New Delhi: 13 AUG 2026 : Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed in Lok Sabha today that under the National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes (NFST), a total of 3750 number of fellowshipswere awarded during the last five years. Details of courses covered, institutions in which the scholars were enrolled in West Bengal on district-wise and year-wise basis, are given at Annexure-I.
National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes (NFST), being a Central Sector Scheme, has no provision regarding allocation of State-wise budget. Details of actual disbursement made in the State of West Bengal, district-wise, during the last five years are at Annexure-II.
Under the National Fellowship for ST students’ scheme,e the online portal for inviting applications generally opens on 1st July and closes on 30th September of the academic year. Thereafter, verification of applications is carried out, and a further merit list of 750 selected candidates is uploaded on the Ministry’s website. Subsequently, the release of fellowship funds is processed, subject to completion of necessary compliance by students such as submission of joining report, linking of bank account, continuation certificate, etc., and also the availability of funds under the budget head of the scheme.
Complaints/grievances relating to the scholarship schemes (including NFST Scheme) are generally received through the CPGRAMS/PG Portal,l and all grievances are disposed of within the prescribed timeline. The average disposal time of grievances received in CPGRAMS during 01/04/2021 to 31/03/2026 is given below: –
| CPGRAMS/PG Portal Report for all scholarship Grievances (including NFST scheme) | |||
| Number of grievances brought forward | Number of grievance(s) received | Number of grievance(s) disposed | Average disposal time (Days) |
| 1 | 1680 | 1681 | 7 |
Under the scheme of National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes (NFST), a total of 2250 fellowships were awarded during the last three years. The number of scholars completing their courses/research during the last three years is indicated in the table below.
| Financial Year | No of Students completing Research* |
| 2023-24 | 294 |
| 2024-25 | 156 |
| 2025-26 | 226 |
* 750 fellowships are given every year for a period of 5 years.
The constant support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to 750 fresh fellowships every year is ensuring representation of Scheduled Tribe scholars in higher education and research.