The National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students is a central scheme that was started by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and it is fully funded by them to help students from Scheduled Tribes who want to study higher education. This scheme has two parts, one part is for students who have completed a Master’s degree and want to do M.Phil. or Ph.D., and the other is for those who are doing a Graduation or post-graduation in big professional courses like Engineering, Medicine, Law, and more. In the year 2017-18, both parts were made into one scheme. Only ST students from 252 top institutions, which are selected by the Ministry, are allowed. Scholarship is given for fees and other needs.
About National Scholarship Portal
The National Scholarship Portal, which is also called NSP, was started by the Indian government, and it is used by students to get different scholarships in one place because many schemes from central, state, and other departments are kept together here. It can be used for filling forms, checking updates, and knowing if money is given or not, and all these things are done online, so no need to go anywhere. The portal is made to make the process easy and fast, and also to prevent cheating and ensure everything is seen clearly. The work is done on time, and money is sent directly. The portal is liked by students as it saves time, removes mistakes, and helps in fair way.
Also Read: National Means Cum Merit Scholarship
Factors of National Fellowship And Scholarship
| Name of the Program | National Fellowship And Scholarship |
| Launched By | Ministry of Tribal Affairs |
| Objective | To help ST students with higher studies |
| Type | Scholarship and fellowship |
| Who Can Apply | Only ST category students |
| Courses Covered | To help ST students for higher studies |
| Institutes Allowed | To help ST students with higher studies |
| Scholarship Amount | Graduate and postgraduate too |
| Tuition Fees | The full fee is also paid |
| Books Help | Rs. 5000 given every year |
| Monthly Stipend | Rs. 3000 is given every month |
| Laptop Help | Dates are given on the NSP every year |
| How To Apply | Apply on the NSP website |
| When To Apply | Big help is given every year |
| Is Renewal Needed | Yes, every year it’s needed |
| For How Long | Till the course ends, if passed |
| Official Website | Rs. 45000 one-time for the computer |
National Fellowship For Higher Education of ST Students
The National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students is a scheme that was started to give monetary support to good ST students so they can study more after completing their post-graduation degree and do MPhil or Ph.D without problem. The students must have passed in Master degree and only then will the fellowship be given, and this is to help them in higher studies. If any change comes in the course of the new education policy, it will be added to the rule, but the students who got this before 2021-22 will be allowed to finish their study by the old rules, and they will not be stopped. This scheme is helpful and liked by many.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for this fellowship are as given below:
- Fellowship for the M.Phil course is given for 2 years or till the dissertation is submitted by the student, whichever happens earlier, and it must be a full-time regular course.
- For M.Phil + Ph.D together, the fellowship is allowed for 5 years or till final work is submitted, and the student must continue the course without a gap.
- If the student is doing only a Ph.D, then a fellowship is given for 5 years or till the dissertation is submitted, whichever is earlier.
- The student must have passed Post-Graduation and taken admission in a proper university, as said in the scheme rules.
- At least 55% marks must be scored in the Post-Graduation final exam to be eligible.
- There is no income limit to get this scholarship, so even if the family income is higher, the student can still apply.
- The age must not be more than 36 years on the 1st of July of the year when the fellowship is given.
- Admission must be taken in a regular and full-time M.Phil or Ph.D course in one of these types of institutions:
- Universities or institutes that are under Section 2(f)/12(B) or both of the UGC Act.
- Deemed universities that are under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, and also get grant-in-aid from UGC.
- Colleges or institutes that get grants from the Central or State Government.
- Institutes of National Importance, which are notified by the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India.
Financial Benefits
| Course | Subject | Scholarship (Monthly) | Extra Money (Yearly) |
| M.Phil | Humanities & Social Sciences | Rs. 31,000/- | Rs. 10,000/- |
| Science / Engineering / Technology | Rs. 12,000/- | ||
| Ph.D | Humanities & Social Sciences | Rs. 31,000/- for 1st 2 years and Rs. 35,000/- for next 3 years | Rs. 20,500/- |
| Science / Engineering Technology | Rs. 25,000/- | ||
| HRA (House Rent Money): Given every month like UGC gives (can be 8%, 16%, or 24% depending on the city) | |||
| Escort Help Money for Divyangjan: Rs. 2,000/- per month (same as UGC gives) | |||
Required Documents
To apply for this fellowship, these documents should be uploaded to the portal:
- The latest colour photo (passport size) should be given.
- ST or PVTG certificate must be shown, given by a proper officer.
- A Class 10th or Matric pass certificate is needed to prove date of birth.
- If the student is Divyangjan, then a certificate from a government doctor is needed.
- Post-Graduation marksheet must be uploaded with total % marks, and if CGPA is given, then the formula from the college to change it to % must be shown.
- Joining or admission letter of M.Phil / Ph.D / M.Phil+Ph.D from the university is also needed.
