In recent months, a growing sense of alarm has swept through India's higher education landscape as sharp reductions in funding for minority student scholarships and fellowships come into sharp focus. The Union Budget 2026-27, presented in February, has triggered widespread debate by slashing allocations for key schemes under the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), raising serious questions about equitable access to universities and colleges for students from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi communities. These cuts, amid already chronic delays and low utilization rates, are exacerbating financial pressures on lakhs of students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs.
Minority communities constitute about 19.3% of India's population according to the 2011 Census, yet their representation in higher education remains disproportionately low. Government scholarships like the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship have historically bridged this gap, enabling meritorious students from economically weaker sections to afford fees at institutions such as IITs, NITs, state universities, and private engineering colleges. With tuition costs soaring—often exceeding ₹1-2 lakh annually for professional courses—these supports are lifelines, preventing dropouts and fostering diversity in campuses.
📉 Breakdown of the 2026-27 Budget Cuts
The most glaring reduction targets the Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses, designed for minority students in fields like engineering, medicine, and management. Its allocation plummeted from ₹7.34 crore in 2025-26 to a mere ₹0.06 crore—a staggering 99% slash. This scheme, which covered tuition and maintenance for thousands, is now effectively defunct, leaving aspiring doctors and engineers without aid.
Similarly, the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), supporting M.Phil and PhD pursuits, saw its budget drop from ₹42.84 crore to ₹36.14 crore, a 16% cut. Although new awards were halted in 2022-23 due to fraud probes, ongoing stipends (₹37,000 monthly for juniors, rising to ₹42,000 for seniors) for existing 6,722 fellows from 2014-22 are at risk amid shrinking funds.
| Scheme | 2025-26 Allocation (₹ Cr) | 2026-27 BE (₹ Cr) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship | 7.34 | 0.06 | -99% |
| Maulana Azad Fellowship | 42.84 | 36.14 | -16% |
| Post-Matric Scholarship | 413.99 (BE) | 581 | +40% (but RE low) |
Post-Matric Scholarships showed a nominal rise to ₹581 crore, but revised estimates (RE) in prior years hovered near ₹0.06 crore due to delays, signaling persistent execution issues. Pre-Matric schemes fared marginally better at school level, but higher ed bears the brunt.
Historical Funding Trends and Underutilization
These cuts cap a decade-long decline. MoMA's total outlay has shrunk 25-30% since peak years, with schemes like MANF frozen amid investigations into irregularities since 2022. In 2025-26, only ₹55 crore of ₹678 crore for minority education was spent. Parliamentary panels have slammed MoMA for delays, noting injustice to genuine students while fraudsters escape.
- 2014-22: MANF selected 6,722 scholars, disbursing substantial aid.
- 2022 onwards: New intake stopped; payments erratic.
- Post-Matric: Targets 5 lakh beneficiaries annually, but disbursals lag, affecting 1.6 lakh BC/minority students in states like Karnataka alone.
Low Aadhaar linkage, DBT glitches, and state-federal mismatches compound issues, turning promises into prolonged waits.
Real-World Impacts: Stories from Campuses
At Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University—minority-heavy institutions—students report dire straits. A final-year engineering student at a Delhi private college shared, "Without Merit-cum-Means, I borrowed from relatives; many peers dropped out last semester." PhD aspirants under MANF await stipends 3-6 months late, juggling part-time jobs.
In Maharashtra, 1.42 lakh scholarships backlog since 2021; protests erupted at Mumbai University. Karnataka sees 1.6 lakh BC/minority students distressed. Dropout risks rise: AISHE 2023-24 data shows minority GER at 12.67% vs national 28.4%, with scholarships critical for 70% of them.
Enrollment Statistics and Equity Concerns
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) reveals minorities lag: Muslims 4.6% in faculty, low PhD completion. Scholarships boosted OBC/SC/ST enrollment surpassing general category in some states. Cuts could reverse gains, widening urban-rural, gender gaps—minority girls hit hardest.
- Muslim GER: ~12% (vs 28% overall).
- Dependence: 80% minority UG students in private aided colleges rely on aid.
- Projections: 10-15% enrollment dip in professional courses by 2027 if unaddressed.
UGC data underscores: Without fellowships, research diversity suffers, stifling innovation.
Stakeholder Reactions and Protests
Student outfits like SIO, AISA staged Jantar Mantar protests post-budget. Educators warn of 'reverse discrimination'. Opposition MPs decry 'anti-minority bias'. Vice-chancellors from AMU, MANUU urge restoration. NDTV reports growing fears over professional training access.
MoMA cites fraud probes, but critics point to unspent funds signaling mismanagement, not lack of need.
Government Perspective and Challenges
Officials attribute cuts to fiscal prudence post-COVID, prioritizing school ed (Samagra Shiksha up 10%). DBT reforms aim efficiency, but probes into ghost beneficiaries stalled schemes. Plans to hike income limits for SC/OBC post-matric from 2026-27 offer partial relief, yet minority-specific aid lags.
State Responses and Alternatives
States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu bolster own schemes; Maharashtra clears backlogs. Universities like DU, JNU offer fee waivers. Private options: Tata Trusts, Azim Premji scholarships fill gaps, but scale insufficient. Corporate CSR via National Scholarship Portal urged.
Path Forward: Solutions and Reforms
Experts recommend:
- Full DBT with Aadhaar-PAN linkage for transparency.
- Revive MANF with audits.
- University endowment funds for minorities.
- NEP 2020 equity goals via increased GER targets.
- Public-private partnerships for professional courses.
Restoring funding could reclaim 5 lakh beneficiaries annually, boosting India's skilled workforce.
Outlook: A Pivotal Moment for Inclusive Higher Ed
As India eyes Viksit Bharat 2047, neglecting minority higher ed risks social fissures. With 50% youth demographic dividend at stake, urgent revival of scholarships is imperative. Stakeholders eye interim budgets, hoping for reversals amid protests and parliamentary scrutiny. Enhanced access promises diverse campuses, innovation, and national progress.
