ST research scholars pay for their own experiments, conferences after months-long delays in National Fellowship disbursement

Research scholars from Scheduled Tribe communities across the country have reported months-long delays and irregularities in the disbursement of funds under the National Fellowship for Scheduled Tribes (NFST), a scholarship programme administered by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Ministry officials said funds had temporarily run out due to a hike in the fellowship amount, but have recently been replenished through an additional allocation.

Multiple scholars from the 2024-25 batch are yet to receive their first fellowship amount nearly one year into their PhD work, while those from the 2023-24 batch reported a backlog of around seven months in fund disbursement. As a result, they are forced to pay from their own pockets to conduct experiments and present papers at conferences, and borrow money for field research.

‘Release pending funds immediately’

The All India Research Scholars Association on Wednesday (September 10, 2025) wrote to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Secretary Vibhu Nayyar about the issues faced by NFST scholars, demanding the immediate release of pending funds, and the streamlining of the disbursal process. The Association has also called for the establishment of a grievance redressal system for all fellowship-related issues.

The NFST is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded and implemented by the Tribal Affairs Ministry. The scheme offers 750 scholarships each year for candidates pursuing M.Phil or PhD degrees, which are to be paid in quarterly instalments for a maximum period of five years. 

Officials told The Hindu that the fund earmarked for the NFST scheme for the five-year period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 was exhausted in September 2024 “because the amount of scholarship was increased to ₹37,000”. While the Ministry had sought an additional budget allocation of ₹220 crore for the scheme, the sanction for this came through only last month, the official said. “The pending fellowships should come through in 10 to 15 days,” the official added.

Out-of-pocket expenses

H. Allyang Chakma, 26, is pursuing a PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indra Gandhi National Open University in New Delhi. He told The Hindu, “I applied for the NFST for the 2024-25 batch, the same year that I started my PhD work. The list came out in February 2025, but till now the verification processes do not seem to be over, and I have received no money.”

Rohan Meena, 29, who is doing a PhD in Physics at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur, is also among the 2024-25 batch of NFST awardees. He has already spent around ₹30,000 on lab equipment for his research from his own pocket, he said. “I spent about ₹15,000 to get an autoclave for our work with nanoparticles, and then more on glassware,” he said. Mr. Meena also presented a paper at the International Conference on Materials and Thermophysical Properties last year, for which he paid the fees from his own money.

In its letter to the Tribal Affairs Ministry, the AIRSA said, “The NFST Fellowship is a lifeline for tribal research scholars who are striving to build careers in higher education and research. Its timely release is not only essential for their academic progress but also crucial to ensure inclusivity, equity, and empowerment of the tribal community in higher education.”

Borrowing for field research

Another affected scholar, Lalhmingsanga Chinzah, 25, is pursuing his PhD in Botany and is was selected for the NFST in 2023-24. “I started my work at the Mizoram University in 2023. I was selected in February 2024, and the first batch of the funds came in June 2024. Then I got one tranche in Aug-Sept of the same year and another in March this year. However, because of the delays, the fellowship amount has been paid only till this January. In effect, the fellowship amount for the period of February to September this year remains pending,” he explained.

Last year, he had to borrow money to go on field trips for his research, which involves spending time in paddy fields. “This season too, I am waiting for funds to start my field work, but looks like I will have to borrow money again,” he said.

Scholars told The Hindu that their attempts to contact the Ministry through their respective Nodal Officers had not yet resulted in funds being expedited.

Earlier this year, the Tribal Affairs Ministry told a Parliamentary Committee that it has already proposed that the NFST scheme be extended for the next five-year financial cycle, also suggesting that the number of scholarships be increased to 1,000 from the existing 750.