ugc.ac.in National Fellowship for OBC Candidate 2015 : University Grants Commission

Organisation :University Grants Commission
Facility : National Fellowship for OBC Candidate 2015
Last Date : 30/06/2015

Home Page :http://www.ugc.ac.in/ugc_schemes/
Apply here :http://www.ugc.ac.in/nfobc/

UGC National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes

Introduction :
The UGC has been implementing the scheme of National Fellowship (NF) Scheme for Other Backward Classes (OBC) as entrusted & funded by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

Related / Similar Scholarship : UGC National Fellowship For OBC 2017-18

The scheme is open to candidates who belong to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and wish to pursue higher studies such as regular and full time M.Phil. and Ph.D degrees in Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences and Engineering & Technology. There are 300 slots for award of fellowship every year for all the subjects for consideration of application received through On-line submission from research scholar belonging to OBC category. There is a provision of 3% reservation for slots for consideration of award of fellowship to research scholars from disabled category who belongs to OBC category.

Objective :
The scheme has been initiated keeping in view the social other backward classes (OBC) candidates of the society and to provide them opportunity to undertake advanced studies and research. The objective of this award is to provide fellowships in the form of financial assistance to unemployed students belonging to OBC to pursue higher studies leading to M.Phil and Ph.D degrees (full-time) in Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences and Engineering & Technology, in Indian Universities/Institutions/ Colleges approved under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act. and in Non-Universities/Institutions.

Target Group/Eligibility :
Target Group :
Unemployed OBC Candidates who have passed the Post Graduate examination in concerned subject and who desire to pursue full-time research without JRF of UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET.

Eligibility :
** The candidate should belong to OBC and should have passed the Post Graduate examination and annual income of the beneficiary/parents or guardian of the beneficiary not exceeds Rs. 6.00 lakh per annum from all sources.
** The candidate who is already registered for M.Phil./Ph.D. will be eligible for the consideration for award of fellowship under cited scheme.
** The selection will be made on the basis of merit of the candidates.
** However, the actual payment of fellowship will be made directly to awardee through e-payment under DBT with effect from 1st April of selection/financial year (or) from the date of Registration under M.Phil. / Ph.D. (or) from the date of joining in M.Phil / Ph.D. Programme, whichever is later.

Nature Of Assistance Available Under The Scheme :
** The tenure of fellowship is initially for two years under the NF Scheme. Before expiry of this period, the work of the Fellow will be evaluated by a Committee of three members comprising of Head of the Department, Supervisor and one outside subject expert to be constituted by the concerned Department of the /University/Institution/College. If the research work is found satisfactory, his/her tenure will be extended further for a period of three years under the enhanced emoluments of the National Fellowship Senior Research Fellowship (NFSRF). The upgradation of fellowship from JRF to SRF will have to make at the level of university/institution/college itself based on recommendation of the three members committee report (Annexure-VIII). Thereafter such upgradation of fellowship in respect of awardee may be intimated to UGC for further action. The work done and the time spent on scholarships or fellowships of any agency other than the UGC will not be taken into account while considering the proposals for enhancement in the value of fellowship. The fellowship may be withdrawn if the work is not considered satisfactory or the candidate fails in any of the examinations related to Ph.D.

** In case the work for the first two years is not found satisfactory, an additional year will be given to him/her for improvement. However, during this period he/she will be designated as National Junior Research Fellow. In such cases work will be evaluated again before third year of the tenure, and if improvement is found, the Fellow will get two more years under the NFSRF. Thus, the total period of fellowship (NFJRF and NFSRF) is for five years, with no further provision of extension.

** The fellow doing M.Phil. will be paid fellowship amount up to the period of 02 years or the date of dissertation whichever is earlier. The fellow doing Ph.D. will be paid fellowship amount up to 5 years or the date of viva whichever is earlier. . The payment of fellowship for the gap period from M.Phil. to Ph.D. may be made and shall be counted in the total tenure of the fellowship i.e. for five years if the candidates are actually working in the university during the gap period. However the total period of the fellowship shall remain five years. The gap period
** for the registration in Ph.D. after completion of M.Phil. is one year.

