Scholarship
Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research(TNFCR)
Eligibility
Fellows who have sound academic or professional credentials and have made significant contributions to knowledge in their respective fields will be eligible to apply for Tagore National Fellowship.
Region
All India
Award
Composite
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk
Overview
About TNFCR
The Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research is a scheme of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It supports scholars and academicians who carry out cultural research while attached to a nodal institution under the Ministry, such as the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts or the Archaeological Survey of India, or to another identified cultural body.
The scheme aims to invigorate and revitalise the institutions under the Ministry by bringing experienced researchers to work with them on projects of mutual interest. It runs in two tiers, the Tagore National Fellowship for senior researchers and the Tagore National Scholarship for other qualifying scholars, whose awardees are known as Tagore National Fellows and Tagore Scholars respectively. The award carries a monthly honorarium along with allowances for the fellowship period. Applications are routed to a nodal institution matched to the research area and are assessed first by an Institution Level Search-cum-Screening Committee and then by a National Selection Committee convened by the Secretary (Culture).
It is aimed at accomplished researchers rather than general students. Applicants are expected to hold sound academic or professional credentials and to have published original work in fields tied to India's cultural heritage, including the arts, history, archaeology, literature, museums and archives. The scheme is open to both Indian and foreign nationals, though the proportion of foreign nationals does not normally exceed one-third of the fellowships awarded in a year.
Sources: Ministry of Culture, Government of India – Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research · Ministry of Culture – TNFCR Scheme Guidelines (PDF) · myScheme – Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Culture
Central Government
Institutions Under The Ministry Of Culture, Government Of India
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning, Sports & Culture |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Composite |
| Application mode | Offline |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| Fellows who have sound academic or professional credentials and have made significant contributions to knowledge in their respective fields will be eligible to apply for Tagore National Fellowship. | |
| Preferably the Fellows who have 5 years of experience in conducting/guiding research or the same experience in performing/any other arts can apply for Tagore National Fellowship. | |
| The applicants must have an impressive list of publications into their credit, at least two monographs (single-authored). | |
| Fellows to be engaged must have both the credentials as laid down in the preceding paragraph, as well as a strong reputation in the field covered by the Nodal Institution. | |
| Those who have in the past directly engaged with major projects at the Nodal Institution and fulfilled the above-mentioned eligibility criteria for a Tagore Fellow are encouraged to apply for the Tagore National Fellowship. | |
| Once awarded a Tagore National Fellowship, a candidate cannot apply again for a Fellowship under this scheme, either at the same or any other institution covered under the Scheme. | |
| The Scheme will be open to both Indian and foreign nationals. However, the proportion of foreigners will not normally exceed one–third of the total fellowships awarded in a year. | |
| Note 01: Interested Fellows are required to enclose a research proposal prepared on the guidelines provided in Appendix A. | |
| Note 02: Fellows are also required to prepare a short write-up on how the proposed research would be beneficial for the respective nodal institution. | |
| Note 03: The honour and the honorarium are both of a very high order; the Institution Level Search-cum-Screening Committee (ILSSC) of the sponsoring institution and the National Selection Committee may keep these in mind while recommending/ selecting the Tagore National Fellows. | |
| Note 04: In short, a person selected for the Tagore National Fellowship should be one who has already become a ‘legend’ in his area of work or is regarded very highly. It is appropriate that those who do not come near this description may not apply or be considered for the highest honour and honorarium accorded to a Fellow in India under this Fellowship. | |
| Areas of Research and Eligible Projects | The selected Fellows will normally work on a project that benefits the Nodal Institution in terms of unraveling its resources. The subject of research should be one that can be usefully pursued with the resources and facilities of the Nodal Institution awarding the Fellowship, though he/she will be free to draw on the resources and facilities of other institutions, as well. |
| Areas of Research and Eligible Projects | If the subject of research extends to more than one institution or the Fellow otherwise needs to draw upon the resources and facilities of other institution(s), the Nodal Institution awarding the Fellowship would recommend the Fellow to such other institution(s). In rare cases, where two institutions appear to be of almost equal importance to the Fellows, the second institution may be deemed to be the ‘Co-institution’ and the two may sign a Tripartite MoU regarding Intellectual Property, Publication, Credit sharing, facilities, etc. but accounting shall be with the Nodal Institution. |
| Areas of Research and Eligible Projects | Since the Scheme is focused on unraveling the cultural resources of the Nodal Institution, the project must be driven in that direction, that is, to use substantially the resources of the Nodal Institution. The inputs required for the project should have a very strong linkage with the resources available with the Nodal Institution and (in rare cases) the Co-institution. |
| Areas of Research and Eligible Projects | At the end of it, the project outcome must be beneficial for the Nodal Institution or co-institution, if any, and must add to the existing knowledge of the institution/subject. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- Honorarium: A Tagore National Fellow who is from a University, College, Research Institute, or Government setup in India would be entitled to the same pay, including grade pay, etc., which he/she would have drawn had he/she continued in his/her parent organization. Essential or mandatory contributions of the employer to Provident Fund etc. would be paid by the parent organizations as would have been paid by them had he/she continued in his/her parent organization.
- A Fellow from abroad or from a set-up other than University, College, Research Institute or Government service, or who has retired from active service and/or is on pension, would be entitled to a fixed honorarium of ₹80,000/- per month.
- No payment of honorarium would normally be made to a Fellow receiving full funding from other sources up to the level of the honorarium, but such Fellow will, however, receive a Contingency Grant, other allowances, and facilities, as decided by the NSC.