- If the student got a seat in IITs, AIIMS, IIMs, or IISERs, then the admission offer letter must be uploaded too.
No of Fellowship
Every year, a total of 750 new fellowships are given for M.Phil, Ph.D, or M.Phil + Ph.D. If enough ST students don’t apply, then the seats that are not taken will be moved to next year, so they won’t be wasted. There is no fixed number for any state or university, so students from anywhere can get it. If more students apply and seats are fewer seats, then the marks of the Post-Graduation will be checked, and students who got higher marks will be chosen first.
The seats will be given to different groups based on who needs it first, and it will be done in a set order as shown below:
| Priority | Category | Number of Slots |
| 1 | Divyangjan (5% of 750) | 38 |
| 2 | PVTG (Names given in Annexure-VIII) | 25 |
| 3 | Female (30% of 750) | 225 |
| 4 | ST Others | 462 |
| Total | 750 |
Tenure of Fellowship
The tenure of this fellowship includes:
- For M.Phil students, the fellowship is given for 2 years, and for M.Phil + Ph.D or Ph.D students, it is given for 5 years.
- If a student took admission last year but didn’t apply or didn’t get selected, he can still apply next year and get the money for whatever time is left in his course.
- Like, if someone took admission in 2020-21 but gets selected in 2021-22, then the fellowship will be given only for 4 more years.
- If a M.Phil student wants to do a Ph.D also, then no need to apply again, he will be counted as the same student.
- But the total time for both M.Phil and Ph.D together will not be more than 5 years.
- If the student changes course, even then, the fellowship will be given only for a total 5 years.
Also Read: NSP Scholarship Payment Status
National Scholarship For Higher Education of ST Students
The National Scholarship for Higher Education is made for ST students who wants to study more after school, and it helps them to join big colleges where they can learn things like medicine, law, science, engineering or even management, and all these courses must be from the top colleges which are picked by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This scholarship is fully paid by the ministry, and nothing has to be paid by the student, and it will be given till the end of the course if the student studies well and the college says that he or she is doing okay.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are as given below:
- ST students who got admission in colleges and courses approved by the Ministry are allowed to get this scholarship, and the course should be full-time only.
- The course time will be decided by the college, and it can be different for graduation and post-graduation.
- The student can’t take any other scholarship from the state or central government for the same course if this one has already been given.
- Once the scholarship is given, it will continue till the end of the course, but only if the student is doing well and the college says that the performance is good.
- The family income from all sources must not be more than Rs. 6 lakh in one year, and this is important for being allowed.
- If both parents are working, then both incomes will be counted together.
- But if someone else in the family, like a brother or uncle, earns money, their money will not be counted.
- If only one parent is alive, only that parent’s income will be seen, and not that of others.
- If the student is an orphan and a guardian is helping, then the income rule is not applied.
- If the student is married, then the husband’s or wife’s income will also be added to check the total family income.
Important Dates
| Activity | Last Date |
| The scheme will start | 2nd June 2025 |
| Last day to fill student form | 31st October 2025 |
| Last day to fix mistakes in the form | 15th November 2025 |
| Last day for college to check your form | 15th November 2025 |
| Last day for officer verification (DNO/SNO/MNO) | 30th November 2025 |
Financial Benefits
The student who get selected will be given monetary help as shown in the table below, but only if they follow all the rules that are written in the scheme.
| Component | Details | Remarks |
| Tuition Fees and Admission Fee | Full fees, including admission, tuition, and other non-refundable charges in Govt.. institutes. | Full fees, including admission, tuition, and other non-refundable charges in Govt… institutes. |
| Books & Stationery | Rs. 5000/- per year per student | No bills or vouchers needed. |
| Stipend | Rs. 3000/- per month | — |
| Computer & Accessories | Rs. 45000/- (one-time during the course) | Desktop or Laptop allowed. No bills or vouchers required. |
Required Documents
| Document Name | Fresh Candidate | Renewal Candidate | Remarks |
| ST Certificate / PVTG Certificate | Yes | No | Must be signed and stamped by the competent authority. |
| Income Certificate | Yes | No | Issued for the financial year before selection, by the designated authority of the State/UT. |
| Fee Receipt | Yes | Yes | |
| Scanned Copy of Bank Passbook | Yes | Yes | The student’s name must match the name in the application form. |
| Marksheet / Certificate of Qualification | Yes | Yes | Fresh: 12th for Graduate, Graduation for PG. Renewal: Last semester’s mark sheet. |
| Bonafide Certificate from the Institute | Yes | Yes |
Selection Process
The selection process for the scholarship and fellowship includes:
- Applications must be filled out on the National Scholarship Portal, which can be visited at www.scholarships.gov.in, where it is made by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, and it’s used for applying, processing, approving, and giving scholarship money.
- After a student gets admission in the said colleges or universities, the application must be submitted online in the portal which is mentioned.
