Savitribai Phule Fellowship 2026 – Rs.42,000/Month PhD Grant, Apply Now

Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship 2026 offers single girl child PhD scholars up to Rs.42,000 per month — one of the highest research stipends available to women in India under a UGC scheme. If you are the only daughter in your family and currently enrolled in a full-time PhD programme, this fellowship was designed specifically for you. This guide covers everything you need to know about the UGC SJSGC fellowship: eligibility criteria, revised stipend amounts, the application process, required documents, and the current status of fresh notifications.

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What Is the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child?

The Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child (SJSGC) is a flagship fellowship scheme administered by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under India’s Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. Named after Savitribai Jyotirao Phule — India’s first female teacher and a pioneer of women’s education — this scheme provides full financial support to single girl children of their families who are pursuing PhD degrees in any discipline at recognised Indian universities.

The fellowship directly addresses two national priorities: promoting higher education among women and recognising families that observe the small family norm by raising only one daughter. The UGC disburses the fellowship amount directly into the scholar’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, ensuring transparency and timely payments.

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As of 2026, the stipend has been revised upward — JRF scholars receive Rs.37,000 per month for the first two years, and SRF scholars receive Rs.42,000 per month for the remaining tenure. This revision, effective from January 1, 2023, was approved at the UGC’s 572nd meeting. The fellowship is one of the few government-funded PhD support schemes in India with no application fee, no bond requirement, and coverage across all academic disciplines.

What Does “Single Girl Child” Mean Under This Scheme?

Under UGC guidelines, a “single girl child” means the only girl child in the family without any brother or sister. Importantly, a girl scholar who is one of twin daughters or fraternal daughters is also eligible. However, if a family has one or more sons and one daughter, the daughter does not qualify under this scheme.

Who Should Apply for This Fellowship?

This fellowship is ideal for a specific profile of PhD scholars. Check if you match any of the following:

• 👩‍🎓 Full-time PhD scholars who are the only daughter in their family with no brother or sister and are enrolled in a NAAC-accredited or centrally recognised institution
• 🔬 Science and engineering researchers who want contingency funding for lab supplies, field studies, and publications alongside a monthly stipend
• 📚 Humanities and social science scholars looking for dedicated research funding without requiring a qualifying entrance like NET or GATE
• 🏛️ General category scholars aged up to 40 years who are registered in a regular, full-time PhD programme at a UGC-recognised university
• 🎯 SC/ST/OBC/PWD scholars aged up to 45 years who want reserved-category age relaxation benefits alongside the fellowship
• 👶 Twin daughters — if you are one of two daughters (twins or fraternal), you are explicitly eligible under the UGC guidelines
• 💼 Scholars not receiving any other fellowship — those who want to replace a smaller scholarship with a substantial UGC-backed stipend
• 🏠 Scholars needing HRA support — the fellowship includes House Rent Allowance (at 8%, 16%, or 24% based on city category) where hostel accommodation is not available

Stipend and Financial Assistance Details 2026

The Savitribai Phule Fellowship provides comprehensive financial support across monthly stipend, contingency grant, and HRA. The revised amounts (effective January 1, 2023, as per UGC’s 572nd meeting decision) are as follows:

The fellowship amount is disbursed directly into the scholar’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via the UGC-Canara Bank Scholarship Payment Portal at scholarship.canarabank.in. The fellowship is payable from April 1 of the selection year or the actual date of joining, whichever is later.

Revision History: How Stipends Have Grown

Eligibility Criteria — Complete List

Before applying for the Savitribai Phule Fellowship 2026, verify all eligibility conditions carefully. The UGC cancels provisional selections when scholars are found ineligible after selection, so self-verification is critical.

• Single Girl Child Status: Must be the only girl child in the family with no brother or sister (twin daughters are eligible; a daughter with brothers is not eligible)
• PhD Enrolment: Must be pursuing a regular, full-time PhD programme in any discipline at a recognised institution
• Mode of Study: Distance, open, or part-time PhD enrolment is NOT covered; only regular full-time scholars are eligible
• Institution Type: The institution must be a Central/State University under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act with valid NAAC accreditation, a Deemed University under Section 3 with NAAC accreditation, an Institution of National Importance, or a fully government-funded institution empowered to award degrees
• Age Limit — General Category: Up to 40 years as on the last date of application
• Age Limit — SC/ST/OBC/PWD: Up to 45 years as on the last date of application
• One Fellowship Only: The scholar must not be receiving any other fellowship, scholarship, salary, or monetary benefit from any other source simultaneously
• No Previous PhD Fellowship: Scholars who have already availed a full or partial research fellowship for PhD under any other scheme are not eligible
• Non-teaching Employees Excluded: Government employees or university/college staff are not eligible even if on study leave or extra ordinary leave
• MPhil Excluded: The fellowship is exclusively for PhD research; MPhil scholars are not covered

