Question : ALLOCATION OF FUNDS UNDER NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP SCHEME .

(a) whether the Union Government has allocated funds for the new scheme of National Fellowship for students of the minority communities;

(b) if so, the details of the amount allocated and spent during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) the amount of financial assistance provided to each student and the contribution being made by the State Governments under the said scheme;

(d) whether a number of applications are pending with the Maulana Azad Education Foundation for sanction of grants/assistance for the said purpose;

(e) if so, the number of applications pending with the said Foundation till date alongwith the reasons therefore; and

(f) the time by which the pending applications are likely to be cleared?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme was launched in 2009-10, and is implemented through University Grants Commission (UGC). The funds are released to UGC and not to States. Details of the funds allocated and released during the last two years and the current year are as given below:

Year	Funds Allocated (Rs. In crore)	Funds Released(Rs. In crore)
2009-10	15.00	14.90
2010-11	30.00	29.98
2011-12	52.00	NIL