Nature of financial assistance : Fellowship in Science, :
** Rs. 16000/- p.m. for initial two years Humanities, Social Science and Engineering & Technology
** Rs. 18000/- p.m. for remaining tenure

Contingency A :
** Rs. 10000/- p.a. for initial two years Humanities
** Rs. 20500/- p.a. for remaining tenure

Social Sciences :
Contingency B :
** Rs. 12000/- p.a. for initial two years Science, Engg. &
** Rs. 25000/- p.a. for remaining tenure Technology

House Rent Allowance :
Suitable single-seated hostel accommodation may be provided to NJRF candidate in the University/Institution/College. In case of non-availability, HRA as per rules of the university/ institution/ college will be paid to the Fellow subject to the submission of an HRA certificate through the Registrar/Director/Principal. National Fellowship Junior Research Fellow provided with accommodation in a hostel recognized/maintained by the institutions may be reimbursed the hostel fee, excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate to this effect is to be furnished through the Registrar/Principal (Annexure II). If the fellow makes his/her own arrangements of accommodation, he/she may be entitled to draw HRA as per categorization of the cities by the Government of India. The fellow will submit a certificate for the purpose to the UGC for claiming HRA through the concerned University/Institution/College.

Medical :
No separate/fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the Fellow may avail of the medical facilities available in the University/Institution/College.

Procedure For Apply :

Applications are invited through online mode once in a year through advertisement in leading newspapers and Employment News. The same is also uploaded in the UGC Website www.ugc.ac.in the selection is made on the basis of merit and as per the procedure of the Commission.

Procedure For Approval Of The Ugc :
Applications received will be scrutinized, and short listed by the Commission. The decision of the Commission will be final and binding. The Commission reserves the right to withdraw/cancel the award without assigning any reason. On completion of the above formalities, the Joining Report of the candidate, duly signed by the supervisor/head of department is to be submitted to the notified branch of bank through the Registrar/Director/Principal. On receipt of the Joining Report and other required documents (Annexure III), the admissible grant will be released to selected candidate directly under DBT scheme under cited scheme.

Procedure For Release Of Grant :
On receipt of UGC approval/award letter, the institutions/Bank may pay the fellowship amount to the fellows and meet expenses from the grants paid by the Commission for the purpose in accordance with the rules. For the release of subsequent instalments of the grant, that is, fellowship, contingency etc., an Utilisation Certificate along with a statement of expenditure incurred may be sent to the Commission by the concerned University/Institution/College
(Annexures IV, V, VI and VII). At the end of every three months a Continuation Certificate in the prescribed Performa (Annexure-I). The designated branch of the Bank

Procedure For Monitoring The Progress Of The Scheme :
1. The fellow will undertake full-time research work under the approved guide in a subject selected by him and approved by the university/selection committee.
2. The fellow shall present to the university, through his/her supervisor, half-yearly progress reports ending the month of June and December, and the University/Institution/College will maintain a record of progress by obtaining the same.
3. If a fellow wishes to relinquish the fellowship during the tenure, it should be done with the prior approval of the University/Institution/College and the Commission. The fellow should also obtain prior permission of the University/Institution/College and Commission for appearing in any examination conducted by any University/Institution/College or public body.
4. The fellow shall not accept or hold any appointment, paid or otherwise, or receive emoluments, salary, stipend, etc. from any other source during the tenure of the award. The fellow, with the consent of the guide/head of department, may assist the University/Institution/College in its academic work, including tutorials, evaluation of test papers, laboratory demonstration work, seminar symposia, etc., provided such work is not likely to hamper the research programme on hand.
5. The fellowship may be terminated at any time without assigning any reasons and the Commission’s decision in this regard shall be final and binding. No extension is permissible beyond the total period of five years and Awardee ceases to be a NFJRF/NFSRF immediately after expiry of the tenure.

OTHER CONDITIONS :
The University/ Institution/College shall admit the fellows under NF scheme for research leading to M.Phil. Or Ph.D. irrespective of the stipulated number of research students assigned to the Supervisor or the Department in the concerned subjects.

TRANSFER OF FELLOWSHIP :
The Fellow will be permitted to transfer the fellowship from one University/Institution/College to another University/Institution/College under special circumstances with prior approval of the UGC on the basis of “No Objection Certificate” from both Universities/ Institution/College. However, the Fellow shall be relieved by the previous University/Institution/College only after his accounts are settled and unspent balance if any, refunded to the UGC.