On December 10, 2025, the Minister of Minority Affairs answered Unstarred Question No. 1662 regarding the discontinuation of scholarship schemes. The coverage under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme has been revised and made applicable for classes IX and X only, due to the Right to Education Act 2009. The Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes have not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22. To ensure transparency and fair allocation of funds, the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) and Aadhaar based bio-metric authentication have been made mandatory for applicants and application verifying authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The central ministry responsible for the scholarship schemes discussed.
Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme: A scholarship program whose coverage has been revised.
Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009: The Act that provides free and compulsory elementary education.
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme: A scholarship program that, along with other schemes, had not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22.
Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme: A scholarship program that, along with other schemes, had not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1662
ANSWERED ON 10/12/2025
DISCONTINUATION OF SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES
1662. SHRI NAVASKANI K:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has reduced or discontinued any scholarship schemes for
minority students during the recent years and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the number of beneficiaries under pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means
scholarships for minority students has declined and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise,
particularly in Tamil Nadu;
(c) whether delays in fund release have affected students’ ability to continue higher
education and if so, the reasons for such delays;
(d) whether the Government proposes to restore previous funding levels or introduce
additional support to ensure that minority students are not denied educational opportunities
and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken to ensure transparency, timely disbursement and fair allocation of
scholarship funds to minority students across all the States?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) : The coverage under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme had been revised and made
applicable for classes IX and X only as the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for
free and compulsory elementary education (classes I to VIII) to each and every child.
(b) to (d): The Scholarship Schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs namely, Pre-Matric,
Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme had not been approved for
implementation beyond 2021-22.
(e): To ensure transparency and fair allocation of Scholarship funds, Aadhaar Payment
Bridge System (APBS), Aadhaar based bio-metric authentication system for applicants and
application verifying authorities had been made mandatory.
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