Several minority scholarship schemes discontinued after 2021-22, Minority Affairs Mister tells Rajya Sabha

The Centre has discontinued the implementation of several scholarship schemes for minority students beyond 2021-22, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tells Rajya Sabha on Monday (March 30, 3036).

The Minister was responding to a question by Member of Parliament (CPI-M) from Kerala, John Brittas, who had sought details of the scholarship schemes currently available for the minority students at all stages of education and the number of beneficiaries, State-wise.

Mr. Brittas has also asked about the total scholarship amount allocated and actually given each year over the last five years, State-wise along with the details of the scholarship schemes for minorities which were stopped or merged in the last five years.

Responding to the question, Mr. Rijwiju in a written reply on March 30th said that while pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships had been implemented across the country, they were not approved for continuation after 2021-22. Payments made in 2022-23 pertained only to pending liabilities, he added.

The government pointed out that minority students continue to be covered under broader schemes such as the Central Sector Scholarship for college and university students under the PM-USP Yojana and the Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. According to data submitted to the House, the number of beneficiaries under the minority scholarship schemes declined significantly after 2021-22 across most States.

The reply also noted that the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship has been merged with other schemes, and that pre-matric scholarships have been limited to Classes IX and X following the implementation of the Right to Education Act.

Budget figures for five years, as asked by the MP, indicate a decline in both allocation and expenditure in recent years, with actual spending dropping sharply after 2021-22. Mr. Brittas, on Thursday (April 2) tweeted the reply given by the Ministry and criticized for poor utilisation of funds. “Parliament allocated thousands of crores for minority welfare every year. The Ministry simply didn’t spend it. 2022-23: ₹5020 crore allocated and only ₹837 crore spent. In 2023-24: 3097 crore allocated and only 1032 crore spent. In 2024-25: 3183 crore allocated and only 1396 crore spent. Several Scholarship Schemes for Minorities were discontinued or subsumed after 2021-22. Lakhs of students pushed out of support. Not lack of funds. Lack of intent. When education support shrinks, inequality grows,” he said.