The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment published a case study highlighting the success of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) program through the journey of Sagar Kodi, a 30-year-old Scheduled Caste scholar. Kodi faced significant financial and geographical barriers in pursuing higher education after completing his master's degree, having missed the UGC-NET Junior Research Fellowship qualification by less than two percent.
The NFSC fellowship provided critical financial support from 27 December 2019 to 15 May 2024, covering both Junior Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship phases. The final fellowship payment received amounted to ₹42,000, which enabled Kodi to meet his academic research expenses while also contributing to his family's financial needs. According to the case study, this support prevented his family's financial circumstances from forcing him to abandon doctoral studies.
Kodi successfully completed his Ph.D. and secured employment as a Research Associate at the Anthropological Survey of India in Mysore, where he receives a basic pay of ₹37,600 under Level 6. The ministry presents this as evidence of how targeted fellowship support can enable students from disadvantaged communities to overcome barriers and build academic careers. Kodi expressed gratitude for the program, stating it enabled him to pursue his Ph.D. without financial hardship while supporting his family.