Lok Sabha Question No. 2578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Decline in Scholarships to Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2578

ANSWERED ON 07/08/2024

## DECLINE IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO MINORITIES

## 2578.  SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the budget documents show that many scholarship schemes except for the post-matric ones have seen substantial cuts even when the NEP 2020 states that it will provide more financial assistance and scholarships to socio-economically disadvantaged students; and

(b)  if  so,  the  measures  for  such  a  drastic  cut  in  the  funds  allocated  towards  scholarships  and fellowships after the introduction of National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020 along with the list of minority scholarships discontinued by the Government during the last ten years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) and  (b):  The  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  implements  various  schemes  for  socio-economic empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority communities. During last five  years, the ministry has implemented 3 Scholarship schemes namely (i) Pre-Matric, (ii) Post-Matric and (iii) Merit-cum-Means  based  scholarships  for  the  students  belonging  to  minority  communities.  The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 makes it obligatory for the Government to provide free and compulsory elementary education (classes I to VIII) to each and every child. Hence, only students studying in classes IX and X are covered under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme. Due to the above reasons, the budget allocation has been rationalized. Similarly, the technical and professional  courses  were  covered  under  Post-Matric  as  well  as  the  Merit-cum-Means  based Scholarships of this Ministry. In order to rationalize the distribution of courses/ institutions, all the technical  and  or  professional  courses  of  UG/PG  level,  except  the  listed  institutes,  have  been brought under the Post-Matric Scheme. The Merit-cum-Means (MCM) based Scholarships covered only the top listed institutions.

In  so  far  as  the  fellowship  scheme  is  concerned,  Government  of  India  has  implemented  the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) Scheme on the lines of the JRF Scheme of UGC and

CSIR. The UGC and CSIR Fellowship Schemes are open for candidates of all social categories and communities including minorities. In addition to this, students from minority communities are also covered under the Fellowship Schemes being implemented by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Tribes. In view of the apparent overlap among the aforesaid Schemes, it has been decided  to  discontinue  the  MANF  Scheme  from  2022-23  onward.  The  existing  MANF  Fellows will continue to receive Fellowships till the end of their respective tenure, subject to compliance with the extant guidelines. For the above reasons, the funds under MANF have been reduced only to meet the committed liabilities.

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