A scholar from Odisha who received a monthly fellowship of ₹31,000 under the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students is now an assistant professor, in a case study published by the Social Justice Ministry.
The scholar is identified as "Dr Anirudh Pradhan (name changed)", 30, from Sambalpur district. The ministry says financial constraints and lack of guidance made higher studies hard for his family.
What he received
His fellowship began on 27 December 2019, with ₹31,000 a month plus contingency assistance, which let him focus on Ph.D. research. He completed his Ph.D. and now works as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Model Degree College, Nuapada, Khariar, Odisha, on a basic pay of ₹63,000.
The ministry says the fellowship improved his academic progress and professional opportunities. This is one individual's account as presented by the ministry, not a measure of the scheme overall.
Source: official release by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (03 NOV 2026 6:50PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: From Financial Assistance To Academic Excellence.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2332200) issued by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on 03 NOV 2026 6:50PM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.From Financial Assistance To Academic Excellence — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
