This document summarizes Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 507, addressed to the Minister of Minority Affairs on July 23, 2025, regarding delays in stipend disbursement under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF). The question raises concerns about the non-receipt of stipends by research students since December 2024, the delay in fund release to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) since October-November 2024, and the potential impact of a 4.9% budget reduction for the fellowship in the 2025-26 budget.
The Minister's response indicates that the MANF scheme was discontinued from 2022-23 due to overlap with other fellowship schemes, but existing MANF fellows will continue to receive fellowships until their tenure ends. Stipend payments were delayed from January 2025 onwards pending approval, which has since been obtained. Funds have now been released to the nodal agency for disbursement to eligible students onboarded under MANF, adhering to scheme guidelines and DBT Mission guidelines.
The response also notes that alternative fellowship schemes, such as the UGC and CSIR Fellowship Schemes, are available to candidates of all communities, including minorities. Additionally, minority students are covered under National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Castes and OBCs, implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for minority affairs. It is the primary authority mentioned in the document.
Maulana Azad National Fellowship: A fellowship program, abbreviated as MANF, intended to support research students. The disbursement of stipends under this fellowship is the central issue of the policy document.
National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation: A corporation, abbreviated as NMDFC, that receives funds from the Ministry for disbursement. Mentioned in relation to fund release delays.
Kiren Rijiju: The Minister of Minority Affairs who provided the answer to the question in the Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding the fellowship was raised.
University Grants Commission: An organisation, abbreviated as UGC, its fellowship schemes are open to all social categories and communities including minorities.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research: An organisation, abbreviated as CSIR, its fellowship schemes are open to all social categories and communities including minorities.
Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment: The ministry that implements National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Castes and OBCs, also covering students from minority communities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 507
ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025
DELAY IN STIPEND DISBURSEMENT UNDER MAULANA AZAD NATIONAL
FELLOWSHIP
507. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the research students those who are already under the
Maulana Azad National Fellowship have not received their stipends since December 2024, if so,
the details thereof along with the reasons for delay in the disbursement of stipend;
(b) the details of the reason for not releasing funds to the National Minorities Development and
Finance Corporation (NMDFC) by the Ministry since October-November 2024 along with the
current status of the fund release process;
(c) whether the 4.9 per cent reduction in funding for the fellowship in the year 2025-26 budget
has contributed to the delay in stipend disbursement, if so, the manner in which it has delayed the
stipend disbursement;
(d) whether the Government has taken immediate measures or proposes to release the stipend
and to prevent such delay in the future and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the alternative measures or schemes which are being considered to support PhD
researchers for minority communities given that the fellowship was terminated for new
applicants in the year 2022-23?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) to (d): Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) scheme has been discontinued from
2022-23 onward in view of the overlap among the other fellowship schemes. However, the
existing MANF fellows will continue to receive fellowships till the end of their respective
tenure. Committed liabilities under MANF were not paid from January onwards pending
approval.
Recently, necessary approval was obtained on the release of funds to those students who
have been on-boarded under the MANF in terms of the scheme guidelines/ DBT Mission
guidelines. Following this, Ministry has released funds to nodal agency for disbursement of
fellowship.
(e): The UGC and CSIR Fellowship Schemes are open for candidates of all social categories and
communities including minorities. Further, students from minority communities are also covered
under National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Castes and OBC’s implemented by Ministry
of Social Justice & Empowerment.
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