UGC’s Junior Research Fellowship: Eligibility, Benefits, Application Process

The University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced the UGC NET JRF (National Eligibility Test for Junior Research Fellowship) program, which has gained widespread recognition, initially overseen by the CBSE, the administration of UGC NET JRF has transitioned to the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the UGC. Moreover, the exam is conducted biannually, in June and December/January, and its outcomes are pivotal in determining candidates’ eligibility for the coveted Junior Research Fellowship.

The Junior Research Fellowship is conferred upon candidates surpassing the specified cutoff for the respective year. Further, this prestigious fellowship enables recipients to engage in comprehensive research, supported by a stipend from the UGC. The program actively encourages postgraduate students to pursue further studies and research in diverse fields such as humanities, social sciences, languages, and sciences, ultimately leading to the attainment of an MPhil. or PhD. degrees.

In this blog, we will learn the details of UGC’s Junior Research Fellowship. 

Full Tenure of the Fellowship	2 years
Application Procedure	Online (NTA’s official website)
Financial Assistance	In addition to a monthly fellowship payment of up to INR 31,000, the fellows also receive a contingency grant, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and assistance with an escort/reader
Official Website	https://nta.ac.in/
Application Date	To Be Announced

Objectives of Junior Research Fellowship

The fundamental objective behind instituting this scholarship is to financially support postgraduate students. Successful performance in the UGC NET exam is crucial in determining candidates’ eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship, which, in turn, grants recipients a monthly monetary award of Rs. 31,000. 

Those who secure admission to M.Phil. or Ph.D. programs following their UGC NET JRF success qualify for a two-year financial assistance period through this scholarship.

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Eligibility Criteria

The general eligibility criteria for the National Eligibility Test-Junior Research Fellowships are outlined as follows:

1. Candidates aspiring for the Junior Research Fellowship must possess a postgraduate degree from a government-recognized institution or institute.

2. For applicants falling under the General (EWS) category, a master’s degree with a minimum of 55% or an equivalent grade is required.

3. Aspirants belonging to the OBC, ST/SC, PWD, or Transgender categories must have secured at least 50% in their master’s program.

4. Degree holders who completed their master’s degree by September 19, 1991, are eligible for NET with a 5% percentile relaxation.

5. Both ongoing master’s students and those awaiting PG results are eligible to take the UGC NET test. However, to be considered for JRF and Assistant Professor positions, candidates must complete their master’s degree within two years of the NET result date and achieve the required percentile.

6. Further, to apply for the JRF program, candidates in the general category must be under 30. There are no age restrictions for the Assistant Professor program.

7. Along with that, candidates identifying as OBC, ST/SC, PWD, women, or transgender will benefit from a five-year age reduction.

8. Individuals from the armed forces and those with five years of research experience will also receive a five-year age reduction.

9. Lastly, candidates holding an L.L.M. degree qualify for a three-year age reduction.

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Application Process 

Applicants aspiring to secure financial assistance through the UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship program are required to participate in the biannual UGC NET exam. Furthermore, those achieving a score above the JRF cutoff for the specific year become eligible for the UGC NET JRF stipend. In addition to the UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship application process, a prerequisite for admission to the M.Phil./Ph.D. program, is outlined below.

Step 1: Visit the NTA’s official website and navigate to “Quick Links.” Click on “UGC NET” and complete the online application form. Take note of the system-generated application number.

2nd Step: Upload the applicant’s scanned signature along with a photograph in JPG or JPEG format (within the 10 to 200 kb size range).

Step 3: Proceed to make the payment using SBI MOPS and retain the receipt as evidence of payment.

4th Step: After successful fee submission, candidates are required to print four copies of the confirmation page.

Benefits/ Rewards

This scholarship provides specific incentives as follows:

1. Junior Research Fellows receive a fellowship of Rs. 31,000.

2. Senior Research Fellows are granted a fellowship of Rs. 35,000.

3. Fellows pursuing an M.Phil. or Ph.D. in the humanities or social sciences receive a fellowship of Rs. 10,000 for the first year and Rs. 20,500 for the subsequent three years.

4. Fellows pursuing an M.Phil. or PhD in science receive a fellowship of Rs. 12,000 for the first year and Rs. 25,009 for the remaining duration.

5. Departmental Support includes Rs. 3,000 for reader assistance.

Also Read: UGC NET Application Process

Selection Procedure

As previously mentioned, the UGC NET serves as a qualifying examination to ascertain candidates’ eligibility for positions as Junior Research Fellows (JRF) and Assistant Professors at diverse universities and colleges nationwide. Successfully passing the NET exam in the field corresponding to your postgraduate studies enables you to apply for JRF positions at your preferred institutions. 

However, the ultimate selection depends on meeting the eligibility criteria and other specified criteria established by the institution to which you are applying.

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FAQs

We hope this blog gave you a complete overview of the UGC’s Junior Research Fellowship 2024. Make sure to subscribe to Leverage Edu to explore more Indian Scholarships like this daily. Thank you for reading!