Required Documents for Application

How to Apply for Savitribai Phule Fellowship Online

Applications for the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship are invited once a year through the UGC’s online portal. The process is entirely online — no physical application is required. Follow these steps when the next notification is released:

1. Monitor the UGC website: Regularly check ugc.gov.in and frg.ugc.ac.in for the annual notification. UGC also publishes short notifications in leading national newspapers and Employment News.
2. Read the guidelines: Visit frg.ugc.ac.in and download and read the complete SJSGC guidelines before registering. Verify all eligibility conditions against your profile.
3. New User Registration: On the homepage of frg.ugc.ac.in, click “New User” under the SJSGC scheme. Fill in all personal and educational details accurately. Provide an active email address — all future communications will be sent here.
4. Fill the online application: Complete the application form with details of your PhD programme, institution, supervisor, category, and research area. Declare any existing scholarship or fellowship you may be receiving.
5. Upload documents: Scan and upload all required documents in the prescribed format and file size. The Single Girl Child Affidavit on Rs.100 stamp paper is mandatory and must be attested by an SDM or First Class Magistrate.
6. Submit before the deadline: Submit the application before the closing date. The number of fellowship slots is decided based on the total eligible applications received in each cycle.
7. Await selection result: UGC publishes the provisional selection list on ugc.gov.in. Provisionally selected candidates can download their Award Letter from their login on frg.ugc.ac.in.
8. Join within 3 months: The candidate must join the fellowship within 3 months from the date of the Award Letter. Failure to join within this period results in automatic cancellation of the award.

Savitribai Phule Fellowship vs Other UGC Fellowships

Single girl child PhD scholars often consider multiple fellowship options before applying. Here is a direct comparison of the SJSGC fellowship with the UGC-JRF and CSIR-JRF fellowships:

Advantages and Disadvantages of the SJSGC Scheme

Every fellowship has trade-offs. Here is a balanced assessment of the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship:

Advantages

• ✅ No qualifying examination required — unlike NET or GATE-based fellowships, selection is based on application merit and eligibility
• ✅ High revised stipend — Rs.37,000 (JRF) to Rs.42,000 (SRF) per month, matching the rates of UGC-JRF and CSIR-JRF
• ✅ All disciplines covered — science, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and professional subjects all qualify
• ✅ Higher age limit — General category up to 40 years, reserved categories up to 45 years; far more relaxed than CSIR-JRF (28 years)
• ✅ DBT direct payment — no institutional delay in disbursement; amount credited directly to scholar’s bank account
• ✅ Maternity and intermittent break provision — up to 1 year total intermittent break (3 occasions maximum) without forfeiting tenure count

Disadvantages

• ❌ No fresh notification since 2022 — as confirmed by an RTI response, UGC has not issued a new call for applications since 2022, affecting PhD scholars enrolled after that year
• ❌ No extension beyond 5 years — scholars who cannot complete their PhD within 5 years lose all remaining fellowship support with no possibility of extension
• ❌ Only one fellowship allowed — scholars cannot simultaneously receive any other scholarship, stipend, or government benefit
• ❌ Institution restrictions — only NAAC-accredited universities or centrally funded institutions qualify; scholars at private universities without NAAC accreditation are ineligible

Important Terms Related to UGC Fellowship Schemes

Understanding these terms will help you navigate the application process and claim the fellowship correctly:

• JRF (Junior Research Fellow): The first two years of the PhD fellowship tenure; stipend is Rs.37,000/month as of 2026. After satisfactory assessment, the scholar is upgraded to SRF.
• SRF (Senior Research Fellow): The fellowship level after the initial two years; stipend increases to Rs.42,000/month for the remaining tenure (up to 3 more years).
• DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer): Government mechanism for crediting fellowship amounts directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, eliminating intermediary delays.
• SJSGC: Short form for Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child — the official abbreviation used by UGC on all portals and notifications.
• Three Member Assessment Committee: A committee constituted by the institution after two years to evaluate research progress; a satisfactory report is mandatory for upgrade from JRF to SRF.
• Joining cum Verification Report: An official UGC form (Annexure-I) that must be filled and signed by the scholar, guide, head of department, and registrar before the fellowship disbursement begins.
• HRA (House Rent Allowance): Provided at 8%, 16%, or 24% of the stipend based on the Govt. of India city categorisation (X, Y, Z cities). Hostel residents draw actual hostel fees (excluding mess charges).
• Contingency Grant: Annual non-stipend funding for research expenses such as books, journals, equipment, and field work; separate from the monthly stipend.
• Intermittent Break: Up to 1 year total break (in maximum 3 occasions) permitted for women scholars; this period does not count toward the 5-year tenure.
• NAAC Accreditation: National Assessment and Accreditation Council certification required for the host institution to be eligible under this scheme.

