National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2026-27 – An Overview
| Name of the Scheme | National Fellowship and Scholarship For Higher Education of ST Students |
| Sub-Schemes | National Fellowship Scheme and National Scholarship Scheme |
| Scholarship Provider | Ministry of Tribal Affairs |
| Beneficiaries | ST Students |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Application Deadline | October 31, 2026 |
| Official Website | fellowship.tribal.nic.in |
National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2026-27 – Eligibility Criteria
Given below are the eligibility criteria for the two components of the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students.
National Fellowship Scheme – Eligibility and Course Duration
| Program | Eligibility | Duration |
| M.Phil. | Completion of post-graduation, admission to specified universities, and a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent in the final postgraduate examination. | Two years or until submission of a dissertation, whichever is earlier |
| M.Phil. + Ph.D. | Completion of post-graduation, admission to specified universities, and a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent in the final postgraduate examination. | Two years for M.Phil., followed by three years for Ph.D., totalling five years, or until submission of a dissertation, whichever is earlier |
| Ph.D. | Completion of post-graduation, admission to specified universities, and meeting the requirements of the Ph.D. program. | Five years or until submission of a dissertation, whichever is earlier |
- There are no income criteria in order to become eligible for this fellowship scheme.
- The maximum age limit is 36 years, calculated as on the first day of July in the relevant year of the scholarship award.
National Scholarship Scheme – Eligibility Criteria
- The scholarship is available for both graduate and postgraduate level courses.
- Eligible students are those belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category who have secured admission in institutes and courses approved by the Ministry.
- Students availing this scholarship cannot receive any other Central or State Government scholarship for the same course.
- The scholarship continues till the completion of the course, subject to satisfactory academic performance certified by the institute.
- The total family income from all sources must not exceed ₹6.0 lakh per year. If both parents are working, their combined income will be considered.
- If only one parent is alive, only that parent’s income will be considered.
- In the case of orphans supported by a guardian, the income criteria will not apply.
- For married candidates, the spouse’s income will also be included while calculating total family income.
National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2026-27 – Awards
Given below are the benefits associated with the two components of the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students.
National Fellowship Scheme – Awards
| Course | Stream | Monthly Scholarship | Annual Contingency |
| M.Phil. | Humanities & Social Sciences | ₹31,000 | ₹10,000 |
| M.Phil. | Science/Engineering/Technology | ₹12,000 | |
| Ph.D. | Humanities & Social Sciences | ₹31,000 (first two years) and ₹31,000 (remaining three years) | ₹20,500 |
| Ph.D. | Science/Engineering/Technology | ₹25,000 |
- Monthly House Rent Allowance (HRA) for All Courses: Equivalent to UGC rates, determined based on categories of cities 8%, 16%, or 24%.
- Monthly Escort Allowance for Persons with Disability (PwD): Fixed at ₹2,000 in alignment with UGC rates.
National Scholarship Scheme – Awards
| Assistance Component | Amount |
| Books & Stationery | ₹5,000 per annum per student without producing bills/vouchers. |
| Computer & Accessories | ₹45,000 as a one-time assistance during the tenure. This can be used to purchase a desktop, laptop, computer and related accessories. |
| Stipend | ₹3,000 per month |
| Tuition Fees | Full tuition fee and other non-refundable dues for government/government-funded institutions. For private sector institutions, up to ₹2.50 lakh per annum per student. |
National Fellowship Scheme – Universities/Institutions Covered Under the Scheme
Eligible students can enrol in regular and full-time M.Phil./Ph.D. courses in the following categories of universities and academic institutions:
- Universities/Institutes/Colleges included under section 2(f)/12(B) or 2(f) and 12(B) of UGC Act.
- Deemed to be Universities included under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 and eligible to receive grant-in-aid from UGC.
- Universities/ Institutes/ Colleges receiving grants from the Central/ State Government.
- Institutes of National Importance, as notified by the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India.
Also Read: National Scholarship Portal
National Fellowship Scheme – Distribution of Fellowship
Each year, 750 new fellowships are awarded for M.Phil, Ph.D, or integrated M.Phil + Ph.D programs.
- If there aren’t enough eligible Scheduled Tribe (ST) applicants, the unused fellowships will be carried forward to the next year.
- There is no limit on the number of fellowships per state or university.
- If applications exceed 750, selection will be based on post-graduation marks.
