Guidelines for Junior ResearchFellowship and Research Associateship for Foreign Nationals

1.Introduction
This scheme was initiated keeping in view the political and cultural bilateralrelations of India with other developing countries ofAsia, Africa and Latin America. The scheme has opened new vistasfor foreign students and teachers, enabling them to come to India and undertake advanced studies andresearch in science, humanities and social sciences in Indian universities.

2. Objectives
The objective of the scheme is to provide an opportunity to foreign studentsand teachers from developing countries to undertake advanced study and researchleading to M.Phil./Ph.D. and postdoctoral research in sciences, humanities andsocial Sciences at Indian universities.

3.Eligibility/Target
Target Group : Students and teachers from developing countries ofAsia/Africa and Latin America

Eligibility: The upper age limit for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is35 years for men as on 1 July of the year of application and 45 years forwomen. The candidate must have at least a high-class master's degree with asecond-class bachelor's degree, or second-class master's degree with afirst-class bachelor's degree.

For Research Associateships (RA): In case of male applicants the ageshould be 45 years as on 1 July of the year of application, and 50 years in thecase of female candidates. The candidate must have a doctorate degree,published research work to their credit and evidence of independent researchwork.  

4.Procedure for Applying for the Scheme
The applications are invited through circulation to Indian embassies/Indianmissions abroad. They will receive applications from eligible candidates and,after due screening locally, will send them to the UGC for consideration.Foreign students from Asia, Africa and Latin America studying in India who have completed their master'sdegrees or doctoral degrees and desire to pursue research may send theirapplications through the university they propose to work with. The applicationwill have to be endorsed by their respective embassies in India for consideration by theCommission.

5. Procedure forApproval by the UGC
The applications received are placed before a short listing/screening committeeconstituted for this purpose. The short listed proposals are placed before theselection committee to finalise the proposals for the award of JRF and RA. Thedecision of the Commission is final and binding. The UGC conveys theprovisional intimation of selection to the candidate. However, this intimationdoes not bestow the award to the candidate. The formal award letter is issuedonly on receipt of political clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs andthe Ministry of External affairs, Government of India. The Commission alsoreserves the right to withdraw/cancel the award without assigning any reason.

6.Nature of Assistance Available under the Scheme
The number of slots available under the scheme are

Thetenure of these awards is:  

It isexpected that the concerned departments will monitor the progress of the Fellowcontinuously. The Fellow should not accept or hold any other position, paid orotherwise, or receive emoluments, salary, stipend, etc. from any other sourceduring the tenure of the award. The fellowship may be terminated at any timeduring the tenure, and the decision of the Commission shall be final andbinding. The tenure of the fellowship is for four years from the date ofjoining, subject to satisfactory progress report of the Fellow or submission ofPh.D. thesis, whichever is earlier. However, no extension is permissible beyondthe total tenure of four years and the awardee ceases to be a UGC JRF/RAimmediately after expiry of the tenure. Any claim/reference to this effect willbe illegal, and the individual may have to face disciplinary action for such anact.

Thefinancial assistance available under the scheme is as follows:

JRF:

Fellowship

@Rs.8,000/- p.m.

@Rs.9,000/- p.m.
For remaining period subject to the recommendation for enhancement/extension bya three-member committee and the Commission's approval.

@Rs.10,000/- p.a.
For sciences for initial two years
For humanities and social sciences for initial two years

Contingency

@Rs.25,000/- p.a. : For remaining period for sciences

@Rs.20,500/- p.a. : For remaining period for Humanities

Departmentalassistance

@Rs.3,000/- p.a. Per JRF

ForRA:

Fellowship

@Rs.12,000/-p.m. Fixed for Four Years

Contingency

@Rs.30,000/- p.a. For Four Years

Departmentalassistance

@10% ofAssociateship to the host institution

HRA:Suitable single-seated hostel accommodation in the institutions may be providedto the JRF, failing which HRA as per rules of the university/institution willbe paid to the fellow subject to the submission of the HRA certificationthrough registrar/principal. JRF/RA provided with accommodation in hostelrecognised/maintained by the institutions may be reimbursed the hostel fee,excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate to this effectis to be furnished through the registrar/principal (Annexure I). If JRF/RAmakes his/her own arrangements of accommodation, he/she may be entitled to drawHRA as per categorization of cities by the Government of India. The Fellow willsubmit a certificate for this purpose to UGC for claiming HRA through theconcerned university/institution/college

Medical: Noseparate/fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the JRF/RA may avail ofthe medical facilities available in the institution/university

Leave: Leavefor a maximum period of 30 days in a year in addition to public holidays may betaken by a Fellow with the approval of the supervisor. However, they are notentitled to any other vacations, for example, summer, winter and poojavacations. Women awardees are eligible for maternity leave at full rates of thefellowship for 135 days as per Government of India rules once during the tenureof their award. The awardee may in special cases may be allowed by theCommission leave without fellowship/associateship and contingency for a periodnot exceeding three months during the tenure of award on the recommendation ofthe supervisor/Head of department of the institution concerned. The period ofleave without fellowship/associateship will be counted towards the tenure.

7.Procedure for Release of Grant by the UGC
On receipt of Joining Report Annexure II ofthe candidate together with required documents, the UGC office releases thefirst instalment of the admissible grant to the concerneduniversity/institution. Thereafter, the grant is released on receipt of theUtilisation Certificate and statement of expenditure for the last paid grant(Annexures -III, IV and V). On completion of the award, an audited utilisationcertificate is to be submitted by the university/institution the awardee hasworked with. The UGC office may hold an amount of Rs.5,000/- of the lastinstalment and the same will be reimbursed on receipt of all required documentsfor settling and finalising accounts.

8. Procedure forMonitoring the Progress of the Scheme

Theprogress of the awardee is monitored by the concerned supervisor and head ofdepartment. The awardee is required to submit a six-monthly progress report ofthe work by the end of the month of June and December duly signed by thesupervisor, head of department and registrar Annexure VI.

In case of JRF, after completion of initialperiod of two years, the candidate may apply to the department/university forenhancement of the fellowship to the SRF level. The work done by the Fellowwill be assessed by a three-member committee consisting of a supervisor, headof the department and an external expert in the related field. Therecommendations/comments of the committee duly signed by the head/registrar ofthe institution are to be forwarded to this office for consideration.

In case of RA, the award is fixed for aperiod of four years and is non-extendable. The awardee is to submitsix-monthly progress reports ending in the month of June and December dulysigned by the supervisor, head of department and registrar.

In both the schemes, the awardee ceases tobe a UGC JRF/RA immediately after expiry of the due date. Any claim/referenceto this effect will be illegal and the individual may have to face disciplinaryaction for such an act.

9. Cancellation ofAward

Ifthe JRF/RA is discontinued before the period of two years, the entire amount ofthe fellowship will be refunded to the UGC.

Source and application form.