Minority Scholarship Freeze: Ministry Cites Pending Approval

New Delhi, August 12, 2025: The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has informed a parliamentary panel that it surrendered ₹2,064.95 crore out of the ₹3,094.60 crore earmarked for scholarships for minority students, as the schemes were not approved for implementation.

The pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes were intended to economically empower students from six centrally notified minority communities. However, in its Action Taken Report for the 2024–2025 Demands for Grants, the ministry stated that since the schemes had not been approved for continuation beyond 2021–22, no targets were set, and implementation ceased from 2022–23 onwards.

The ministry emphasised its commitment to securing approval for these schemes beyond 2021–22 by aligning them with similar programmes run by other central ministries, pending authorisation from the competent government authority.

The parliamentary panel criticised the ministry for surrendering ₹2,064.95 crore from the 2023–24 budget allocation of ₹3,094.60 crore. It reminded the ministry that the responsibility for implementing these schemes lies with states and Union Territories and urged them to complete procedural requirements promptly.

In its original Demand for Grants report, the panel noted that while the Ministry of Minority Affairs discontinued several initiatives — including the National Fellowship, National Overseas Scholarship, Free Coaching, and Residential Education — similar schemes in other ministries, such as the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, continued without interruption.

The panel warned that the absence of these schemes deprives needy and deserving minority students of opportunities to pursue higher education. It also observed that despite previous recommendations, the ministry had failed to take action.

The committee stated it firmly believes that deprived sections of society across all communities should have access to higher education. Consequently, it stressed that members of minority communities must receive the same benefits as other marginalised groups.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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