**Summary:**
In response to a parliamentary inquiry regarding higher education for girls from minority communities, the Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, outlined the Government of India's initiatives as of August 6, 2025.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements several schemes aimed at the socio-economic empowerment of the six centrally notified minority communities. These include Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, and Merit-cum-Means based scholarships, applicable nationwide in both rural and urban areas. Notably, 30% of the scholarships under these schemes are earmarked for girls.
The Ministry of Education supports higher education through the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PMUSP), which encompasses the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) for College and University Students, the Special Scholarship Scheme (SSS) for Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, and the Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme (CSIS). Under PMUSP, 50% of scholarship slots are reserved for female students.
In November 2024, the government launched PM Vidyalaxmi, a central sector scheme providing collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans to students, including girls from minority communities, admitted on merit to top Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs), subject to scheme guidelines.
While state governments also undertake initiatives to enhance access to higher education, there is currently no proposal under consideration to establish a new Central University exclusively for minorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to minority communities.
Kiren Rijiju: The Minister of Minority Affairs answering the question in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PMUSP): A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Education to promote higher education.
Jammu Kashmir: A union territory of India. Formerly a state.
Ladakh: A union territory of India.
PM Vidyalaxmi: A central sector scheme providing collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2812
ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025
HIGHER EDUCATION TO GIRLS BELONGING TO MINORITY COMMUNITIES
†2812. MRS RUCHI VIRA:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the schemes being implemented by the Government to promote higher education
among girls belonging to minority communities in the country;
(b) whether the Government proposes to establish more Universities for minorities on the lines of
A.M.U. if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the number of Universities, if any, established for minorities by the Union Government in Uttar
Pradesh during the last ten years, if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a): Ministry of Minority Affairs has implemented various schemes for socio-economic
empowerment of the six (6) centrally notified minority communities including various educational
empowerment schemes such as (i) Pre-Matric, (ii) Post-Matric and (iii) Merit-cum-Means based
scholarships which are implemented across the country covering rural as well as urban areas.
Under all the three schemes, 30% of the total scholarships are earmarked for girls.
Ministry of Education is implementing three component schemes under Pradhan Mantri
Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana (PM-USP) namely (i) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship
(CSSS) for College and University Students, (ii) Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu &
Kashmir and Ladakh (SSS for J&K and Ladakh) (exclusively meant for students belonging to the
Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) and (iii) Central Sector Interest Subsidy
Scheme (CSIS). Under PM-USP, 50% of the scholarship slots are earmarked for girl students. In
November 2024, the Government of India has launched the PM Vidyalaxmi, a new Central Sector
Scheme, wherein collateral-free and guarantor-free education loan is provided to all the students
who get merit-based admission in top Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEls), subject to
schematic guidelines. All students including girls from minority communities are eligible to get the
benefits of the scheme.
(b) & (c): Since Education is a concurrent subject, the state governments are also taking various
initiatives to provide greater access to higher education in their respective states. At present, there
is no such proposal under consideration for establishment of a new Central University exclusively
for minorities.
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