Parliament Question: NFS for ST Students

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- # 2225 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 11/03/2026 NFS FOR ST STUDENTS 2225 # SHRI MADAN RATHORE: SHRI CHUNNILAL GARASIYA: DR. PARMAR JASHVANTSINH SALAMSINH: SHRI SADANAND MHALU SHET TANAVADE: Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the year-wise and State-wise/Union Territory-wise number of fellowships awarded under the National Fellowship Scheme (NFS) during the last five years and the details of the courses and institutions covered therein; (b) the details of the total outlay, status of disbursement and timelines for releasing fellowship funds to researchers; (c) the details of the number of complaints received and resolved through the portal and the average time for their disposal; and (d) the details of measurable outcomes in terms of research completion rate, academic progress and representation of Scheduled Tribe researchers in higher education and research? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) (a): The year-wise and State/UT wise number of fellowships awarded under the National Fellowship Scheme for ST students during the last five years is placed at Annexure–I. (b): The budget allocation and fund released under this scheme during last two financial year and current year(as on date) is given below:- Amount in Cr. Financial Year Budget Disbursement allocation(RE) 2025-26 220 199.76(as on date 09.03.2026) 2024-25 240 240 2023-24 230 230 Under the National Fellowship scheme online portal for inviting applications generally opens on 1st July and closes on 30th September of the academic year. Thereafter, verification of applicationsis carried out and further merit list of 750 selected candidates are uploaded on the Ministry's website which normally takes 2–3 months. Subsequently, the release of fellowship funds is processed, subject to completion of necessary compliance by students such as submission of joining report, linking of bank account, continuation certificate etc. The release of fellowship amount to students are also subject to availability of funds under the scheme budget head. (c): Complaints/grievances relating to the scholarship schemes are received through the CPGRAMS/PG Portal and all grievances are disposed of within the prescribed timeline. The average disposal time of CPGRAMS related to scholarship schemes is given in the table below:- CPGRAMS/PG Portal Report for all scholarship Grievances (including NFST scheme) Period of Report: 01/04/2025 to 09/03/2026 Name Brought Forward Received During Disposed During Average Disposal Days Scholarship and DBT 3 792 786 2 Technical queries regarding application process and routine inquiries regarding the scheme are also received through the Fellowship Portal which are attended to and replied. (d): The number of scholars completing their courses/research during the last three years and current year(as on 09.03.2026) is indicated in the table below. Financial Year No of Students completing Research* 2022-23 105 2023-24 294 2024-25 156 2025-26(as on 09.03.2026) 106 * 750 fellowships are given every year for a period of 5 years (which may get extended beyond 5 years) The data on representation of Schedule Tribe Researchers in higher Education is not maintained by this Ministry.Annexure-I Annexure to be referred in the part (a) of the reply of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2225 dated 11.03.2026 asked by Shri Madan Rathore, Shri Chunnilal Garasiya, Dr. Parmar Jashvantsinh Salamsinh and Shri Sadanand Mhalu Shet Tanavade regarding “NFS for ST Students”. State/UT Wise Number of NFST Award during the selection year 2020-21 to 2024-25 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- State 21 22 23 24 25 ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS 0 0 1 0 0 ANDHRA PRADESH 19 9 18 14 13 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 41 39 28 55 58 ASSAM 56 55 51 50 53 BIHAR 5 5 2 2 3 CHHATTISGARH 25 42 32 35 33 DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI AND DAMAN 0 1 0 0 0 AND DIU GOA 0 0 2 0 1 GUJARAT 57 31 34 29 25 HIMACHAL PRADESH 17 14 12 8 10 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 32 22 22 19 71 JHARKHAND 24 20 16 21 23 KARNATAKA 71 67 45 47 38 KERALA 4 3 5 4 1 LADAKH 19 19 19 9 7 LAKSHADWEEP 1 0 0 0 2 MADHYA PRADESH 8 14 10 14 13 MAHARASHTRA 27 15 30 21 19 MANIPUR 38 33 45 34 35 MEGHALAYA 38 32 47 44 39 MIZORAM 77 104 78 104 83 NAGALAND 45 46 66 70 66 ODISHA 15 35 59 82 40 PUDUCHERRY 0 0 1 0 0 RAJASTHAN 22 35 31 18 28 SIKKIM 5 5 8 4 3 TAMIL NADU 5 7 4 5 6 TELANGANA 61 52 34 26 39 TRIPURA 13 8 18 12 13 UTTARAKHAND 9 3 6 3 3 UTTAR PRADESH 0 2 4 8 6 WEST BENGAL 16 32 22 12 19 TOTAL 750 750 750 750 750 *****