Empowering Single Daughters: The Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship
The University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Department of Higher Education, offers the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child (SJSGC), a prestigious program designed to support single daughters in pursuing doctoral research. This fellowship aims to empower women pursuing a Ph.D. in any discipline and recognizes the unique circumstances and value of the “single girl child” – defined as the only female child in a family, without any brothers or sisters. Notably, a girl who is one of twin daughters or fraternal daughters is also eligible to apply. The number of fellowships awarded annually is determined by the number of eligible and complete applications received online.
Objectives of the SJSGC Fellowship:
The SJSGC Fellowship program is rooted in several key objectives:
- Supporting Higher Education: To provide financial assistance to single daughters pursuing higher education, particularly in Social Sciences and humanities.
- Recognizing Small Family Norms: To acknowledge families that embrace a smaller family size.
- Promoting and Recognizing Single Daughters: To uplift and celebrate the role and potential of single daughters in society.
- Propagating the Single Girl Child Concept: To raise awareness and acceptance of the single girl child norm as a positive societal trend.
Benefits of the Fellowship:
The SJSGC Fellowship provides comprehensive support to scholars throughout their doctoral journey:
Tenure: The fellowship is granted for a maximum of five years, starting from April 1st of the selection year or the fellow’s actual joining date at the university/college/institute – whichever is later. Funding continues until the Ph.D. thesis submission or the completion of the five-year tenure, whichever occurs first. Extensions beyond the five-year period are not permitted.
Financial Assistance:
- Fellowship Stipend:
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): ₹ 31,000 per month for the initial two years, contingent on satisfactory research progress.
- Senior Research Fellowship (SRF): ₹ 35,000 per month for the remaining term, also subject to satisfactory research progress.
- Contingency Grant:
- Humanities and Social Sciences: ₹ 10,000 per annum for the first two years, increasing to ₹ 20,500 per annum for the remaining tenure.
- Science, Engineering, and Technology: ₹ 12,000 per annum for the first two years, increasing to ₹ 25,000 per annum for the remaining tenure.
- Escort/Reader Assistance: A special allowance of ₹ 3,000 per month is provided for “Divyang” (differently-abled) scholars.
- Institutional Property: Books, journals, and equipment purchased through the contingency grant become the property of the institution upon tenure completion, fellowship termination, or resignation.
Housing and Medical Support:
- HRA (House Rent Allowance):
- Hostel Accommodation: Scholars residing in hostels are eligible to receive hostel fees, excluding mess, electricity, and water charges. Refusal of hostel accommodation forfeits HRA eligibility.
- Alternative Accommodation: In case of non-availability of hostel accommodation the Scholar may be provided with single accommodation by the host institution. In such cases, the rent paid by the scholar on an actual basis shall be reimbursed, subject to the ceiling of HRA as per Govt. of India norms
- Independent Accommodation: Scholars arranging their own accommodation are entitled to HRA based on government-defined city categories and must submit a certificate in the prescribed format to their institution.
- Medical Assistance: Scholars can access medical facilities provided by their respective institutions. No separate medical allowance is provided.
Leave Provisions:
- Earned Leave: Scholars are entitled to a maximum of 30 days of earned leave per year, in addition to public holidays. However, they are not eligible for vacation periods like summer, winter, or Pooja breaks.
- Maternity/Paternity Leave: Female scholars can avail maternity leave once during the fellowship tenure at full fellowship rates, as per Government of India norms. Paternity leave can also be allowed for male scholars as per prevailing Government of India norms. The period of leave without fellowship, if any, will be counted towards the tenure.
- Intermittent Break: Women scholars may take intermittent breaks for a maximum total of one year. These breaks can be availed a maximum of 3 times during the entire period of the fellowship. However, the total duration of the break should not exceed one year. No fellowship shall be available for the period of such break(s). This period of intermittent breaks shall not be counted towards the tenure of the fellowship
- Academic Leave: Academic leave (without fellowship and other emoluments) shall be permissible only for one year throughout the tenure (for any kind of academic/teaching assignment/foreign visit in connection with research work). The period of leave without fellowship will be counted towards the tenure. Expenditure on foreign visits in connection to research work cannot be claimed from UGC
- Leave Approval: All forms of leave must be approved by the scholar’s institution.
