National Fellowship for OBC is a UGC fellowship scheme funded by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment under Government of India. This UGC fellowship is for the benefit of the candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Under this National Fellowship for OBC, the unemployed OBC candidates are financially supported to undertake advanced studies and research leading to M.Phil. and PhD degrees in fields of Science, Humanities, Social Sciences and Engineering & Technology. A total of 300 candidates are awarded this UGC fellowship every year. However, this number has been enhanced from 300 to 1,000 per year.
Now that you have a brief knowledge of National Fellowship for OBC, letโs read the complete information of this UGC fellowship. Here in this article, we have covered the award details, application timeline, eligibility conditions, application procedure and more. Before that, take a look at the highlights of this UGC fellowship.
Highlights of National Fellowship for OBC
| Particulars | Details |
| Award details | Fellowship amount of up to INR 35,000 per month along with contingency grant and escorts/reader assistance for differently-abled candidates |
| Application period* | October-December |
| Eligibility |
|
| Application process | Through the official website of UGC |
* The application period mentioned above is tentative and subject to change as per the discretion of fellowship provider.
Now, read about National Fellowship for OBC in complete details as mentioned below.
National Fellowship for OBC โ Award
This UGC fellowship offers financial assistance to a total of 1,000 candidates who are selected as per the eligibility criteria. Under the National Fellowship for OBC, the duration of the fellowship is 5 years which is divided into Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF). The work of JRF is evaluated by a Committee of three members comprising of Head of the Department, Supervisor and one outside subject expert, and if the work is found satisfactory, the candidatesโ tenure is extended further for a period of 3 years under the enhanced rewards of the SRF. Also, the fellowship amount is directly transferred into the awardees account through e-payment under DBT. Find the amount of the National Fellowship for OBC as paid to the selected candidates hereunder.
Award Detail of National Fellowship for OBC
| Particulars | Details |
| Fellowship amount |
|
| Contingency grant for Humanities & Social Sciences students |
|
| Contingency grant for Science and Engineering & Technology students |
|
| Escorts/Reader assistance to physically & visually challenged candidates | INR 2,000 per month |
| HRA | As per the norms of the Government of India |
National Fellowship for OBC โ Application Period
The students applying for UGC NET -JRF or UGC CSIR -JRF will automatically be considered for the fellowship based on the merit they obtain in the examination. The selection will be made twice a year. Thus, the students should refer to the application period of NET-JRF to become a prospective candidate for National Fellowship for OBC students.
National Fellowship for OBC โ Eligibility Criteria
National Fellowship for OBC allows students to pursue full-time M.Phil. or PhD degree programme who have qualified either UGC NET-JRF or UGC-CSIR NET. Under this UGC fellowship scheme, 1,000 candidates are selected every year to receive financial benefits. Given below is the details about eligibility conditions that applicants need to fulfil in order to avail the benefits of this fellowship.
- The applicants must be unemployed and belong to the OBC category in order to be eligible for this UGC fellowship.
- The applicants must have passed the postgraduate examination.
- The applicantsโ annual family income must not be more than INR 6 Lakh from all sources.
- The candidates must be registered for regular, full-time M.Phil./Ph.D. programme in the field of Science, Humanities, Social Science or Engineering & Technology from universities/colleges/institutions recognised by UGC, State/Central Government or institutes of national importance.
- Transgender candidates are also allowed to apply under this UGC fellowship. The reservation is provided as per the norms of the Government of India.
National Fellowship for OBC โ Application Process
The students who fulfil the eligibility conditions for National Fellowship for OBC students must apply for the UGC NET-JRF or CSIR JRF examination. Furthermore, based on the merit obtained by students in the exam, the students will be shortlisted for the fellowship twice a year. Thus, students are advised to follow the steps given below to apply for UGC NET JRF.
- First, the applicants need to visit the official website of NTA and scroll down to go to โQuick linksโ and click on โUGC NETโ which takes you to the link โ https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/webinfo/public/home.aspx.
- Now, fill in the online application form of UGC NET with all the required information and note down the system generated application number for future reference.
- Upload the scanned image (between 10 kb to 200 kb) and signature (between 4 kb โ 30 kb) of the applicant in JPG/JPEG format.
- Now, the candidate needs to pay the fee through SBI_MOPS and keep the proof of payment.
- The candidates must take 4 printouts of the Confirmation Page after successful remittance of fee.
National Fellowship for OBC โ Key Documents
There are a few important documents that the applicants must keep ready with them while applying for this UGC fellowship. Highlighted below is the list of the key documents that the candidates should have with them while filling the application form of National Fellowship for OBC.
- Applicantโs caste certificate
- Income certificate of the applicantโs parents, issued by the competent authority
- Applicantโs passport photograph (colour) and signature
- Mark sheet of masterโs degree
- Certificate from Head of the Department/Institution stating that the necessary facilities will be provided by the College/University/Institution in case the candidates get selected for this fellowship
- Disability certificate in case the candidate is physically handicapped
National Fellowship for OBC โ Selection Procedure
The candidates who receive this UGC fellowship are selected on the basis of merit and as per the procedure of the UGC. However, 3% of the total slots are reserved for Persons with Disability (PwD) who belong to the OBC category.
National Fellowship for OBC โ Terms and Conditions
There are a few terms and conditions that the candidates must look out for if they wish to avail the benefits of this UGC fellowship. Find below the list of terms and conditions of National Fellowship for OBC candidates.
- Under this UGC fellowship, suitable single-seated hostel accommodations may be provided to the candidates in the institution.
- The awardee of the National Fellowship for OBC is liable for a maximum of 30 days of leave per year in addition to public holidays. They are also eligible for maternity/paternity leave as per the norms of the Government of India.
- The candidates must join the course within 3 months of award of the fellowship.
- Also, the candidates are required to submit a copy of their Award Letter and Joining Report along with a photo, address and contact number in the prescribed format to the designated branch of the bank.
- The selected candidates also need to submit a โContinuation Certificateโ every three months to the designated branch.
- The candidates also need to submit their progress report after the completion of one year of the fellowship to the UGC assigned branch.
National Fellowship for OBC โ Contact Detail
In case of any query regarding National Fellowship for OBC, the applicants can submit their question at the email ID mentioned below:
Email ID โ sosa3ugc@gmail.com
For more UGC scholarships/fellowships, read โUGC Scholarship โ All You Need to Knowโ.