Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships 2025: Eligibility, Benefits & Application

There are many scholarships provided for students in India to pursue their further studies in a PhD. The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships are also among those that provide scholarships for individuals to pursue their PhD. The scholarship aims to support individuals who wish to pursue their PhD program for Indian Nationals and Nationals of other Asian countries. 

The scholarship was offered in a few specializations, typically for the humanities. The selection for the scholarship was based on their eligibility. However, in the year of 1968, a Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship was initiated not only for the humanities but also for science and technology. This fellowship was offered once a year. 

Individuals who couldn’t get the scholarship can still pursue their dream of getting a doctoral degree and earn the ‘Dr.’ title through an online DBA program. The online DBA, which refers to the Doctor of Business Administration, is considered equivalent to the regular PhD program. There are many specializations offered by the online DBA program. It is an ideal choice for working professionals who wish to pursue a degree without leaving their jobs. 

Key highlights 

Highlights	Details
Scholarship name	Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships
Program offered	PhD
Stipend offered	Tuition fee- INR 18,000 Contingency fee- INR 15,000 (Annually)
Duration	2 years

Specializations for the scholarship 

The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship is offered in the following areas/specializations- 

• Indian history and civilization
• Sociology
• Comparative Studies in Religion and Culture
• Economics
• Ecology and Environment 

Eligibility criteria to receive the scholarship 

To apply for the scholarship, the individuals must meet all the eligibility criteria, which are- 

• The upper age limit of individuals applying for the scholarship is 35 years. 
• Should be a full-time PhD scholar
• The individual must be registered or admitted to a PhD degree at a recognised university in India
• They must have scored a minimum of 60% in their graduation and post-graduation 
• Individuals belonging to the reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD/Women and Third- gender candidates) have an age relaxation of up to 5 years. 
• Individuals who have served in the armed forces have also been given an age relaxation of up to 5 years. 

Stipend details of the Scholarship 

The stipend details of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship for doctoral studies are- 

Scholarship Type	Stipend
Maintenance allowance - Tuition fee	INR 18,000
Contingency Funds	INR 15,000

The maintenance allowance also includes the tuition fee of the student. The contingency funds, on the other hand, include expenses for the study tours within India, purchasing books, stationery, and other related expenses.   

Note: The specializations and the eligibility criteria for the scholarship are according to the official website of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship. 

Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship

The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship also offers the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship every year. This fellowship was instituted in 1968 to encourage and support higher education. This fellowship is open to all scholars from very disciplines - science or humanities fields. Even individuals with backgrounds as writers, journalists, artists, and civil servants can also apply for the fellowship. 

Eligibility Criteria for the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship

There is no particular eligibility criterion for the fellowship. The selection committee selects the individuals for the fellowship depending on the outstanding work they have done in their projects. The projects must be unique, and also study the in-depth of current problems relevant to India today.

Stipend details 

The stipend details of the fellowship if provided here for better understanding- 

Fellowship Type	Stipend Details
Fellowship allowance	INR 1,00,000/- (one lakh)
Contingency allowance	INR 75,000/- per annum.

The eligibility and the stipend details are taken from the official website of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Fund Scholarship. 

How to apply for the scholarship

The individuals applying for the scholarship must check their eligibility before applying. 

Here are the steps to be followed to apply for the scholarship- 

1. Visit the official website of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships
2. Click on the ‘Apply now’
3. Register yourself on the portal by providing the required details
4. Download the application form
5. Fill in the required details and attach the required documents
6. Send the filled application form with a demand draft/Postal order of INR 100.

 The individuals are required to send their application form along with the required documents to the 

• Administrative Secretary, 
• Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 
• Teen Murti House, New Delhi -110011

Note: The individuals belonging to the reserved category (SC/ST) are exempt from the application fee of INR 100. 

Seats available for the individuals based on reservations- 

The scholarship reservations are as follows- 

Category	Percentage of Seats (%)
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Other Backward Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL)	27%
General Economically Weaker Sections (General-EWS)	10%
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) with 40% or more disability (within the above categories)	5%

Document Required 

Here are the documents required to apply for the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarship- 

• Candidate’s passport-sized photograph
• Demand Draft of INR 100 / Postal Order 
• Candidates research proposals
• PhD registration Certificate
• Self-attested copies of certificates and marksheets for age proof and educational qualification.
• Cate or special category certification (If applicable)

Alternate Path for PhD candidates

The chances of getting selected for the scholarship are very low due to the high number of applications. Candidates who couldn’t get the scholarships and want to pursue their PhD program without any entrance exams can opt for the online DBA program. The online DBA program refers to the Doctor of Business Administration. The online DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) program holds the same equivalence to the regular PhD program.

It is an ideal option for working professionals who wish to pursue their doctoral degree without leaving their jobs. There are many specializations that are being offered by the online DBA program. 

Features of an online DBA program- 

• In an online DBA program, the classes are held online.
• The duration of the online DBA program is three years. 
• The enrolled individuals can take classes at their convenience
• There are many specializations that are being offered in the online DBA program. 
• The individuals will get a chance to earn their doctoral degree from a top foreign university 
• They will get a chance to meet their professors through online 
• The online DBA program will not only enhance their domain knowledge but also their personality 
• The online DBA program will help them in gaining knowledge and skills that they can use in both National and International markets 
• The enrolled individuals will receive the doctoral degree along with the ‘Dr.’ title at the end of their program. 
• On completing the program, the individuals will receive wider job opportunities. 

Eligibility Criteria for the online DBA program- 

• Individuals who have graduated in any specialization with a minimum of 5 years of experience. 
• Those who have a master's degree can also apply for the program

Top universities for an Online DBA program

Here are the top universities that offer the online DBA program, along with their fee structure. 

Universities	Fees
Birchwood Online University DBA Online	INR 6,00,000
Golden Gate University DBA Online	INR 8,14,000
Rushford Business School DBA Online	INR 8,12,500
EIMT Online DBA	INR 5,50,000
ESGCI International School of Management Paris DBA Online	INR 8,14,000
Swiss School of Business Management DBA Online	INR 7,50,000
Edgewood College DBA Online	INR 7,00,000