the UGC scholarship registration form and click on 'Submit.
  • After successful registration, the candidates will receive the UGC scholarship login credentials with user ID and password.
  • Thie students should provide the UGC login credentials and click on the login button.
  • Next, on the application dashboard, the candidate should select the scholarship type to apply.
  • The applicant should then fill in the online application form with all the necessary details and check for errors.
  • Then they should upload all the supporting documents along with the application form and 'Submit'.

UGC Scholarship Documents Required 2023-24

The candidates should submit the online application form along with all the documents attached. The UGC scholarship documents required for application are as follows:

  • Caste certificate (if applicable)
  • Minority certificate (if applicable)
  • Income certificate of parents
  • UG/ PG marks card
  • Bonafide certificate provided by the head of the institution
  • Physical disability certificate (if applicable)
  • Aadhar card copy
  • The first page of the bank passbook
  • Domicile certificate
  • ID proof provided by the government
  • Birth certificate
  • 10th/12th-grade marks card

UGC Scholarship Results

The UGC committee selects scholars for the scholarships and fellowships based on a 3-step process that is listed below:

  • The initial selection is based on the eligibility criteria of the students.
  • Mid-level selection is for verification of the credentials of the applicants.
  • The final selection is based on the interview of the candidate with the UGC committee.

After the online submission of the application, the applicants should check the official UGC scholarship portal to know the status of their application.

Important Dates

The key dates of the UGC scholarship are as follows:

  • Application last date: January 15, 2024
  • Date of defective verification: February 23, 2024
  • Date of institute verification: February 23, 2024

UGC Scholarship Disbursement

The disbursement of the scholarship is done through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). This method ensures that the deserving candidate gets the scholarship amount directly credited to the bank account.

The disbursement of the UBC scholarship amount through the DBT system ensures efficiency, reliability, and transparency in the scholarship disbursal system. The only requirement for DBT is that the candidates' bank account should be with a nationalised bank. 

Contact Details

The candidates can reach out to the helpdesk if they have any doubts regarding the UGC scholarship and fellowship schemes. Given below are the UGC helpline for scholarships.

  • Address: UGC, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110002
  • UGC Scholarship Contact No: 011-23604446, 011-23604200
  • Email ID: webmaster.ugc.help@gmail.com

For more details, visit our Scholarships 2024 Directory.

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