- Dates when the portal will open and close are shared through newspapers, news, institutes, and also by the States, but it should be watched regularly by students on the portal to know the exact opening date.
- If someone applies after the last date or time, then the application won’t be seen or taken by officials.
- Before filling out the form online, students must first register on the portal, which is required to be done, and it’s important to read the guidelines on how to register before starting it.
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Application Process
The Application Process for both the scholarship and fellowship is as mentioned below in steps:
- Step 1: As we have discussed earlier that before applying for the scholarship, all the applicants have to register themselves under the national scholarship portal.
- Step 2: For registering under the portal, the applicants has to keep the documents ready and proceed to visit the NSP Website forthe application process.
- Step 3: To register under the portal, you have to go to the homepage of the official website and then click on the “Students” option.
- Step 4: You will be taken to another page, where you have to click on “Login” button which is available under the “OTR” section.
- Step 5: Now again, you will be taken to another page, here you have to click on “the Register” section to open up the registration form.
- Step 6: The registration form will appear on your screen. Now fill out the form carefully with the required details such as personal details, contact details, etc, and attach the documents.
- Step 7: After you have completed the registration form, you should submit it to complete the registration process, and now you can apply for the program easily.
- Step 8: Again, you have to go to the homepage of the official website and click on the four lines, and then click on the “Schemes on NSP” option to proceed with the application process.
- Step 9: Various scholarships appear on your screen. Now click on the “Ministry of Tribal Affairs” option, and then you will see “National Fellowship And Scholarship For Higher Education Of ST Students – Scholarship (Formally Top Class Education For Schedule Tribe Students)” will appear on your screen.
- Step 10: Now you should click on the “Apply Now” option and then the application form will appear on your screen, fill out the application form carefully.
- Step 11: Once you have completed the application form, you should verify it carefully before submitting it.
- Step 12: And when you have carefully verified the application form, you should then submit it to complete the application process.
- Step 13: Finally, you will receive the application number. You can keep this application number with you for your future use.
Renewal Process
For the Renewal Process, please follow these below mentioned steps:
- Step 1: All the applicants who have already applied for the Scheme should visit the official website at https://scholarships.gov.in/ for the renewal process.
- Step 2: Once you are on the homepage of the official website, click on the “Students” option to proceed further with the renewal application.
- Step 3: You will now be taken to another page, and then you should click on the “Login” button, which is present under the “OTR” section, to move ahead.
- Step 4: Now you will be taken to another page, you should now enter the OTR (One Time Registration) number (which you have received at the time of registration) to proceed.
- Step 5: Visit the homepage again and then click on the four lines. You will see various options, then you have to click on the “Schemes on NSP” option to proceed.
- Step 6: You have to now click on the “Ministry of Tribal Affairs” option, and “National Fellowship and Scholarship For Higher Education Of ST Students – Scholarship (Formally Top Class Education For Schedule Tribe Students)” will pop up on your screen.
- Step 7: Now, click on the “Renewal Application” option, and then the renewal form will appear on your screen. Now fill out the form carefully with all the required details.
- Step 8: Verify the form carefully after completion of the form, and once you have carefully verified the renewal form, click on the Submit button to complete the renewal process.
- Step 9: You will now receive the application number. You can keep the application number with you for future reference.
Important Downloads
- Official Website
- Login Page
- Registration Form
- Guidelines of the Scholarship
- FAQs for the Students for NSP
Helpline Number
Office Address:
- National Scholarship Division, Ministry of Human Resource Development,
- Department of Higher Education, West Block 1,
- 2nd Floor, Wing 6, Room No. 6,
- R. K. Puram, Sector 1,
- New Delhi 110066
- Helpline No: 0120-6619540
- Email ID: helpdesk[at]nsp[dot]gov[dot]in
FAQs
Who can apply for the National Fellowship and Scholarship scheme?
Only ST (Scheduled Tribe) students who have secured admission in recognized institutions approved by the Ministry can apply for this scheme, either at the graduate or postgraduate levels.
Is there any income limit to be eligible for the scholarship?
Yes, the total annual income of the family should not exceed Rs. 6.0 lakh. The income is calculated from both parents’ earnings but excludes other earnings of family members.
Can students receiving other scholarships apply under this scheme too?
No, students already availing any other scholarship from the State or Central Government for the same course are not eligible for this fellowship or scholarship simultaneously.
How can a student apply for this scheme?
Students must apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) by completing registration, uploading documents, and selecting the correct scheme under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs section before the deadline.
What financial benefits are provided under this scheme?
It includes full tuition fees, book allowance of Rs. 5,000 per year, monthly stipend of Rs. 3,000, and a one-time amount of Rs. 45,000 for computer and accessories.
Will the scholarship continue every year automatically?
No, the scholarship does not continue automatically. Students need to apply for renewal each year by submitting their academic progress and the required documents through the NSP portal.