Summary
The monthly fellowship amount under the non-NET scheme has remained unchanged at Rs 8,000 for PhD students for 11 years now. For MPhil students, the amount is stuck at Rs 5,000 a month.
The non-NET (National Eligibility Test) fellowship amounts for research scholars in central universities have remained unchanged for 11 years, with the government appearing oblivious to the effects of steep price rise and inflation on these youths and their families.
The monthly fellowship amount under the non-NET scheme has remained unchanged at Rs 8,000 for PhD students for 11 years now. For MPhil students, the amount is stuck at Rs 5,000 a month. The prices of food, transport, rental charges and material costs have more than doubled in this period, but the ministry of education appears unconcerned.
DMK Lok Sabha member Parthiban SR asked the government in the House on December 18 about the possibility of increasing the fellowship amounts. Minister of state for education Subhas Sarkar evaded any specific answer and spoke about the features of the scheme.
Research scholars are livid with the government’s approach to the non-NET fellowship. Four students said they had formed an All India Research Scholars Association and would carry out protests across universities.
In a written question, Parthiban asked: “Whether the Government is planning to increase the non-NET fellowship amount and other facilities.”
Sarkar said that according to the University Grants Commission, non-NET fellowship had been released to 16,270 MPhil and PhD students in 45 UGC-funded central universities as of March 31, 2023.
“UGC has further informed that the Non-NET fellowship is being given to all students admitted in MPhil/PhD as per UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of MPhil/PhD Degrees) Regulations, 2016, who are not getting any scholarship from other schemes,” Sarkar said in response to the question.
More than 100 students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) held a month-long protest in October and November to demand an increase in the fellowship amount for PhD students to at least Rs 25,000.
Students keen to pursue research try for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) which is awarded to the top scorers of the NET. Those not eligible for the JRF or any other fellowship like the national fellowships for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes are awarded non-NET fellowship.
A PhD student at BHU said the going house rent rate was about Rs 5,000 for those living outside the campus. The cost of food is at least Rs 3,000 a month. The students have to travel to the university and to the field for research, buy books, do photocopies and spend on mobile phone bills, the student pointed out.
The monthly JRF fellowship in 1999 was Rs 6,000. It was increased in 2006 to Rs 8,000 for the first two years (JRF) and Rs 10,000 for the next three years (SRF-Senior Research Fellowship). The amounts were revised to Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,000 in 2007, to Rs 16,000 and Rs 18,000 in 2010, to Rs 25,000 and Rs 28,000 in 2014, to Rs 31,000 and Rs 35,000 in 2018 and to Rs 37,000 and Rs 42,000 this year.
When the non-NET fellowship was started in 2007, a PhD scholar used to receive Rs 5,000 a month; the amount was increased to Rs 8,000 in 2012. There has been no change since.
“The government wanted to discontinue the scholarship in 2015. Due to widespread protests, they could not do that. It seems the government is still working on the same plan. By gradually reducing funds, they want to close it completely,” said a student.
Last updated on 23 Dec 2023