- Contingency Grant: In case of foreign and Indian research fellows residing or serving abroad and having been selected as Tagore Fellows under Non-MoC institutions, to and fro economy class airfare from their country of residence will be provided/reimbursed by the Ministry once during the course of the Fellowship.
- Similarly, all fellows under Non-MoC institutions who take up the Fellowship under the Scheme will be reimbursed, on an ‘actual’ basis, contingent expenses for making academic trips, engaging research assistants, etc. up to a maximum ceiling of ₹2.50 lakhs per annum, during the tenure of Fellowship subject to verification of requisite bills by the Nodal Institutions.
- Note: For Fellows selected under MoC Institutions, the expenditure in this regard will be borne by the concerned MoC Institution from the grant-in-aid received by them from their administrative Division of the Ministry.
- Accommodation: A Fellow who is not a bona-fide resident of the place of the Participating Institution to which he has proposed to be affiliated and who intends to take up rented accommodation in the city of the desired Institution will be required to indicate this fact at the time of applying for Fellowship.
- The selected Fellow will be entitled to receive a House Rent Allowance of up to 30% of the honorarium. However, with respect to Fellows from Universities, colleges, Research institutes, or Government setups HRA will be paid by the Parent Organization as per entitlement.
- The MoC Institutions will bear the expenditure in this regard from the grant-in-aid received by them from their administrative Division of the Ministry.
- In respect of Non-MoC Institutions, the Ministry of Culture will reimburse the House Rent Allowance directly to Fellows on submission of rent receipts (in original) to the Participating Institutions who will verify and forward the same to the Ministry for reimbursement.
- Settling Allowance: A Fellow from outstation will be given, if required, a lump sum grant of ₹1.00 lakh as settling allowance for packing/transportation, etc., of his personal belongings from the old station to the new station of his stay during the tenure of Fellowship, if he moves station or otherwise transports books and academic effects.
- Allowance of an equal amount will also be given at the conclusion of the Fellowship for moving out of station. On a case-to-case basis, economy airfare from his/her place/country of residence will be provided/reimbursed upon joining and at the conclusion of the Fellowship. In this regard, Non-MoC Institutions will bear the expenditure and thereafter seek reimbursement from the Ministry after submission of certified copies of Bills along with justification.
- Support to Fellows: Infrastructural support will be provided by the Nodal Institution to the Fellows to enable them to conduct their research. This may include the provision of a computer with peripherals and connectivity, working space in the institution’s premises, providing a congenial atmosphere to carry out research, etc. Other facilities, like appropriate seating arrangements, library facilities, etc., will also be made available.
- One important advantage of this scheme will be the access of the Fellows to national institutions for study and avail original and rare research material. In respect of foreign fellows engaged under this scheme, necessary political/security clearances from the concerned Ministries/Departments shall be obtained by the Ministry of Culture.
- Encouragement and financial support may also be given to enable the Fellows to present papers at conferences hosted by the concerned institution or other related organizations and institutions, which will be met out/reimbursed, on an ‘actuals’ basis, with a ceiling of ₹1.00 lakh per annum, provided adequate academic interaction is arranged
What to prepare
Documents required
Identity proof i.e. Aadhaar Card
Passport-size Photograph
Academic Qualifications certificates
Caste certificate, if applicable
Disability certificate, if applicable
Details of Publications, if any (including publication presentation of papers, performances, awards, recognitions etc. if any, separately)
A write-up/synopsis of proposed research work
A short write-up along with application - How the proposed research project is going to be beneficial to the Nodal Institution.
NoC, if a regular Central/State Govt. Employee
Any other document, as required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply offline
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
TNFCR – FAQ
The Scheme has been introduced to invigorate and revitalize the various institutions under the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and other identified cultural institutions in the country, by encouraging Fellows/academicians to affiliate themselves with these institutions to work on projects of mutual interest.
Institutions under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Fellows who have sound academic or professional credentials and have made significant contributions to knowledge in their respective fields will be eligible to apply for Tagore National Fellowship.
The scheme envisages the granting of up to 15 Fellowships in a year.
Yes, the Scheme will be open to both Indian and foreign nationals. However, the proportion of foreigners will not normally exceed one–third of the total fellowships awarded in a year.
The fellows who have 5 years of experience in conducting/guiding research or the same experience in performing/any other arts will be given preference.
No, once awarded a Tagore National Fellowship, the candidate cannot apply again for the fellowship under this scheme, either at the same or any other institution covered under the Scheme.
A Fellow from abroad or from a set-up other than University, College, Research Institute or Government service, or who has retired from active service and/or is on pension, would be entitled to a fixed honorarium of ₹80,000/- per month.
All fellows under Non-MoC institutions who take up the Fellowship under the Scheme will be reimbursed, on an ‘actual’ basis, contingent expenses for making academic trips, engaging research assistants, etc. up to a maximum ceiling of ₹2.50 lakhs per annum, during the tenure of Fellowship subject to verification of requisite bills by the Nodal Institutions.
The duration of the Fellowship will be for a maximum period of two years.
Yes, the selected Fellow will be entitled to receive a House Rent Allowance of up to 30% of the honorarium.
The applicants may submit their application form, prepared according to the prescribed guidelines of the Scheme, to any one of the Nodal Institutions of his/her choice depending upon the area of research proposed to be undertaken
Disclaimer
Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.
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