This document outlines the eligibility criteria and application process for a Ph.D. fellowship program specifically designed for single girl children.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for this fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Gender and Family Status: Be a single girl child (having no brothers, or having brothers and sisters) of her parents. A single girl child is not eligible if she has one or more brothers and one sister.
- Ph.D. Program: Be enrolled in a regular, full-time Ph.D. program in any stream/subject at a recognized University, College, or Institute. Part-time or distance learning Ph.D. programs are not eligible.
- Age Limit: Be under 40 years of age (for the general category) or under 45 years of age (for reserved categories: SC/ST/OBC and PWD) as of the application deadline.
- Responsibility: Both the fellowship recipient and the institution where she is pursuing her Ph.D. are responsible for ensuring adherence to the terms and conditions of the fellowship.
Exclusions:
- Applicants with brothers and a sister are not eligible.
- Students enrolled in part-time or distance learning Ph.D. programs are not eligible.
Application Process:
Applications are accepted online through the designated portal, typically announced once a year via advertisements in leading newspapers and employment news, with a short notification on the UGC website (www.ugc.ac.in). The application process involves the following steps:
- Read the Guidelines: Access the fellowship program’s specific guidelines on the website (https://frg.ugc.ac.in/) and carefully review them to ensure eligibility.
- Registration:
- Click on “New User” for the specific scheme to begin the registration process.
- Provide all required details and a valid email address for future communication.
- Upload scanned copies of your passport-size photograph and signature (JPG format, size up to 1MB).
- Verify the accuracy of the information, as it cannot be modified after submission.
- Click “Submit” to complete the registration.
- Login:
- After successful registration, you will receive login credentials via email (from ugchelp@mail.inflibnet.ac.in).
- Use these credentials to log in to the application portal.
- Change the password upon first login and remember it for future access.
- Dashboard:
- The details provided during registration will be displayed in your Profile.
- Incomplete details will be indicated by red-colored icons. These icons will turn green once all required information is submitted.
- Click on the “Eligibility Criteria” button.
- Eligibility Alert:
- Carefully read all eligibility criteria and click the checkbox to acknowledge that you have reviewed the UGC guidelines.
- Eligibility Form:
- Provide all required information in the eligibility form.
- Upload an affidavit (on ₹100 stamp paper), duly attested by an SDM/First Class Magistrate/Tahsildar, from your parents confirming your status as a single girl child, according to the prescribed format. If your parents are deceased, the affidavit can be submitted by your guardian (size limit: less than 1 MB).
- Note that the eligibility form cannot be modified after submission.
- Click the “Submit” button.
- Data Capturing Format:
- Click on the “Apply Now” box.
- The Data Capturing Dashboard will appear, where you need to fill in your PG and Ph.D. details.
- Click on the PG Educational Qualification box.
- PG Details:
- Provide the required details about your Postgraduate qualification.
- Click the “Submit” button.
- Ph.D. Details:
- Provide details about your Ph.D. program and upload all required documents.
- Click the “Submit” button.
- Declaration:
- Read the declaration carefully.
- If you agree with the terms, check the box next to “I Agree with above.”
- Click the “Submit” button.
Save your application for future reference.
Important Note: Hard copies of the application form will not be accepted.
Required Documents:
- Scanned copy of passport-size photograph and signature (JPG format, size up to 1MB).
- Complete research proposal (size up to 5MB) and abstract (size up to 1MB).
- A printout of the auto-generated application form, signed by the HoD/Registrar of your institution, to be uploaded before final submission.
- Affidavit (on ₹100 stamp paper) from parents (or guardian, if parents are deceased) confirming the applicant’s status as a single girl child, duly attested by SDM/First Class Magistrate/Tahsildar, as per the prescribed proforma; size less than 1MB.
This revised version provides a clearer and more organized explanation of the eligibility requirements and the application process. It utilizes bullet points and numbered steps for better readability and emphasizes important details.