Minority Scholarships 2021: It is astounding to understand that our Indian government spends crores of rupees to eliminate illiteracy and develop an educated nation. The government takes measures to improve the literacy figures every year show mass improvement. Yet, the statistics at rural pockets of India reveal a different picture altogether. India’s villages are fast developing to catch up with their urban counterparts in terms of basic amenities and basic education, and the awareness they need. In this article, we discuss the scholarships available for minorities students. The government of India provides these scholarships as part of minority welfare and upliftment programs. The different schemes adopted by various state governments are discussed below in this section.
List of Minority Scholarships
- Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship Scheme
- National Overseas Scholarship Scheme [Karnataka]
- Higher Secondary Scholarship Scheme [ Gujarat]
- Swami Vivekanand Stipend Scheme for Professional and Technical Courses [Gujarat]
- Merit Scholarship Scheme for SC/ST/OBC/ Minorities [Delhi]
- Financial Assistance to Economically Backward Students [Delhi]
- Scholarship Scheme for Minority Students [Maharashtra]
Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship Scheme
Provider – Ministry of Minority Affairs, the government of India
Application Period – Between August – September
Eligibility
- Girl candidates who have completed their 10th standard with high merit record
- Candidate should have secured admission into 11th standard or Diploma course
Rewards
- Waiver of tuition fee
- Purchase of books and stationery
- Boarding and lodging charges
National Overseas Scholarship Scheme [Karnataka]
Provider – Directorate of Minorities, the government of Karnataka
Application Period – In the month of June
Eligibility
- Candidate must have enrolled for higher education at a university abroad
- Annual family income of candidate to be less than INR 6 lakhs
- Candidate must be less than 38 years
- Candidate must be domiciled in Karnataka only
- Only for minority classes of Karnataka – Muslims/ Christians/ Parsis/ Jains/ Buddhists/ Sikhs
Rewards
- Up to INR 20 lakhs per annum [ for 2 years only]
Higher Secondary Scholarship Scheme [Gujarat]
Provider – Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Gujarat.
Application Period – Between July – August
Eligibility Criteria
- Only for minority classes of Gujarat – Muslims/ Christians/ Parsis/ Jains/ Buddhists/ Sikhs
- Annual income of family to be less than INR 1.5 lakhs
Rewards
- For students in class 11- INR 475 to INR 725 per annum
- For students in class 12- INR 840 to INR 1140 per annum
Swami Vivekanand Stipend Scheme for Professional and Technical Courses [Gujarat]
Provider – Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Gujarat.
Application Period – Between July – August
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates studying in professional and technical educational streams in Gujarat state can apply
- Annual family income for rural applicants to not be more than 1.2 lakhs
- Annual family income for urban applicants to not be more than 1.5 lakhs
Rewards
- INR 125 per month for a year
- INR 400 per month for government ITI
Merit Scholarship Scheme for SC/ST/OBC/ Minorities [Delhi]
Provider – Directorate of Education, Government of NCT, Delhi
Application Period – Between September – November
Eligibility Criteria
- Exclusively for Delhi students studying in public schools or government aided schools or Kendriya Vidyalayas or NDMCs or Delhi Cantonment board schools.
- Only for students from class 1 to 12
- For OBC candidates annual family income to be less than INR 2 lakhs
- No ceiling on income for SC/ST students
Rewards
- Between INR 600 to INR 4500 per annum
Financial Assistance to Economically Backward Students [Delhi]
Provider – Directorate of Education, Government of NCT, Delhi
Application Period – Between September – November
Eligibility Criteria
- For Muslim and Neo Buddhist communities of Delhi state
- Candidate should be studying in between class 1 till 12
- Annual family income to be less than INR 1 lakhs
Rewards
- Between INR 300 to INR 600 per annum
Scholarship Scheme for Minority Students [Maharashtra]
Provider – Department of Minorities Development, Maharashtra state
Application Period – Between September – December
Eligibility Criteria
- Only for the economically weaker classes of Maharashtra state
- Candidate should have studied and cleared his matriculation from Maharashtra state only
- Annual family income to be less than INR 6 lakhs
Rewards
- INR 25,000
Minority Scholarships 2021 – FAQ’s
1. What are Minority Scholarships?
Answer: The government and public-private companies offer scholarships to economically backward sections amongst the minorities to increase their enrolment in higher education, to help them financially for higher studies and to increase their employability index. These are broadly termed minority scholarships.
2. What is the general income limit prescribed for minority scholarships?
Answer: On a general note, the annual income of families of minority candidates should not exceed INR 2.5 lakhs per annum.
3. Who are eligible to avail minority scholarships?
Answer: Candidates belonging to the economically backward sections amongst the minority classes of India are eligible to apply. Annual family income to not exceed INR 2.5 lakhs. Also, candidate should have attained a minimum score of 50% in their previous qualifying exam to be eligible for applying to minority scholarships. Candidates must be studying in government or government recognized private institutions in India.
4. Who is called a minority student?
Answer: Candidates belonging to these groups, namely, Christians/ Muslims/ Sikhs/ Buddhists/ Parsis/ Jains are termed as minority students.
5. How do I apply for minority scholarship?
Answer: Candidates can visit the official portal of NSP or National Scholarship Portal and apply online to minority scholarships.