Parliament Question: Disparity in House Rent Allowance

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2762 ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025 DISPARITY IN HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE

2762. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that there is disparity in House Rent Allowance (HRA) provided to scholars under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) as compared to those under the UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) schemes and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of reasons for this disparity, especially considering that all these scholars are engaged in similar academic and research pursuits and ought to be treated equally; and

(c) whether the Government intends to bring parity in HRA and related benefits for MANF scholars in line with UGC JRF/SRF scholars and if so, the details thereof along with the timeline fixed for its implementation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (c): The Ministry has already issued instructions to implement revised rates of House Rent Allowance (HRA) under MANF w.e.f. 01.01.2024 as per the norms of Government of India. As such, there is no disparity in HRA provided to scholars under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship

(MANF) as compared to those under the UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) schemes. *****