Who are the Minorities in India?
Why were the scholarship schemes for religious minorities introduced?
India is home to over 30 crore people from religious minority communities which nearly accounts for 20% of its population as per the 2011 Census. Muslims constitute 14.2%, followed by Christians at 2.3%, Sikhs (1.7%), Buddhists (0.7%), Jains (0.4%) and Zoroastrians (around 57,000). Muslims make up the largest religious minority , however, they face challenges in economic, health, and education. The Rajinder Sachar Committee report concluded that the minorities were deprived and neglected in almost all dimensions of development and are left behind the mainstream in several social and economic sectors.
Scholarships for Students from Minority Communities – Policy Guidelines!
The Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities was announced in June 2006. It provides for the implementation of scholarship schemes for meritorious students from minority communities. The scheme aims to award scholarships to meritorious students from economically weaker sections of minority communities. It aims at providing them with better opportunities for higher education and increasing their attainment rate in higher education adding to the enhancement of their employability prospect.
The programme has the following broad objectives:
- Enhancing opportunities for education
- Ensuring an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment, through existing and new schemes, enhanced credit support for self-employment, and recruitment to State and Central Government jobs
- Improving the conditions of living of minorities by ensuring an appropriate share in infrastructure development schemes
- Prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence
In the same vein, highlighting the significance of education for religious minorities in India, Niti Aayog, the government’s top think tank, released a policy document in 2017 calling for measures to improve the implementation of current programmes. As pointed out by Niti Aayog in its Strategy Document 2018, affirmative action is the need of the hour to improve the socio-economic status of religious minorities, particularly Muslims, who continue to lag behind the rest of the population in several areas.
- Scholarship Schemes:
- Pre-Matric Scholarship
- Post-Matric Scholarship
- Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship.
- Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme – It provides financial assistance to students from notified minority communities, to pursue higher education such as M.Phil and PhD.
- The Maulana Azad Education Foundation implements the scheme viz. Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for meritorious girls from minorities pursuing studies in Class IX to XII.
- Other Scholarship Schemes such as ‘Naya Savera’ facilitate free coaching and allied schemes aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of students and candidates from minority communities whose combined annual family income is less than ₹6 lakh to get employment in Government Sector/Public Sector Undertaking, jobs in private sector, and admission in reputed institutions in technical and professional courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels etc.
Scholarships Offered by the Central Government
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) offers the following scholarship schemes:
Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities
- Initially, the pre-matric scholarship scheme was open for students from Class 1 to 12. However, as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Government was mandated to provide free and compulsory elementary education (Class I to VIII) to every child. The notice for the discontinuation of coverage of Classes from 1 to 8 has been notified under the Pre-matric Scheme of MoMA from 2022-23.
- The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities provides financial assistance to students of Class 9 and 10 hailing from minority communities (Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis).
- It covers tuition fees, hostel charges, and a maintenance allowance.
- The students who have achieved a minimum of 50% marks in their previous qualifying examination can apply to receive the benefits under the scholarship scheme.
- The combined annual income of the parents/guardian from all sources should not surpass ₹1 lakh.
- Allocated funds for the scholarship in the Union Budget 2023-24 has come down to ₹433 crore.
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities
- The Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities supports students from minority communities. Students pursuing studies from Class 11 onwards, including graduation, post-graduation, and PhD can avail of this opportunity.
- It offers financial aid for admission/tuition fees and a maintenance allowance.
- Students who have achieved a minimum of 50% marks in their previous final examination will receive the scholarship.
- The combined annual income of the parents/guardian from all sources should not surpass ₹2 lakh.
- With an allocation of ₹1,065 crore for 2022-23, the funds for the post-matric scheme has more than doubled from ₹515 crore last year.
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme for Minority Students
- Launched in the year 2008, the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme for Minority Students targeted professional and technical courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with 30% earmarked for girl students. Eligible candidates in any of the 85 institutes listed under the scheme are reimbursed full course fees, while those in other institutions are reimbursed course fees worth ₹20,000 per annum, including an annual maintenance allowance of ₹5,000 for day scholars and Rs. 10,000 for hostellers.
