New Delhi:  The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that it has taken a host of initiatives to facilitate smooth disbursement of fellowships/scholarships to the students under the various schemes. Now, all fellowship schemes have been brought under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode while disbursal of grants to awardees is being routed through PFMS (Public Finance Management System). This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey today (28 November 2016) in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.

Also, the Minister informed that a dedicated web portal (https://scholarship.canarabank.in/AdminLogin.aspx) has been created for migration of legacy cases on DBT platform.  A fellowship tracking portal has been developed https://scholarship.canarabank.in/scholar/Login.aspx where the students can check the status of payment, date of upload of documents, etc.

In addition to these above facilities a dedicated email-id ugcfellowships.ugc@gmail.com is created to facilitate the redressal of student grievances especially relating to disbursal of fellowship/ scholarships.    Dr Pandey said that a dedicated telephone number (011-23235640) has been provided to attend to calls from students relating to grievances/complaints/ problems on disbursal of grants under various fellowship/ scholarship schemes. Hence, scholars can leverage these two touch points for registering and addressing their concerns related to disbursal of grants under various fellowship schemes.

The minister also informed that the UGC provides financial assistance to selected candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories under various scholarships/fellowships schemes to encourage their interest in Higher Education.  Under the Post Doctoral Fellowship for SC/ST  during 2015-16, a total number of 766 students were eligible for the sachem.

Further, under PG Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST during 2015-16, a total number of 904 students were beneficiaries. Under Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC candidate during 2015-16, a total of 19,623 students were benefited. Under National fellowship Higher Education for ST Students  since 2015 (Formerly RGNF – ST), 4,929 scholars were beneficiaries.