Central Sector Scheme of National Fellowship for Providing Fellowship to Scheduled Caste Students to Pursue M.Phil. & PhD 2026

This scheme helps poor and marginalized rural families build toilets to end open defecation and improve sanitation. Read More... Read less

Details

Launched in 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (Phase I) by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, was a major push towards making rural India Open Defecation Free (ODF).

What Is This Scheme?

The core idea behind Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (Phase I) was to tackle the issue of open defecation in villages. It did this by encouraging and supporting the construction of toilets in rural homes. Beyond just building toilets, the mission also focused on changing people's habits regarding sanitation and hygiene.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The primary beneficiaries of this scheme were people living in rural areas who did not have access to a toilet at home. The focus was especially on households that are poor, underprivileged, or belong to marginalized communities.

Why This Scheme Is Important

This initiative was crucial for improving public health in rural India. By promoting toilet usage and proper sanitation, it aimed to reduce the spread of diseases. It also sought to provide dignity and safety to women and girls by ensuring private sanitation facilities.

Key Objectives

The mission had several key goals:

To bring about a big change in how people think about and practice sanitation and hygiene.
To ensure that toilets are built and actually used by households and communities.
To create a system that keeps track of progress towards an ODF India.
To encourage the management of solid and liquid waste in villages.

Objective

This scheme helps poor and marginalized rural families build toilets to end open defecation and improve sanitation.

Benefits

Number of Slots

The scheme provides for 2000 new Fellowships (1500 Junior Research Fellows for Humanities/ Social Sciences and 500 Junior Research Fellows for Science stream) per year.

These slots are over and above the number of SC students selected under the normal reservation policy of the Government for UGC Fellowships.

Validity

The fellowship shall be paid from the date of issue of the JRF award letter under the Scheme for National Fellowship or the date of joining the M.Phil./Ph.D., whichever is later.

The fellowship shall be granted upto the date of submission of the Ph.D. thesis or five years of tenure, whichever is earlier. No extension is permissible beyond the total period of five years of fellowship.

Confirmation for continuation of the fellowship shall be given by the University twice a year on a semester basis within the 10th of the initial month of the semester. Based on this certification, the research scholars would be released the fellowship within the 15th of every month without any further intervention of the university.

With regard to the combined course of M.Phil and PhD, Fellowship will be provided initially for 02 years for M.Phil and after upgradation to Ph.D course, for another 03 years.

In case of integrated Ph.D. or M.Phil. to Ph.D., the maximum tenure is 5 years including the M.Phil. period of fellowship. For doing M.Phil., fellowship shall be granted for two years or upto the date of submission of the M.Phil. dissertation, whichever is earlier.

Duration of the Fellowship

Name of the Course: M.Phil; Maximum Duration: 2 Years; Admissibility for JRF: 2 Years; Admissibility for SRF: NIL

Name of the Course: PhD; Maximum Duration: 5 Years; Admissibility for JRF: 2 Years; Admissibility for SRF: Remaining 3 Years

Name of the Course: M.Phil + PhD; Maximum Duration: 5 Years; Admissibility for JRF: 2 Years; Admissibility for SRF: Remaining 3 Years

Rate of FellowshipHead:Fellowship in All StreamsRate Applicable for JRF:Rs. 31,000/- p.m. for initial two yearsRate Applicable for SRF:Rs.35,000/-p.m. for remaining tenureHead:Contingency for Humanities & Social SciencesRate Applicable for JRF:Rs.10,000/- p.a. for initial two yearsRate Applicable for SRF:Rs.20,500/- p.a. for remaining tenureHead:Contingency for SciencesRate Applicable for JRF:Rs. 12,000/- p.a. for initial two yearsRate Applicable for SRF:Rs.25,000/-p.a. for remaining tenure.Head:Escort/ Reader Assistance (All Subjects) for Physically and Visually Handicapped CandidatesRate Applicable for JRF: Rs.2,000/-p.m.Rate Applicable for SRF:Rs.2,000/-p.m.Head:House Rent Allowance (HRA)Rate Applicable:8%, 16% and 24% to those students who are not provided with hostel accommodation, in accordance with Govt. of India norms as applicable in the city/location where the research fellows are working.Mode of DisbursalThe disbursal of the fellowship will be directly into the beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked Bank Account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must be from a rural household that did not have a functional toilet before the scheme started.
You should belong to a poor, underprivileged, or marginalized section of society.

Note: The scheme gave preference to households headed by women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, or those from weaker socio-economic backgrounds.

How To Apply

To apply for this scheme, you generally needed to follow these steps:

Contact your local Gram Panchayat or the designated Swachh Bharat Mission representative in your village.
Submit the required application forms and documents.
Once approved, construct the toilet as per the guidelines.
The constructed toilet would be verified and geo-tagged for proof.
Upon successful verification, the financial incentive would be released.

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India was the nodal authority. Official announcements and application details were typically shared through local government bodies.

Documents Required

Aadhaar Card
Bank Passbook
A photograph of the constructed toilet (this is important for verification and geo-tagging).
Any other documents that might be specified by the local authorities.

FAQ’s

What was the main goal of the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen Phase I?

The primary objective was to make rural India free from open defecation by encouraging the construction and use of toilets.

Can someone who already has a toilet at home get money from this scheme?

No, this scheme was for households that did not have a functional toilet before. If you already had a working toilet, you weren't eligible for the incentive.

What kind of toilet technology did the mission promote?

The scheme particularly promoted twin-pit pour-flush toilets. These were considered a cost-effective and sustainable option for rural sanitation.

How does a twin-pit toilet work, and how long does it last?

A twin-pit system uses two pits alternately. When one pit is full, it's sealed for about 6 months to 3 years for decomposition, turning waste into safe manure. The other pit is then used. Each pit is generally designed to last around three years, depending on household size and usage.

What is the IMIS system and its role in this mission?

IMIS stands for Integrated Management Information System. It was used by the mission to keep a real-time track of toilet construction progress, verification, and other project-related data.

Who was considered eligible to apply for this scheme?

The scheme was open to rural households that lacked toilet facilities. Special priority was given to families that were poor, underprivileged, or belonged to marginalized communities.

What are the typical steps involved in applying for this scheme?

Usually, you would need to contact your local Gram Panchayat, fill out an application, provide necessary documents, get your toilet constructed, and then have it verified through geo-tagging to receive the financial assistance.