Parliament Question: Disbursal of scholarships to ineligible and fake beneficiaries

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2676 ANSWERED ON 16/03/2026 DISBURSAL OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO INELIGIBLE AND FAKE BENEFICIARIES 2676. SHRI IMRAN PRATAPGARHI: Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has taken note of the findings of the CAG regarding disbursal of scholarships to ineligible and fake beneficiaries under schemes of the Ministry; (b) total amount of public funds found to have been irregularly disbursed, scheme-wise and State- wise; (c) the specific weaknesses identified in verification and monitoring mechanisms; (d) the corrective measures implemented to strengthen beneficiary authentication and prevent recurrence of such misuse; and (e) whether Government proposes an independent audit or technological overhaul of the National Scholarship Portal? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU) (a) to (e): Ministry of Minority Affairs implements various schemes, including Scholarship schemes, across the country for socio-economic and educational empowerment of the six notified minority communities. However, the scheme has not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22 and therefore, no funds were released in respect of fresh applications beyond 2021-22. On the basis of media reports in November 2020 regarding siphoning of Scholarship funds, the matter was referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation. During 2022-23, taking cognizance of various reports, Ministry conducted a third party study and conducted physical verification of applicants and verifying authorities. The study highlighted gross irregularities wherein, out of 1572 sampled institutes, 830 institutes were found to be either fake, partial fake or non-operational. This matter has been also handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The National Informatics Centre has been directed to freeze such 830 institutes. Besides, Ministry took several other measures including Aadhaar based Bio-metric authentication of applicants and verifying authorities, making Aadhaar Payment Bridge System mandatory for all Scholarship payments. *****