Immediately disburse National Fellowship for OBCs: AIOBCSA writes to UGC Chairman

NEW DELHI: The All India OBC students association (AIOBCSA) has requested the University Grants Commission (UGC) to immediately disburse the National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (NFOBC).

In a letter addressed to the UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, AIOBCSA said, “The fellowship amount is not disbursed to the PhD/ MPhil scholars of National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (NFOBC) holders for five months. It will be difficult to continue research without the fellowship amount as most of them are from socially, educationally, economically backward communities.”

The OBC students group also urged the UGC chairman to disburse the fellowship amount every month.

Also read | Give age relaxation for OBCs in INSPIRE faculty fellowships: AIOBCSA urges Jitendra Singh

The UGC has been implementing the scheme of National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes as entrusted and funded by the ministry of social justice and empowerment. The scheme is open to candidates who belong to OBC category and are pursuing higher studies such as regular and full time MPhil and PhD degrees in sciences, humanities, social sciences and engineering and technology.

Immediately disburse fellowships to NFOBCs. PhD/MPhil scholars are suffering a lot with out financial support. #DisburseFellowships #IncreaseFellowships @EduMinOfIndia @ugc_india @mamidala90 pic.twitter.com/TpEbc34wjy

— All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) (@aiobcsa) August 1, 2022

The number of slots allocated for OBC candidates by the ministry of social justice and empowerment (MoSJ&E) is 1000. The number of intake of JRF was enhanced from 300 to 1,000 per year to undertake advanced studies and research leading to MPhil, PhD degrees, who have qualified UGC NET, UGC-CSIR.

"There is a provision of 3% reservation for slots for consideration of award of fellowship to research scholars for Persons with Disability (PwD) who belongs to OBC category,” as per the official website.