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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1884
ANSWERED ON 09/03/2026
REDUCTION IN MINORITY SCHOLARSHIPS
1884. SHRI K.R. SURESH REDDY:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) details of the funds allocated under the Merit-cum-means Scholarship for professional and
technical courses during the last five years, year-wise;
(b) details of the funds utilized under the Merit-cum-means Scholarship for professional and
technical courses during the above said period;
(c) details of the number of applications received under this scheme during the last five years, year
wise;
(d) details of the number of students who have received scholarships under this scheme during the
above said period; and
(e) reasons for the severe underutilization and reduction in budgetary allocation under this scheme?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) to (e): Ministry of Minority Affairs implements various schemes, including Merit-cum-Means
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.
The details of fund allocated and utilized, and details of number of applications is at Annexure.
*****Annexure
Annexure as mentioned in reply to part (a) to (e) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question
No.1884 answered on 09.03.2026 on the subject of “Reduction in Minority Scholarships”
asked by Shri K.R. Suresh Reddy
Year Allocation Utilization Number of Number of Scholarship
(Amount (Amount Applications Received Disbursed
in ₹ Crore) in ₹ Crore)
Fresh Renewal Fresh Renewal
2021-22 325.00 345.77 156810 83020 59495 72315
2022-23* 358.02 34.90 125009 83233 0 58430
2023-24 25.00 152.74 0 0 0 0
2024-25 19.41 3.50 0 0 0 0
2025-26 0.06 0.00 0 0 0 0
* For years beyond 2021-22, disbursements have been made under renewal category only, as the
scheme has not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22.