- It provides scholarships for pursuing professional and technical courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
- Students who have achieved a minimum of 50% marks in their previous final examination will receive the scholarship.
- The combined annual income of the parents/guardian from all sources should not surpass ₹ 2.5 lakh.
- With an allocation of ₹365 crore for 2022-23, the funds for this scheme has come down to ₹44 crore in 2023-24.
The scholarship awards are tabulated as follows:
| Scholarship Scheme | Scholarship Benefits | Maintenance Allowance |
| Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme (Class 9 & 10) | Class IX & X – ₹350 per month subject to actuals (both Hosteller & Day Scholar) |
|
| Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme (Class 11 & 12, and UG & PG Courses) |
|
|
| **Merit cum Means-based Scholarship Scheme | ₹20,000 per annum subject to actuals whichever is less (Both Hostellers and Day scholars) | *₹1,000 per month for ten months (Hosteller)
₹500 per month for ten months (Day Scholar) |
* Students will receive the scholarship amount for 10 months during each academic year.
** The program offers full scholarships to cover tuition fees at 85 prestigious institutions.
Besides the MoMA scholarships, several other central government schemes offer financial aid to minority students. Let us consider other scholarships programmes targeted at the minority communities in India.
Other Scholarship Schemes
Naya Savera
The Ministry of Minority Affairs launched a separate programme to provide free coaching to minority students for entrance to technical and professional courses and competitive examinations. The Naya Savera – Free Coaching and Allied scheme added a new component in 2013-14 that focused on students of classes 11-12 with science subjects. However, under the New Education Policy 2020 that does not support coaching programmes, it has been discontinued for now. Government records show that 1.19 lakh minority students benefited under the scheme.
Nai Udaan
This was a programme which supported minority students preparing for the preliminary examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs).
Scheme for Providing Education to Madarsas and Minorities (SPEMM)
The centrally sponsored umbrella programme has a sub-scheme named as the Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsas (SPQEM), under which recognised madrasas receive financial assistance to introduce ‘modern’ subjects such as Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Hindi and English in their curriculum. Funds are allocated for payment of honorarium to teachers in madrasa including in-service training to teachers at elementary and secondary levels. In 2021, the scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Minority Affairs from the Ministry of Education. The scheme has been allocated ₹10 crore for the financial year 2023-24.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)
Since its restructuring in the year 2018, the PMJVK, earlier known as the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), has provided infrastructure in identified minority concentration areas, including for education and skill development. The budgetary allocation for the PMJVK is ₹600 crore for the financial year 2023-24..
Scholarship Schemes of the State Governments
Several State Governments in India offer scholarship schemes specifically meant for students from the minority communities. These scholarships can be merit-based, means-based, or a combination of both. It’s advisable to visit the official website of your state’s education department for details on available scholarships.
General Eligibility Criteria
The general eligibility criteria include the following:
- Applicants should belong to a notified minority community viz. Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhists, Jain, and Parsi.
- They should meet specific annual family income criteria set as outlined in the scholarship scheme.
- They need to fulfill specific academic eligibility criteria as per the scheme.
Scholarship Benefits
These scholarships not only ease the financial burden on students and their families but also offer several other benefits:
- Reduced Financial Burden: Different scholarship schemes allow students to focus on their studies without worrying about covering educational expenditures.
- Improved Access to Quality Education: Financial aid encourages students from minority communities to pursue higher education, leading to improved access and better career prospects.
- Promotion of Social Inclusion: Scholarship schemes contribute to bridging the educational gap and promote social inclusion.
State Scholarship Schemes
In addition to central government schemes, several state governments offer scholarship schemes that are specifically meant for students from the minority communities. These scholarships may have varying eligibility criteria, application processes, and deadlines. Students are encouraged to research scholarship opportunities offered by their state governments and relevant NGOs or educational institutions.
Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities, Telangana
The Telangana government’s Minority Development Department offers students the Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme. It provides financial aid to students from minority communities (Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, and Sikh) to pursue postgraduate or doctoral studies in foreign universities. This scholarship program helps meritorious students from minority communities in Telangana to pursue their academic studies abroad.
Eligibility Criteria
- Students from minority communities under 30 years old
- Minimum of 60% marks in undergraduate degree programmes (Engineering, Management, Sciences, Agriculture, Medicine, Social Sciences, or Humanities) for postgraduate studies
- Minimum of 60% marks in postgraduate degree programmes in similar fields as mentioned just above for doctoral studies
- The combined annual income of the parents/guardian from all sources should be below ₹2 lakh.
Award
- Grant of up to ₹10 lakh for covering tuition fee, living expenses, and visa fees. It is awarded in multiple installments on the basis of academic performance.
- Assistance on obtaining education loan up to ₹5 lakh from a Nationalised Bank at the prevailing interest rates
- Permission to earn additional income through research or teaching assistantships
Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minority Students, Uttar Pradesh
This program offers financial aid to students from SC/ST/OBC/Minority and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates of the General Category.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Scheme is open to domiciled residents of Uttar Pradesh or those with a residence certificate.
- Students enrolled in Class 9 or 10 (for pre-matriculation) and Class 11 or above (for post-matriculation) can apply.
- The annual family income of the applicant should not exceed ₹2.5 lakh.
- There are scholarship programs for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Minority communities, Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and General categories.
Note: Applicants cannot hold any other scholarships offered by Central or State Government institutions while receiving this scholarship.
Award
- The scholarship covers both admission and tuition fees.
- Admission fee for students enrolled in Class 6 to 10 is capped at ₹500 per year for both hostellers and day scholars, however, the actual amount may vary.
- Tuition fee for students enrolled in Class 6 to 10 is capped at ₹350 per month for both hostellers and day scholars, however, the actual amount may vary.
- Monthly maintenance allowance are as under:
- The day scholars enrolled in Class 1 to 5 receive ₹100 per month.
- Hostellers enrolled in Classes 6 to 10 receive ₹600 per month, while day scholars enrolled in the same class receive ₹100 per month.
Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme for Minorities (SVMCMS), West Bengal
The Government of West Bengal introduced this scheme of giving scholarships at different levels of higher studies, at educational institutions based in West Bengal. The scheme aims at extending financial support to students hailing from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi communities, who are meritorious and belong to economically backward families residing in the State of West Bengal. It benefits the following categories of students:
- The students pursuing their studies in regular mode of Class XI and XII.
- Those pursuing their studies at the undergraduate level in Science/Arts/Commerce, Engineering, Medical and Technical/Professional courses.
- Postgraduate level students pursuing Science/Arts/Commerce & Technical/Management courses.
These scholarships are sanctioned to deserving students based on merit-cum-means criteria.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants should have passed their qualifying exams in the year 2023/2022/2021/2020/2019
(those unable to secure admission in the year 2022/2021/2020 and 2019 due to unavoidable reasons and have taken admission in the year of advertisement) with at least:
- 60% (75% for 2020 or earlier qualifying years) marks in aggregate in the last qualifying examination from West Bengal Board of Secondary Education/West Bengal Council for Higher Secondary Education/Madrasa Education for Higher Secondary level or undergraduate level scholarship.
- 60% (75% for 2020 or earlier qualifying years) marks in aggregate in diploma courses from institutes approved by AICTE and affiliated to West Bengal State Council of Technical & Vocational Education and Skill Development (WBSCTVESD) for undergraduate level scholarship (in 2nd year Engineering/Technology/Pharmacy courses through lateral entry) or affiliated by State Medical Faculty for undergraduate level scholarship (in 2nd year pharmacy course through lateral entry)
- 53% marks in aggregate in graduation (Honours Subject) from any State University for postgraduate level scholarship (General Education)/55% marks in graduate courses from any State University or AICTE approved Institute of West Bengal for postgraduate level scholarship (Engineering/Technology/Pharmacy).
