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Organization : Indian Council of Social Science Research
Fellowship Name : National Fellowship

Website: https://www.icssr.org/fellowships

National Fellowship:
1. General:
1.1 National Fellowships are awarded to scholars of repute to conduct studies that have the potential to contribute to theoretical and conceptual advancement in social sciences, generate field-work based empirical work and new data, and are policy relevant. The studies could be both, macro or micro in nature.

The broad disciplines of study, within the domain of social sciences, are:
1. Economics/ Commerce/ Management
2. Sociology/ Social Work/Social Anthropology
3. Political Science/International Studies/Public Administration
4. Geography/Demography
5. Psychology/Education
6. Legal Studies
7. Gender/ Marginalized Groups/Human Rights
8. Philosophy
9. Media/ Mass Communication
10. Other Interdisciplinary areas in Social Sciences and areas of its interface with other disciplines of research.

1.2 Within the framework of social sciences, an effort is made to promote interdisciplinary studies. In regard to other major disciplines such as environment and agriculture science, etc., areas of interface between these disciplines and the social sciences are also covered under the Fellowships scheme.
1.3 The National Fellowships are aimed at providing opportunities to eminent social scientists to engage themselves in full-time research on important themes of their choice or to write books based on their research.

1.4 National Fellowships fall into two broad categories:
** Specific
** Non-Specific

1.5 Specific Category:
These fellowships are offered to eminent scholars, who have made outstanding contribution in the fields mentioned under each of the Fellowship:
** Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship for studies on peace building, social reforms, empowerment and environment;
** Jawaharlal Nehru National Fellowship for studies on State, democracy, governance, public policy, leadership, and foreign policy;
** B.R. Ambedkar National Fellowship for studies on Social Justice;
** J.P. Naik National Fellowship or studies in Education and Culture;
** Maulana Azad National Fellowship for studies on Religion and Society;
** Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan National Fellowship for studies on Education
** Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for studies on Development.
** Vina Mazumdar National Fellowship in women’s Studies.

1.6 Non-Specific Category:
Open category for all themes in Social Sciences.

2. Eligibility for Award of National Fellowship:
2.1 Indian Social scientists having a significant amount of quality research publications to their credit are eligible for the Fellowships. However, civil servants, journalists, social workers, action researchers, etc. may also be considered under this scheme provided they have an established record of academic work and involvement with social science research as reflected in their published contributions.
2.2 There is no age bar for this category of fellowship.
2.3 The selected fellows are expected to do full time research in India. They could however undertake field trip outside India, if the Expert Committee finds it to be necessary for their research.
2.4 While accepting any fellowships from the Council, a fellow should not accept fellowship from any other organization. A fellow would not be eligible for another fellowship from the Council for five years from the date of termination fellowship.
2.5 Separate allocation under this scheme shall be made for the SC/ST candidates as per allocations made in the ICSSR plan under SCP/TSP Grant.
2.6 There shall be a reservation of 3% for differently abled applicants who may be provided additional resources as per their special requirements.
2.7 Besides, a conscious effort shall be made to favourably consider while sanctioning grants to women, minorities and persons belonging to educationally backward districts as declared by Govt. of India.

3. Procedure for Award of National Fellowships:
3.1 The awards are made by the Council on its own initiative after following a prescribed selection procedure. Direct applications for National Fellowships are not accepted. Nominations are invited by the ICSSR in April each year from Vice-Chancellors of Universities, Directors of the ICSSR Research Institutes/ ICSSR Regional Centres, all present members of the Council and former National Fellows of the ICSSR. Nominating individuals should not forward more than two nominations to the Council. All nominations are to be accompanied by curriculum vitae of the scholar.
3.2 The nominations received are initially short listed each year by the ICSSR. The Selection Committee, constituted by the Chairman of the ICSSR, after due scrutiny and deliberations, recommends the final list to the Council for approval. The selected scholars are required to submit a brief proposal of 1500 words on the theme on which they propose to conduct their study.
3.3 National Fellows are expected to affiliate themselves to a reputed academic institution (university/Institute/college) of their choice with the approval of the Council. Funds are disbursed by the ICSSR through the affiliating institution and administered by it.

4. Conditions of the Fellowship:
4.1 During the period of National Fellowship, the salary and allowances of a scholar in regular employment as a faculty in a publically funded institution are protected. The fellow is entitled to allowances as per the rules admissible at the parent institution. Council also pays his/her leave salary and pension contribution/employer’s share of C.P.F. contribution. The allowances and salaries protected would not be more than the U.G.C. Scale/allowances.
4.2 Retired scholars and scholars not in employment are paid a fellowship amount of Rs. 55,000 p.m. irrespective of the fact whether they are getting any pensionary benefit. The pensionary benefit will not be deducted from their monthly fellowship.
4.3 In addition, a Contingency grant of Rs. 60,000/-p.a. is also provided to a fellow during the entire period of fellowship. This is irrespective of whether a fellow is employed or not.
4.4 The term of fellowship is 2 years, extendable up to 1 more year in exceptional circumstances.
4.5 The sanction of the fellowship is issued initially for one year, effective from the date of joining. Each year’s grant is released in three installments in proportation of 40%, 40% and 20%. The third installment (First year) is released only on receipt of the annual progress report and Statement of Accounts. The same procedure is followed for the second year. The last installment is released on receipt of 3 copies of the final research report, summary and the audited statement of accounts, utilization certificate in the prescribed GFR-19A format.

5. Monitoring:
5.1 Monitoring of National Fellowships is done by the ICSSR, New Delhi. During the course of the fellowship, national awardees would be requested to give lectures at appropriate forums on the findings of the research with a view to disseminate the scholar’s work among the Social Science community. The arrangements shall be made in consultation with the National fellow.
5.2 Every six months a Fellow is required to submit the progress report of his/her work and a simple statement of accounts duly signed by the Registrar/Director of the affiliating institution.
5.3 A National Fellow is expected to submit a Final Report and summary (2000-5000 words) within six months of the completion of the fellowship. This report has to be in triplicate (a soft copy and two hard copies).

6 Obligation of the Affiliating Institution:
6.1 The affiliating institution has to provide the requisite research infrastructure to the scholar and maintain proper accounts. For this, the Council shall pay to the institution overhead charges of seven and a half per cent (7.5%) of the total amount (fellowship and contingency).
6.2 The affiliating institution, where the proposed fellowship research is to be undertaken, has to provide, in the prescribed format an undertaking to administer and manage the ICSSR grant and provide logistical support for conducting the study.
6.3 Every six months the affiliating institution is required to submit a simple statement of accounts to the Council so that the next installment of funds may be released.
6.4 The affiliating institution will be under obligation to ensure submission of the final report and an Audited Statement of Accounts and Utilization Certificate, (in the prescribed Performa GFR 19-A) duly certified by the Director/Competent authorities. The report must be in form and content acceptable to the ICSSR. The overhead charges shall be paid only after the completion of the fellowship and on receipt of the final Statement of Accounts.