(a) whether the Government is continuing with the scholarship schemes meant for the minority students;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the criteria fixed for the selection of students for getting the said scholarships;
(d) the amount allocated during each of the last five years for such scholarships; and
(e) the number of students who have got the scholarships during the said period, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a) to (c): The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements the following five Scholarship/fellowship schemes for the educational empowerment of students or beneficiaries belonging to six centrally notified minority communities i.e. Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi, Muslim and Christian in the country:
(i) Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme- The scholarship is provided to minority students studying in class I to X in Government/ recognized Private schools. Minimum 30% scholarships are earmarked for girls. To be eligible, students should not have annual parental/guardian’s income more than Rs.1.00 lakh and he/she should have secured minimum 50% marks in previous class.
(ii) Post Matric Scholarship Scheme- The scholarship is provided to minority students studying in Class XI to Ph.D level in Government/ recognized Private schools/Colleges/Institutes. Minimum 30% scholarships are earmarked for girls. To be eligible, students should not have annual parental/guardian’s income more than Rs.2.00 lakh and he/she should have secured minimum 50% marks in previous class.
(iii) Merit-cum-Mean based Scholarship Scheme - The scholarship is awarded for pursuing professional and technical courses at under-graduate and post-graduate levels, in institutions recognized by the appropriate authority. Under the scheme, 30% Scholarships are earmarked for girl students. 85 institutes for professional and technical courses have been listed in the scheme; for which full course fee is reimbursed. To be eligible, students should not have annual parental/guardian’s income more than Rs.2.50 lakh and he/she should have secured minimum 50% marks in previous class.
(iv) Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) Scheme- The Fellowships are awarded to research students pursuing regular and full time M. Phil and Ph.D courses. The Fellowship will cover all Universities/Institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) and section 3 of the UGC Act and is implemented through UGC. Under the scheme, 30% fellowships are earmarked for girl students. To be eligible, students should not have annual parental/guardian’s income more than Rs.6.00 lakh
(v) Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for meritorious girls belonging to minorities- The scholarship is provided to meritorious girls belonging to minorities for classes 9th to 12th. To be eligible, the students should not have annual parental/guardian’s income more than Rs.2.00 lakh and she should have secured minimum 50% marks in previous class. This scheme is implemented online and the amount of scholarship is transferred directly into the bank accounts of the selected beneficiaries.
(d): Since 2015, the scholarships schemes are being implemented under direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode to improve the efficiency and bring transparency by removing duplicity and stopping pilferages. The amount of funds allocated and number of beneficiaries under Pre matric scholarship, Post matric scholarship, Merit cum Means based Scholarship, Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) and Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls during the last five years are as under:
(In Rs. crore)
Scholarship Schemes I II III
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
Funds Allocated No. of beneficiaries Funds Allocated No. of beneficiaries# Funds Allocated No. of beneficiaries
2134.01 85,87,165 2068.38 60,27,957 2036.18 48,91,840
IV V
2017-18 2018-19
Funds Allocated No. of beneficiaries Funds Allocated No. of beneficiaries
2170.01 57,26,843 2435.40 66,08,529
# Duplicity of cases removed & transparency improved after starting of DBT disbursal mode from 2015-16.
(e): The State/UT-wise details of the number of students who have got the scholarships/fellowships during the last five years is available on the website www.minorityaffairs.gov.in and www.maef.nic.in.
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