- The Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) was discontinued from 2022-23 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs because it overlapped with the UGC and CSIR fellowships
- The Maulana Azad Education Foundation, which ran the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for minority girls, was ordered closed in February 2024 and its website maef.nic.in is no longer live
- Minority students can still apply for the Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal.
What Is the Maulana Azad Scholarship?
Maulana Azad Scholarship is a common name for two Ministry of Minority Affairs schemes: the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for MPhil and PhD scholars, and the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for minority girls in Classes 9 to 12. Both supported students from six notified minority communities, but both have since been discontinued.
The name Maulana Azad Scholarship is used loosely for the education support the Government of India offered to students from minority communities. In practice it points to two separate schemes run under the Ministry of Minority Affairs: the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) for research scholars, and the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for minority girls in school. Both are now closed to new applicants, so this guide explains what happened and what you can apply for instead in 2026.
Both schemes were meant for the six centrally notified minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. Their aim was to help meritorious students who could not continue their education without financial support.
| Scheme (2026) | Current Status | Who It Covered | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maulana Azad National Fellowship | Discontinued from 2022-23 | Minority MPhil and PhD scholars | Rs 25,000-28,000 per month (historic) |
| Begum Hazrat Mahal Scholarship | Ended; MAEF closed in 2024 | Minority girls, Class 9 to 12 | Rs 5,000-6,000 per year |
| Pre-Matric Scholarship | Active, Class 9 and 10 only | Minority students | Applied via NSP |
| Post-Matric Scholarship | Active | Minority students, Class 11 and above | Applied via NSP |
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship | Active | Professional and technical courses | Applied via NSP |
Is the Maulana Azad National Fellowship Still Available in 2026?
No. The Ministry of Minority Affairs discontinued the Maulana Azad National Fellowship from 2022-23, stating it overlapped with the UGC and CSIR JRF schemes that already cover minority scholars. Fellows selected before 2022-23 keep receiving payments until their tenure ends, but no new MANF applications are accepted in 2026.
The Maulana Azad National Fellowship was launched in 2009 and implemented on the lines of the UGC and CSIR Junior Research Fellowship. It gave a five-year fellowship to minority students pursuing MPhil and PhD, paying the same monthly amounts as the UGC JRF (around Rs 25,000 as Junior Research Fellow and Rs 28,000 as Senior Research Fellow) plus house rent allowance and contingency support.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Minister for Minority Affairs said the scheme was discontinued from 2022-23 because it overlapped with fellowship schemes already run by the UGC, CSIR and the ministries handling Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Tribes. Between 2014-15 and 2021-22, about 6,722 candidates were selected under MANF with a cumulative disbursal of roughly Rs 738.85 crore. Existing fellows continue to receive support until their tenure ends.
Government Scholarships for Indian StudentsRead →What Was the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship?
The Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship gave minority girls in Classes 9 and 10 Rs 5,000 per year and Classes 11 and 12 Rs 6,000 per year. Applicants needed at least 50% marks and family income under Rs 2 lakh. The Maulana Azad Education Foundation that ran it was closed in 2024.
The Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship was awarded to meritorious girl students from the six notified minority communities studying in Classes 9 to 12. It was administered by the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and applications were made online with no application fee.
- Only girl students from the six notified minority communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis) were eligible.
- Applicants had to be studying in Classes 9 to 12 and secure at least 50% marks in the previous annual examination.
- Family income from all sources could not exceed Rs 2 lakh per year.
- Class 9 and 10 students received Rs 5,000 per year; Class 11 and 12 students received Rs 6,000 per year.
In February 2024 the Ministry of Minority Affairs ordered the closure of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation after its budget was cut sharply over successive years. The foundation stopped operating and its official website, maef.nic.in, is no longer live. As a result, the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship is no longer open for fresh applications.
How to Get a Scholarship to Study AbroadRead →Which Minority Scholarships Can You Apply For in 2026?
In 2026, minority students apply through the National Scholarship Portal for the Pre-Matric Scholarship (now Classes 9 and 10 only), the Post-Matric Scholarship, and the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for professional and technical courses. The Ministry of Minority Affairs also runs the PM VIKAS skilling scheme for the six notified minority communities.
With MANF and the Begum Hazrat Mahal scholarship closed, minority students should look at the schemes the Ministry of Minority Affairs still runs. The three main scholarship schemes are delivered through the National Scholarship Portal, while PM VIKAS focuses on skill development and entrepreneurship.
- Pre-Matric Scholarship: now limited to students in Classes 9 and 10, as the Right to Education Act already covers Classes 1 to 8.
- Post-Matric Scholarship: for minority students in Class 11 and above, including graduate and postgraduate courses.
- Merit-cum-Means Scholarship: for minority students pursuing professional and technical courses at listed institutions.
- PM VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan): a skilling and self-employment scheme for the six notified minority communities.
How Do You Apply on the National Scholarship Portal?
Apply on scholarships.gov.in by first creating a One-Time Registration (OTR) number, which is now mandatory. Fill the application, upload your income certificate, mark sheets, and bonafide certificate, then submit for institute and state verification. Common Service Centres assist for a fixed Rs 30 fee across your whole academic career.
All active minority scholarships are applied for on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). Since AY 2024-25 a One-Time Registration number is required, so you register once and reuse the same number every year instead of registering afresh.
- Create your One-Time Registration (OTR) number on the National Scholarship Portal and complete biometric authentication.
- Log in, choose the scholarship scheme you are eligible for, and fill the online application form.
- Upload the required documents: income certificate from a competent authority, previous year mark sheet, and a bonafide or institute certificate.
- Submit the application so your institution and the state authority can verify it before the closing date.
- You can also complete the whole process at a Common Service Centre for a fixed fee of Rs 30 for your entire academic career.