Social Justice Ministry reports a Rs 9.90 lakh National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students award completing a doctorate

19 October 2026

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment published an account of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students scheme. Shrikant Dilip Khandare, a scholar from Solapur in Maharashtra, received Rs 9.90 lakh in total assistance, including fellowship support and House Rent Allowance. The support began in October 2019 after he qualified the CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test in June 2018. His doctoral research dealt with sustainable solutions to environmental problems, in particular plastic waste and pollution. The ministry said family financial instability had threatened his studies and that the fellowship allowed him to complete the Ph.D. The scheme provides fellowship assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste students pursuing research degrees.