The budget allocation under the erstwhile scheme of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for the year 2014-15 was Rs.50.00 crores.  During the year  2015-16, the two Central Sector scholarship schemes for ST students viz.,i)Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for ST students and  ii)Top Class Education Scheme for ST students were merged into a single Central Sector Scheme called  ‘National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students’. The details of funds allocated under the merged scheme ‘National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students’,   for both Fellowship and Scholarship components of the scheme, are as under:-

(Rs. In lakhs)

2015-16		2016-17
BE	RE	BE	RE
5000.00	4881.00	5000.00	8000.00

 

                                    BE: Budget Estimates,    RE: Revised Estimates

The details of grants released, expenditure and the   number of Scheduled Tribe candidates awarded the Fellowship under the “National Fellowship (RGNF)”  component of the scheme ‘National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students’ for the last three years  are as under:-

(Rs. in lakhs)

2014-15		2015-16		2016-17
Expenditure	Beneficiaries	Expenditure	Beneficiaries		Expenditure	Beneficiaries
0.00*	3335	3000.00	1408		4512.25	2197

 

* Unspent fund available with UGC utilised during the year.

The scheme  National Fellowship (Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship)  for ST students was  being implemented by the Ministry through  University Grants Commission (UGC) till last year ie., 2016-17. However, it has been decided that the Ministry itself will implement the Scheme from the year 2017-18 onwards. For this purpose a dedicated portal has been designed in the Ministry for online applications.  During the current year 2017-18 (as on 28.12.17), a total amount of Rs.52.21 crores has been released towards fellowship for 1934 Scheduled Tribe fellowship candidates. 

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

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MKV

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