A case study from the Social Justice Ministry describes how a fellowship for Scheduled Caste students supported a Ph.D. scholar from a poor family in Chhattisgarh.
The scholar, identified as Rahul Kumar (name changed), is 33 and from Janjgir-Champa district. He comes from a Below Poverty Line family and says financial constraints made advanced research difficult. The release says his studies were also affected by misleading information and by institutional regulations outside the University Grants Commission framework.
The turning point
In July 2023 he began receiving help under the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC). The assistance, including fellowship support and house rent allowance, amounted to ₹45,700. He describes it as far beyond his expectations, saying it let him concentrate on his research.
The ministry presents the story as an example of how targeted aid reduces financial barriers to higher education. It is a single illustrative case and the release gives no overall figures for the scheme.
Source: official release by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (05 NOV 2026 7:18PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: A Journey Towards Academic Achievement Through the NFSC Fellowship.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2333260) issued by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on 05 NOV 2026 7:18PM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.A Journey Towards Academic Achievement Through the NFSC Fellowship — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