- Students pursuing M.Phil courses and Doctoral courses (Non-NET Junior Research Fellow and NET-Lectureship) from state-aided institutions will come under the purview of this scholarship scheme.
- Girls Students pursuing postgraduate courses in Science, Arts and Commerce stream from Universities of West Bengal after obtaining undergraduate degrees with 45% marks in aggregate from the academic institutions in West Bengal will come under the aegis of this scholarship scheme as Kanyashree (K3) applicants.
- The annual family income should not exceed ₹2,50,000 per annum.
The scholarship award details are tabulated below.:
| Course | Eligibility Criteria | Monthly Scholarship Benefits (₹) |
| UG (ARTS) | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹1000 |
| UG (COMMERCE) | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹1000 |
| UG (COMMERCE) | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹1500 |
| UG (OTHER PROFESSIONAL COURSES, UGC APPROVED) | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹1500 |
| PG (ARTS) | At least 53% marks for SVMCM and 45% for Kanyashree (K3 applicants in last qualifying exam) | ₹2000 |
| PG (COMMERCE) | At least 53% marks for SVMCM and 45% for Kanyashree (K3 applicants in last qualifying exam) | ₹2000 |
| PG (SCIENCE) | At least 53% marks for SVMCM and 45% for Kanyashree (K3 applicants in last qualifying exam) | ₹2500 |
| PG (OTHER PROFESSIONAL COURSES, UGC APPROVED) | At least 53% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹2500 |
| NON NET M.PHIL./NON NET PH.D. | Date of Enrolment/Date of Registration not before 01.04.2017 | ₹5000 and ₹8000 respectively |
| HS | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹1000 |
| D.El.Ed | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam (Minimum Qualification is HS) | ₹1000 |
| UG (ENGG.), PG (ENGG.) AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL COURSES (AICTE APPROVED) | UG: 1. 60% 2. 60% in Diploma Course from WBSCTVESD for lateral entry scheme. PG: 55% in Graduation from any State University/AICTE approved institutes in West Bengal | ₹5000 |
| POLYTECHNIC (DIPLOMA COURSES) | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹1500 |
| UG (MEDICAL-DEGREE) AND DIPLOMA COURSES | At least 60% marks in last qualifying exam | ₹5000 and ₹1500 respectively |
Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Minority Girl Students
Earlier known as “Maulana Azad National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls belonging Minorities”, the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Minority Girl Students is a financial aid program to support education of girls from the minority communities in India who cannot continue their education due to lack of financial support.
Eligibility Criteria
- This scholarship is open to Indian girls from the minority communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis) and pursuing studies in Class 9 to 12.
- Applicants must have scored at least 50% in their previous class or qualifying exam.
- The annual family income from all sources combined must be below ₹2 lakh.
Required Documents
- Income certificate issued by the concerned government authority.
- Community certificate:
- Self-certified for students above 18 years.
- Certified by parent/guardian for students under 18 years.
Scholarship Benefits
The amount of scholarship are as follows:
- ₹5000 each for students enrolled in Class IX and X.
- ₹6000 each for students enrolled in Class XI and XII.
Important Points:
- This scholarship cannot be combined with other central government scholarships (SC/ST/OBC/minority).
- Only one student per family can receive this scholarship.
- The scholarship is not available for pursuing studies abroad.
- There are no application fees.
- The scholarship amount will be credited directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account (if provided).
Scholarship for Minority Students – Things to Do!
The application process for scholarships can vary depending on the specific scheme. However, some of the prerequisites are necessary to consider. They are as under:
- Eligibility Check: Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the scholarship program, whether it is targeted at students from the minority communities including academic and family annual income eligibility requirements.
- Documents Required: Gather the necessary documents well beforehand such as income certificates, documents revealing minority status, caste and educational certificates, and mark sheets etc.
