Research Scholarships for MPhil & PhD Students in Gujarat
The Government of Gujarat provides dedicated fellowship/research scholarship schemes for students from SC and SEBC categories who are pursuing MPhil and PhD programmes. These schemes are administered through the Digital Gujarat Portal and payments are made via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account.
BCK-11 | Fellowship for MPhil & PhD (SC Students)
The Fellowship Scheme for MPhil and PhD Students | SC (BCK-11) is managed by the Director, Scheduled Caste Welfare, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Government of Gujarat. It provides a substantial monthly fellowship to SC-category research scholars in specific science subjects.
| Programme Level | Monthly Fellowship | Category |
|---|---|---|
| MPhil | ₹25,000 per month | SC only |
| PhD | ₹30,000 per month | SC only |
SEBC MPhil / PhD Fellowship
The Fellowship Scheme for MPhil and PhD Students (SEBC) supports SEBC-category students pursuing advanced research. The monthly fellowship amount is provided for the duration of the research programme (subject to annual renewal and satisfactory progress). Income limits are stricter than BCK-11: rural ≤ ₹1,20,000/year and urban ≤ ₹1,50,000/year.
Eligible Research Subjects (BCK-11 / SC)
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | BCK-11 (SC) | SEBC Fellowship |
|---|---|---|
| Category | SC (Scheduled Caste) | SEBC |
| Programme | MPhil / PhD (above subjects) | MPhil / PhD (any recognised) |
| Prior Qualification | BSc + MSc | second-class grades | Relevant postgraduate degree |
| Age | Below 25 years | As per scheme notification |
| Income - Rural | ≤ ₹2,00,000/year | ≤ ₹1,20,000/year |
| Income - Urban | ≤ ₹2,00,000/year | ≤ ₹1,50,000/year |
| Gujarat Domicile | Required | Required |
Documents Required
Aadhaar Card
For identity + DBT bank seeding
Caste Certificate
Issued by Mamlatdar (valid, within 3 years for SC/ST)
Income Certificate
Annual family income from Mamlatdar
Domicile Certificate
Gujarat resident proof (Vas Praman Patra)
Bonafide / Enrolment Certificate
From current school/college/university
Fee Receipt / Fee Structure
Current year's fees from institution
Bank Passbook (first page)
Account number + IFSC - Aadhaar-seeded for DBT
Passport-size Photo
Recent, clear, within 200 KB
BSc + MSc Marksheets
Showing second-class grades (for BCK-11)
Research Enrolment Certificate
University certificate confirming MPhil/PhD enrolment and subject
Age Proof
Must be below 25 years (for BCK-11) | birth certificate or school leaving certificate
Research Supervisor Letter
Letter from research supervisor confirming research programme
How to Apply
Register / Log in at digitalgujarat.gov.in
Visit digitalgujarat.gov.in → click New Registration (Citizen) or log in with existing credentials. Enter mobile number, name, date of birth, create a password, verify via OTP.
Complete My Profile
Log in → click My Profile → fill personal details, permanent address, category (SC/ST/SEBC/OBC etc.), family income, Aadhaar details, and bank account number. Upload profile photo. This is mandatory before any scholarship application.
Scholarship Services → select your scheme
Click the Service tab → Scholarship Services → select your category → select the specific scheme → choose the current academic year → click Apply.
Fill form, upload documents, submit
Fill all required fields. Upload documents (clear scans, max 200 KB each, PDF/JPEG). Tick "I agree with the terms and conditions". Click Save as Draft to save progress, then Submit. Note your application reference number.
Institute verification & DBT payment
After submission, your institute/college principal verifies online. On approval, scholarship is disbursed via DBT directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account (typically within 1 month of approval). Track status under Service Request in your dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
BCK-11 is the Fellowship Scheme for MPhil and PhD students of the SC (Scheduled Caste) category in Gujarat. Managed by the Director, Scheduled Caste Welfare, Government of Gujarat. Amount: Rs 25,000 per month for MPhil and Rs 30,000 per month for PhD. Eligible subjects: Physics, Biology, Microbiology, Zoology, Chemistry, Mathematics. Income limit: annual family income not exceeding Rs 2 lakh. Applicant must be below 25 years of age and must have passed BSc and MSc with second-class grades. Apply at digitalgujarat.gov.in under SC scholarship services.
The SEBC Fellowship Scheme for MPhil and PhD students provides a monthly fellowship to SEBC-category research students. Annual family income limit: rural areas Rs 1,20,000 / urban areas Rs 1,50,000. Applicants must be enrolled in an MPhil or PhD program at a recognised university. Apply at digitalgujarat.gov.in under SEBC Scholarship Services.
The BCK-11 scholarship (SC category) covers PhD research in Physics, Biology, Microbiology, Zoology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. SEBC fellowship covers a broader range of subjects in recognised MPhil/PhD programs. Applicants must be enrolled at a government-recognised university in Gujarat.
BCK-11 (SC category): Annual family income must not exceed Rs 2 lakh. SEBC Fellowship: Income limit is Rs 1,20,000 per year for rural areas and Rs 1,50,000 per year for urban areas.
Apply at digitalgujarat.gov.in: Register/log in → complete My Profile → Service tab → Scholarship Services → SC (for BCK-11) or SEBC (for SEBC fellowship) → Fellowship Scheme for MPhil/PhD → fill form → upload research enrollment proof, income certificate, caste certificate, marksheets (BSc + MSc), age proof, Aadhaar, bank passbook → submit. Payment via DBT.