National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (NFST)
Typically opens December-January, following the UGC-NET result cycle, with university verification deadlines later in the academic year. Confirm current dates on the official portal.
Not independently verified. Confirm the amount and eligibility on the official portal before applying.
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- Amount
- ₹37,000 per month (JRF) rising to ₹42,000 per month (SRF), plus an annual contingency grant
- Who can apply
- Scheduled Tribe students pursuing MPhil/PhD in recognized Indian universities, selected through UGC-NET-JRF. Roughly 700–750 fellowships are offered each year. Your university must verify your application on the portal.
- Income limit
- No income limit for the fellowship component — selection is based on UGC-NET-JRF
- Study level
- PhD / Research
- Apply through
- National Tribal Fellowship Portal (fellowship.tribal.gov.in)
- Notes
- Formerly the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for ST students. The PhD fellowship component uses the Tribal Affairs portal; a separate scholarship component for students at top-class institutes runs through the National Scholarship Portal instead. Portal confirmed reachable August 2026; stipend rates should be re-checked against the current official notification.
About this scholarship
Pursuing a PhD is incredibly demanding, and doing it without financial backing is nearly impossible. That's exactly why the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (NFST) exists. Administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, this scheme is specifically engineered to ensure that brilliant Scheduled Tribe scholars can dedicate themselves entirely to advanced research without constantly worrying about how to pay their bills. If you are an ST student enrolled in a full-time M.Phil or PhD program, this is the financial anchor you need to build a career in academia. The financial support provided by the NFST is substantial and long-term. We aren't talking about a minor one-off grant. When you secure this fellowship, you start as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF), receiving a strong monthly stipend. After two years of solid research—and a satisfactory review by a three-member committee at your university—you are upgraded to a Senior Research Fellow (SRF), which comes with an even higher monthly payout. Beyond the stipend, the scheme provides a yearly contingency grant. This is crucial money meant to cover the actual costs of doing research: buying specialized books, traveling for fieldwork, and covering publishing or printing fees. The fellowship lasts for up to five years, providing a stable runway for you to finish your doctoral thesis. Getting selected for the NFST is highly competitive. The scheme typically offers around 750 fellowships nationwide each year. While it's occasionally possible to get selected based purely on post-graduation merit, clearing the UGC-NET or CSIR-NET exam is your best bet. NET-qualified candidates are heavily prioritized. The application process is where many students trip up. First, understand that you don't apply for the PhD fellowship component on the general National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The Ministry of Tribal Affairs operates its own dedicated portal specifically for this fellowship (fellowship.tribal.gov.in). You must be enrolled in a full-time, regular research program at a recognized university. Distance education or part-time PhDs are strictly excluded. The paperwork requirements are intense and unforgiving. Your ST community certificate must be flawless and issued by the correct competent authority. The most critical document in your initial application is your joining report, which must be signed by your research supervisor and the head of your department. Furthermore, winning the fellowship is only half the battle. To keep the monthly stipends flowing, you have to submit regular progress reports. Every year, your guide must certify that your research is on track. If they refuse to sign off due to poor performance, your funding gets frozen immediately. To secure this fellowship, your strategy should be clear: focus on clearing the NET exam, secure admission in a reputable, UGC-compliant university, and be obsessively organized with your paperwork. Once you submit your application on the tribal portal, stay on your university's nodal officer until they verify it on their end. The NFST is a career-defining opportunity; don't let administrative friction get in your way.
Documents you need
- Postgraduate marksheet
- ST community certificate
- Proof of full-time PhD/M.Phil admission
- Joining report signed by the supervisor
- Aadhaar card
- Bank passbook
How to apply
- Ensure you have officially joined a full-time M.Phil or PhD program at a UGC-recognized university and have your joining report signed by your research supervisor.
- Wait for the official notification and apply online through the dedicated Ministry of Tribal Affairs fellowship portal (fellowship.tribal.gov.in), not the standard NSP.
- Upload your research proposal, ST community certificate, postgraduate mark sheets, and the critical signed joining report.
- Maintain constant coordination with your university's nodal officer to ensure they log in and verify your uploaded documents before the portal closes.
Expert Tip
If your application has been stuck on 'Pending with Nodal Officer' for more than two weeks, physically visit your university's fellowship cell. The Tribal Affairs portal automatically rejects applications that aren't verified by the institution within the strict deadline window.
Why applications get rejected
- Assuming the application is on NSP; the Ministry of Tribal Affairs often uses its own dedicated fellowship portal.
- Submitting an incomplete research proposal or missing the signature of the research guide on the joining report.
- Failing to link the bank account with Aadhaar, which is mandatory for the disbursement of the fellowship funds via DBT.
Common questions
When does NFST open for 2026?
Typically opens December-January, following the UGC-NET result cycle, with university verification deadlines later in the academic year. Confirm current dates on the official portal.
What is the last date to apply for NFST?
The closing date is announced for each cycle rather than fixed in advance, so it is not the same every year. Typically opens December-January, following the UGC-NET result cycle, with university verification deadlines later in the academic year. Confirm current dates on the official portal.
How do I apply for NFST?
Applications are submitted through National Tribal Fellowship Portal (fellowship.tribal.gov.in). Ensure you have officially joined a full-time M.Phil or PhD program at a UGC-recognized university and have your joining report signed by your research supervisor.
Is the NFST application hosted on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)?
No, the PhD fellowship component is hosted on the dedicated Ministry of Tribal Affairs portal (fellowship.tribal.gov.in). Only the 'scholarship' component for top-tier institutes is on the NSP.
Is there a family income limit to qualify for the NFST?
For the PhD fellowship component, there is typically no family income limit. Selection is based purely on your ST category and academic merit, specifically your NET qualification.
Can I receive a salary from a job while holding the NFST?
Absolutely not. The fellowship requires you to be a full-time researcher. If you take up paid employment, you must forfeit the fellowship immediately.
How do I upgrade from JRF to SRF?
After two years as a JRF, your university will form a three-member committee to evaluate your research progress. If they deem your work satisfactory, you are upgraded to SRF for the remaining tenure.
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