- Application Portal: Most of the scholarship programs are applied online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) (https://scholarships.gov.in/). Applicants must register themselves on the NSP and follow the instructions outlined in the scholarship schemes.
- State Scholarship Applications: For state government scholarships, visit the official website of the education department of respective states for timely available information on application procedures and deadlines.
Application Process
The application process for these scholarships is streamlined and often involves online submission through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Students can create a profile on the NSP and apply for relevant scholarships based on their educational background and community affiliation.
Meeting Deadlines and Following Up
It’s crucial to submit your application well before the deadline. Double-check all the documents for their accuracy and completeness. After submitting your application, keep a track of the application status and follow up with the concerned authorities if required.
Finding the Right Fit!
With a multitude of scholarships available, navigating several available options can be overwhelming. Some of the useful tips are as under:
- Visit the Ministry of Minority Affairs Website: The MoMA website https://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=2&ls_id=661&lid=823 provides comprehensive information on various scholarship schemes, eligibility criteria, and application procedures.
- Explore State Government Websites: Many state governments have dedicated websites or departments that handle scholarships exclusively meant for students from the minority communities.
- Visit the website of Buddy4Study and subscribe to the monthly newsletter available in both Hindi and English to stay updated with the currently available scholarship opportunities.
- Reach Out to Educational Institutions: Colleges and universities often have scholarship programs for students from minority communities. Inquire with the admissions office or financial aid department of your desired institution.
Frequently Asked Questions on Scholarships for Minority Students
How can the students from minority communities find scholarships in India?
Students belonging to minority communities should access the official websites of scholarship providers to apply for scholarships designated for minorities. It is recommended that they visit the following official websites: scholarships.gov.in, scholarship.up.gov.in, and the state scholarship portals.
What are the documents that are necessary for uploading on the National Scholarship Portal when applying for a scholarship?
For fresh applications under the Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship (if the scholarship amount exceeds ₹50,000 per annum), the following documents must be uploaded:
- Student Photograph
- ‘Verification Form’ provided by the institution
- Income Certificate issued by the Competent Authority in the State/UT Government
- A self-certified Community Certificate from applicants aged 18 and above; for others, the Community Certificate certified by a parent/guardian is required.
- Self-attested Mark Sheet for applicants under the Merit-cum-Means based Scheme, indicating that they have secured at least 50% marks in the last qualifying exam at higher secondary/graduation level.
- Fee receipt of the current course year
- Bank Account number of the Student along with the IFSC Code of the bank branch (for Pre-Matric Scheme where students do not have their own bank account, parents/guardian can provide their account details)
- Residential/Domicile Certificate
In the case of renewal of Scholarship for the next academic year the applicant has to provide a certificate that she/he has secured 50% marks or as the case may be in the previous year’s examination, pursued from the same school/institute.
What should be the type and size of the documents that are uploaded?
The required documents for uploading should be in .pdf and .jpeg formats, with each document not exceeding 200 KB in size.
Which of the communities are notified under the minority categories in India?
Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Zorastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992.
Which fields can an applicant edit before final submission of application?
Applicants can edit all details except “Registration Details”. It may be noted that once the applicants ‘finally submit’ the application it is forwarded to the next level and thereafter further editing is not possible.
Which of the fields in the application form are mandatory?
Fields provided with red asterisk(*) marks are mandatory fields.
Does an applicant have to fill up the online application in one sitting?
No! You can fill up the online application in many sittings using the ‘Save Draft’ option, until you are satisfied that you have entered all desirable fields correctly. The software enables you with the facility to save your application at every stage until you click on the ‘Submit’ button.
What is a UID number/Aadhaar Number?
UID number is also known as the ‘Aadhaar’ number. It is a Unique Identification Number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The Aadhaar Number is required to be seeded or linked with the bank account in which scholarship amount is desired to be transferred. Banks provide several ways of linking Aadhaar with the bank account and applicants can obtain the details from the website of the concerned bank or connect with the concerned bank with a copy of the Aadhaar card.