The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has highlighted the success of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) Scheme through the example of Mallela Pruthvi Raju, a 34-year-old researcher who completed his Ph.D. with fellowship support. His case demonstrates how sustained financial assistance enables students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue advanced research and build careers in science.
How the fellowship worked
Shri Raju, who belongs to the SC-III community, received fellowship support under the NFSC Scheme from December 2019 to December 2024. During his Junior Research Fellowship stage, he received ₹37,000 per month. This amount increased to ₹42,000 per month when he progressed to the Senior Research Fellowship stage. For someone from a very poor background with no other income source, this monthly support became essential to meet his academic, research and basic living expenses.
Beyond the financial numbers, Shri Raju faced additional obstacles during his fellowship period. He encountered administrative reluctance and subtle discrimination from university officials when seeking the necessary approvals for monthly and half-yearly processing of his fellowship payments. Despite these challenges, he remained focused on his research goals.
The investment in his education has yielded results. Shri Raju successfully completed his Ph.D. and is now employed as a Project Scientist at HCU (Hyderabad Central University). He has also published three research papers in peer-reviewed journals during his fellowship period, demonstrating active engagement with scientific work.
What this means for you
If you belong to a Scheduled Caste community and are pursuing doctoral research, the NFSC Scheme can provide the financial stability needed to complete your studies without taking up other employment. The scheme covers both your research costs and living expenses, allowing you to focus entirely on your academic work. Shri Raju’s experience shows that this support can be the difference between having to abandon your research aspirations and successfully building a career as a research scientist. However, be prepared to navigate administrative processes carefully and persist through any bureaucratic delays in receiving your monthly payments.