National Fellowship Scheme – Slot Distribution
| Priority | Category | Slots |
| 1 | Divyangjan (Persons with Disabilities) – 5% | 38 |
| 2 | Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) | 25 |
| 3 | Female Candidates – 30% | 225 |
| 4 | ST Others | 462 |
| Total | 750 | |
- Applicants admitted to IITs, AIIMS, IIMs, or IISERs will get priority.
- Divyangjan applicants must have a minimum 40% disability certificate.
- If seats remain vacant in any subcategory, they’ll be transferred to the next category in order of priority.
- If still vacant, remaining seats will go to eligible ST applicants based on merit.
- Female reservation (225 slots) includes Divyangjan and PVTG candidates.
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National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2026-27 – Documents Required
Given below are the documents requirements for the two components of the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students.
Documents Required for National Fellowship Scheme
Applicant will be required to upload the following documents on the portal for registration:
- Latest coloured passport size photograph
- ST/PVTG certificate issued by the competent authority
- 10th /Matriculation/equivalent certificate in support of date of birth
- Divyangjan certificate issued by the competent authority
- Post-Graduation mark sheet [Aggregate marks in %] /equivalent % marks in case of CGPA (Conversion formula from CGPA to percentage which was issued by Institute/University to be produced.)
- Admission/Joining certificate of M.Phil/Ph.D / Integrated M.Phil+Ph.D from the University concerned.
- Offer of admission in respect of students admitted to IITs/AIIMS/IIMs/IISERs.
Documents Required for National Scholarship Scheme
| Graduate/Post Graduate Level Courses | Fresh Scholarship for Candidate | Renewal of Scholarship for Candidate |
| ST Certificate/PVTG Certificate | Yes | No |
| Income Certificate | Yes | No |
| Fee Receipt | Yes | Yes |
| Scanned Copy of the Bank Passbook | Yes | Yes |
| Mark Sheet or Certificate of Qualifying Examination | Yes | Yes |
| Bonafide Certificate Issued by Institute | Yes | Yes |
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National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2026-27 – Application Process
1. Registration as New Users:
- First-time applicants need to register with the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
- To begin, they should navigate to the ‘Applicant Corner’ section and select the ‘New Registration’ tab.
- Candidates must provide all the necessary information and then click on ‘Register’ to complete the registration process.
- A unique student application ID and password will be generated upon successful registration, and these details will be sent to the registered mobile number.
2. Logging in to NSP:
- After registration, applicants must log in to the NSP using the newly generated ID and password.
- An OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to the registered mobile number to change the password for added security.
3. Accessing the Application Form:
- Once the password is updated, candidates will be directed to the ‘Applicant’s Dashboard’ page.
- On the ‘Applicant’s Dashboard’ page, applicants should click on ‘Application Form’ to initiate the application process.
4. Providing Details:
- Applicants should provide all the necessary information, including registration and academic details, basic personal information, contact details, and scheme-specific information.
5. Document Upload:
- Applicants should ensure that all the supporting documents required, such as those verifying their identity and academic eligibility, are uploaded as part of the application.
6. Saving as Draft:
- It is advisable to save the filled-in application form as a draft.
- This allows applicants to review every detail and ensure accuracy before submission.
7. Final Submission:
- Candidates should review all the entered information carefully to complete the scholarship application process.
- Once satisfied, they can click on the ‘Submit’ button after having reviewed the application form.
Also Read: Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities
FAQs
What is the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students?
It is a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs that provides financial assistance to meritorious Scheduled Tribe (ST) students to pursue higher education at graduate, postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. levels in premier institutions across India.
Who can apply for this scheme?
Only students belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category who have secured admission in institutions and courses approved by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are eligible to apply.
What are the two sub-schemes under this program?
The program has two components, National Fellowship Scheme for M.Phil. and Ph.D. studies and National Scholarship Scheme for graduate and postgraduate studies.
Is there any income limit to apply for the fellowship?
No, there is no income limit for the National Fellowship Scheme. However, for the National Scholarship Scheme, the total annual family income should not exceed ₹6.0 lakh from all sources.
How many fellowships are awarded each year?
A total of 750 fellowships are awarded annually for M.Phil., Ph.D., or integrated M.Phil. + Ph.D. programs.
What financial benefits are provided under the fellowship?
The fellowship provides a monthly stipend, contingency grant, House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per UGC norms, and a monthly escort allowance of ₹2,000 for students with disabilities.
What is the last date to apply for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students?
The application deadline for the scholarship is October 31, 2026. Students who meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs can apply for the scholarship via online application by visiting the National Scholarship Portal.
What are the documents required to apply for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students?
The documents required while filling the scholarship application form are passport size photographs, caste certificate, income certificate, past academic certificates and bank passbook.