Important Dates and Current Status 2026

Important Links

Conclusion

The Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship 2026 remains one of India’s most comprehensive and accessible PhD fellowships for women — offering up to Rs.42,000 per month without requiring any qualifying entrance examination. The scheme is active and continuing to disburse stipends to existing beneficiaries, but no fresh notification has been issued since 2022. If you are a single girl child currently enrolled in or planning to enrol in a full-time PhD programme, bookmark the UGC portal at ugc.gov.in and check frg.ugc.ac.in regularly so you can apply the moment the next cycle opens.

Frequently Asked Questions About Savitribai Phule Fellowship 2026

What is the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child?

The Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship (SJSGC) is a PhD fellowship scheme by the University Grants Commission (UGC) that provides monthly stipends, contingency grants, and HRA to single girl child scholars pursuing full-time PhD degrees at NAAC-accredited or centrally funded institutions in India. The fellowship runs for up to 5 years and as of 2026 offers Rs.37,000/month for JRF and Rs.42,000/month for SRF.

How much is the Savitribai Phule Fellowship stipend in 2026?

The revised stipend (effective January 1, 2023) under the Savitribai Phule Fellowship is Rs.37,000 per month for the first two years (JRF level) and Rs.42,000 per month for the remaining tenure of up to three years (SRF level). Additional contingency grants of Rs.10,000–Rs.25,000 per year are provided depending on the discipline, along with HRA as per government city norms.

Is there a fresh notification for Savitribai Phule Fellowship in 2026?

As of September 2026, no fresh notification has been issued for the SJSGC fellowship after the 2022 cycle. An RTI response confirmed that while the scheme is active and existing beneficiaries continue to receive disbursements, the matter of a new call for applications is under consideration by UGC’s higher authorities. Scholars are advised to monitor ugc.gov.in and frg.ugc.ac.in for updates.

Who is eligible for the Savitribai Phule Fellowship?

Any single girl child (the only daughter in the family, with no brother or sister) pursuing a regular full-time PhD in any discipline at a UGC-recognised, NAAC-accredited institution is eligible. Age limits are 40 years for general category and 45 years for SC/ST/OBC/PWD categories. Part-time, distance, and open-mode PhD scholars are not eligible. Twin daughters are explicitly included under the scheme.

Is a qualifying exam like NET required to apply for SJSGC?

No. The Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship does not require the candidate to have qualified any examination such as UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, or GATE. This is one of the scheme’s key advantages over other UGC fellowship programmes. Selection is based on eligible applications received during the annual notification cycle, subject to the eligibility criteria being met.

Can I receive this fellowship if I am already getting another scholarship?

No. The UGC guidelines strictly allow only one fellowship at a time. If you are selected for the SJSGC fellowship while receiving another scholarship or monetary benefit, you must relinquish one of them. Scholars must declare all existing financial support at the time of application. Receiving dual benefits leads to cancellation of fellowship and potential recovery of paid amounts with interest.

How is the fellowship amount paid to the scholar?

The fellowship is disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) directly into the scholar’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through the UGC-Canara Bank Scholarship Payment Portal at scholarship.canarabank.in. The institution’s registered Maker and Checker officials upload monthly claims and verification certificates; payment is generated only after institutional approval of the uploaded data.

What happens if I cannot complete my PhD within 5 years?

The fellowship is granted up to the date of PhD thesis submission or 5 years of tenure, whichever comes first. No extension is permissible beyond 5 years under any circumstance; the fellowship ceases automatically on the due date. Scholars who do not complete their research within the tenure are not eligible to apply for any other PhD research fellowship in the future.

Can I transfer my fellowship to a different institution?

Yes, transfer is permitted but subject to strict conditions. Change of research institution is allowed only once during the entire tenure, and only with acceptance from both institutions and NOCs from both. The total fellowship tenure remains 5 years from the date of initial joining at the first institution. Fellowship payments are suspended during the gap between relieving from the first institution and joining the second.

What is the HRA entitlement under the Savitribai Phule Fellowship?

HRA under the SJSGC fellowship is provided at rates of 8%, 16%, or 24% of the monthly stipend based on the Govt. of India city categorisation (Z, Y, and X cities respectively). Scholars in hostel accommodation draw only the actual hostel fees (excluding mess, electricity, and water charges). If hostel accommodation is refused, the scholar is not entitled to HRA. Scholars making their own accommodation arrangements draw HRA at the applicable rate for their city.

Last Updated: September 2026 | Source: UGC Official Website (ugc.gov.in), SJSGC Guidelines (frg.ugc.ac.in), UGC 572nd Meeting Resolution (October 2023). This guide is reviewed and updated regularly for accuracy. Bookmark this page for the latest information.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Fellowship amounts, eligibility conditions, and notification timelines are subject to change by the University Grants Commission. Always verify current details on the official UGC portal at ugc.gov.in before applying. Agrijob.in is not affiliated with UGC or the Government of India.

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