In response to Unstarred Question No. 1991, answered on 11/02/2026 regarding delays in scholarship disbursal, the Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, stated that the Ministry implements Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship schemes for socio-economic empowerment of minority communities, but the schemes have not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22. To streamline scholarship implementation, Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS), and One Time Registration (OTR) are now mandatory for scholarship disbursement and portal entry.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The central ministry responsible for implementing scholarship schemes for minority communities.
Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship: Scholarship schemes implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS): A system mandated for scholarship disbursement.
One Time Registration (OTR): Registration process mandated for accessing the National Scholarship Portal.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1991
ANSWERED ON 11/02/2026
DELAY IN DISBURSAL OF SCHOLARSHIPS
1991. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means scholarships are being
delayed for months in several States;
(b) if so, the reasons for such delays including fund constraints or technical issues in the portal;
(c) the number of students dropped out due to non-receipt of scholarships during the last three years,
State-wise; and
(d) the details of corrective steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure time-
bound disbursal of scholarships?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) to (c): Ministry of Minority Affairs implements various schemes, including Pre-
Matric, Post Matric and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship schemes, across the country for socio-
economic and educational empowerment of the six notified minority communities. However, the
schemes have not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22.
(d): In order to streamline the implementation of Scholarship Schemes, Ministry took various
corrective steps such as:
(i) Aadhaar based bio-metric authentication system; (ii) Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS)
have been made mandatory for disbursement of Scholarship amount, (iii) One Time Registration
(OTR) mandatory for entering into the National Scholarship Portal.
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