National Fellowship SC scheme: PhD scholar received ₹24 lakh support

What happened

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment issued a release on 30 October 2026. It describes one example of support given under the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) scheme. According to the release, a 40-year-old research scholar from Udaipur in Rajasthan received a total of ₹24 lakh in financial support under the scheme. The release calls him Mahendra Kumar, a changed name.

What the scheme is

According to the release, the scheme supports eligible students in higher education and research. Its aim is to reduce financial barriers and help students move towards their goals. The ministry said the scheme encourages students to contribute to building an inclusive, knowledge-based and developed India.

How the support came

The release says the scholar began receiving support under the scheme from December 2020 as a fellowship, house rent allowance (HRA) and contingency grant. Together, these came to a total of ₹24 lakh. The release does not give the separate amount for each part.

What the scholar said

According to the release, the scholar said the fellowship fully helped him continue his doctoral studies and meet his academic goals. The support, he said, let him deal with financial challenges and focus more on his research and academic work. He said the support brought positive changes in his academic, professional and personal life. The release also notes that he did not share any information about a change in his income.

What this means for ordinary readers

This release is an example of support given under a scheme, not a new announcement or rule. If you are a Scheduled Caste student planning higher education or research, the scheme may be relevant to you. The release does not give application dates, the application process or eligibility rules, so check the concerned official source before applying.