National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (NFPwD)
Launch Year	2012–13
Benefits	Fellowship of ₹37,000 per month for 2 years, followed by ₹42,000 per month for up to 3 years, plus other admissible benefits.
Beneficiary	Indian students with benchmark disabilities of 40% or more pursuing eligible full-time research.
Nodal Agency	National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC)
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Online through UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET, followed by selection and verification through the official fellowship process.

National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD): Benefits, Eligibility and How to Apply

A Ph.D. can be a heavy financial burden for students with disabilities. The National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) is a Central Government scheme that supports eligible students with benchmark disabilities who want to pursue full-time research in India. It began in 2012-13 and is part of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme for Scholarships for Students with Disabilities. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) administers it, and the National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is the implementing agency.

Scheme at a Glance

• Fellowships offered: 200 every year, with 150 through UGC-NET and 50 through Joint CSIR-UGC NET
• Beneficiaries: Indian students with a benchmark disability of 40% or more
• Maximum duration: up to five years
• Revised rates effective from: 1 January 2023

Key Benefits

• ₹37,000 per month for the first two years (Junior Research Fellow, JRF)
• ₹42,000 per month for up to three more years (Senior Research Fellow, SRF), subject to satisfactory research progress
• Contingency grant (see table below)
• Escort or reader assistance of ₹2,000 per month, subject to verification
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) at 9%, 18% or 27% for scholars not given hostel accommodation, depending on city classification
• Medical facilities and leave benefits, including maternity leave, under UGC fellowship rules

Financial Assistance

Who Is Eligible?

• Indian citizen with a benchmark disability of 40% or more under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, with a valid disability certificate
• A valid UDID is mandatory
• Must go through UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET. The fellowship is meant for candidates who qualify for NET but do not qualify for JRF
• Pursuing a regular, full-time M.Phil. or Ph.D. at an eligible institution, such as a UGC-recognised university, an eligible accredited university, a fully government-funded degree-awarding institution or an Institution of National Importance
• Not an employee of a university, college, educational institution or Central, State or UT Government, even if on study leave
• Not receiving another fellowship, scholarship, stipend, salary or other prohibited monetary benefit (you may need to give it up to accept this one)
• Has not previously received NFPwD for a Ph.D. It can be awarded only once in a lifetime
• If you have no admission when the fellowship is awarded, you must join an eligible full-time programme at the first opportunity and within three years of the award

There is no separate family income ceiling or age limit, but you must meet the age and academic requirements of the NET examination. M.Phil. support is limited to courses permitted by UGC. Admissions in Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Social Work were permitted only up to the 2025-26 session, so check for later updates.

Fellowship Duration

• M.Phil.: up to two years or until the dissertation is submitted, whichever is earlier
• Ph.D.: up to five years or until the thesis is submitted, whichever is earlier
• Integrated M.Phil. and Ph.D.: maximum five years
• JRF to SRF upgrade: requires an assessment of research progress by the prescribed committee
• No extension beyond the maximum tenure
• Payments generally begin from 1 April of the selection year, the date of research registration, or the date of joining, whichever is later

Documents Required

For joining and verification after selection:

• Aadhaar card and 12-digit Aadhaar number
• Disability certificate from the competent medical authority
• UDID card and number
• Postgraduate qualification details
• Selection details: year, candidate ID and award letter
• Admission and registration proof for the M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme
• Details of the university, department, supervisor and research topic
• Institution Certificate confirming regular, full-time research
• Declaration on employment and any other fellowship or financial assistance
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP) One Time Registration number, where required
• Aadhaar-linked bank account details
• Recent photograph and the Verification Form cum Joining Report

During the fellowship you may also need to submit continuation certificates, half-yearly progress reports, contingency grant accounts and utilisation certificates, an HRA certificate, and the JRF-to-SRF assessment report.

How to Apply

There is no separate NFPwD application form. You enter through the NET examination.

1. Check the latest UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC NET notification and registration dates.
2. Register, enter your personal, educational and disability details, select the PwD/PwBD category, provide your UDID, and choose the JRF option where applicable.
3. Upload documents, pay the exam fee and submit before the deadline.
4. Appear for the exam and check the NTA result. Candidates with benchmark disabilities who qualify for NET but not JRF may be considered through the merit-based selection process.
5. Watch the DEPwD scholarship section for the selection list and award notices. Selection depends on available slots and the department’s final decision.
6. Secure admission to an eligible full-time research programme within the allowed period.
7. On the NDFDC scholarship page, use the link to the Canara Bank Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP) to register, following the current user manual.
8. Submit the Verification Form cum Joining Report, Institution Certificate and supporting documents to your university’s nodal officer.
9. The nodal officer verifies the documents and uploads them to the portal. Follow up on any corrections needed before the fellowship is activated.
10. After the fellowship begins, submit continuation certificates, progress reports and grant records on time. Keep your bank account Aadhaar-seeded for payments through the Aadhaar Based Payment System.

Related Schemes

• Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities: for eligible students at notified institutions
• Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities: for eligible students in Classes IX and X

Each has separate eligibility and application procedures.

Contact

National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC)

• Phone: 011-45803730
• Email: ndfdcscholarship@gmail.com
• Address: Unit No. 11 & 12, Ground Floor, DLF Prime Tower, Okhla Phase-I, Near Tehkhand Village, New Delhi – 110020

For joining documents, portal verification and continuation formalities, also contact your university’s nodal officer. For notifications and selection lists, see the DEPwD scholarship section.