Career! Scholarship from Ministry of Minority Affairs

Last Date of Online Application >>>  30.10.2012 

Last Date case of renewal of scholarships >>> 31.12.2012 

The Ministry of Minority Affairs offers various types of scholarships for minority students of the country. The ministry offers Merit-cum-Means Scholarship, Pre-Matric Scholarship and Post-Matric Scholarship schemes for minority students. Every year 20000 scholarships are distributed among the students of minority communities throughout the country. Based on the state-wise population of these communities, the distribution of scholarship for Bihar is as follows:

State	Muslim	Christian	Sikh	Buddhist	Parsi	Total No of Scholarships for all communities
Bihar	4344	18	6	6	0	4374

If a minority student enrolled in a state government run is fulfilling the criteria he or she is eligible for getting the scholarships. After furnishing the required details and submission of essential documents the Pre-Matric / Post-Matric / Merit-cum-Means Scholarship can be availed.

Last Date of Online Application >>>  31.10.2012 

Last Date case of renewal of scholarships >>> 31.12.2012 

Common features of Pre / Post and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship offered by the Minority Affairs Ministry are as follows:

• 30% of scholarships are earmarked for girl students.
• Students must have secured 50% marks in the previous year final examination.
• Not more than 2 students from a single family.
• Scholarship allocation to States/UTs on the basis of population of minorities.
• The scheme is implemented through the State Govt./UT Administration.
• A student can avail scholarship from not more than one source.

Rate of Scholarship
Sl.No.	Type of Financial Assistance	Rate for hostler	Rate for Day Scholar
1	Maintenance Allowance (For 10 months only)	Rs.10,000/-per annum	Rs.5,000/- per annum.
		( Rs.1000 p.m.)	( Rs.500 p.m.)
2.	Course Fee*	Rs.20,000/- per annum or Actual whichever is less	Rs.20,000/- per annum or Actual whichever is less
Total		Rs.30,000/-	Rs.25,000/-
* Full course fee will be reimbursed for eligible institutions listed at Annexure-III .

Last Date of Online Application >>>  31.10.2012 

Last Date case of renewal of scholarships >>> 31.12.2012 

Funding Pattern of the Scheme

The Scheme will be implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which receive 100% central assistance from Government of India for the total expenditure under the scheme.

Payment of Minority Scholarship Amount

i)          Maintenance allowance is payable from 1st April or from the month of admission, whichever is later, to the month in which the examinations are completed, (including maintenance allowance during holidays) maximum twice a year, provided that if the scholar secures admission after the 20th day of a month, the amount will be paid from the month following the month of admission.

ii)             In case of renewal of scholarships awarded in the previous years, maintenance allowance will be paid from the month following the month upto which scholarship was paid in the previous year, if the course of study is continuous.

iii)        The Government of the State/Union Territory Administration, to which they belong, in accordance with the procedure laid down by them in this regard, will pay the scholarship money to the selected students.

iv)        Scholarship will not be paid for the period of internship/housemanship in the M.B.B.S. course or for a practical training in other course if the student is in receipt of some remuneration during the internship period or some allowance/stipend during the practical training in other course

Terms and Conditions for Minority Scholarship

i)          Financial assistance will be given to pursue degree and/or post graduate level technical and professional courses from a recognized institution.   Maintenance allowance will be credited to the student’s account.  The course fee will be paid by the State Department directly to the institute concerned.  

ii)         Students who get admission to a college to pursue technical/professional courses, on the basis of a competitive examination will be eligible for the scholarship.

iii)        Students who get admission in   technical/professional courses without facing any competitive examination will also be eligible for scholarship.  However, such students should have not less than 50% marks at higher secondary/graduation level. Selection of these students will be done strictly on merit basis.

iv)    Continuation of the scholarship in subsequent years will depend on successful completion of the course during the preceding year. 

v)         A scholarship holder under this scheme will not avail any other scholarship/stipend for pursuing the course. 

             

vi)        The annual income of the beneficiary/parent or guardian of beneficiary should not exceed Rs.2.50 lakh from all sources.

vii)       The state department will advertise the scheme every year latest by 31st March and receive the application through the concerned institutions.

viii)      After scrutinizing the applications, the state department will prepare a consolidated budget for all eligible students and send an application in the prescribed pro-forma for release of fund from the Ministry of Minority Affairs for distribution of scholarship giving the details of each students viz. name, permanent address, telephone number, annual course fee, name & address of institute, whether hostler or day-scholar, etc.

ix)        The application for release of fund from the state department must be received in the Ministry by 30th of September every year.

x)         The state department will maintain separate bank account and records relating to the funds received from the Ministry and they will be subjected to inspection by the officers of the Ministry or any other agency designated by the Ministry.

xi)        The fund for distribution of scholarship in subsequent year will be released after receiving the utilization certificate for the previous year.  Annual inspection by the officers of the Ministry or any other agencies designated by the Ministry will also be carried out.

xii)       30% scholarship will be reserved for girls of each minority community in a state which is transferable to male student of that community in case of non-availability of female candidate in that community in the concerned state.

xiii)      If the target for distribution of scholarship to a particular minority community in a state/UT is not fulfilled, it will be distributed among the same minority community of other States/UTs strictly in accordance with the merit.

xiv)     A student residing in a particular State/UT will be entitled for scholarship under    the quota of that State/UT only irrespective of his place of study.

xv)     The number of scholarship has been fixed state-wise on the basis of minority population of the states/UTs.  Within the state-wise allocations, the applications from reputed institutions will be exhausted first.  The list of such institutions will be made available by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

xvi)      The scheme will be evaluated at regular intervals and the cost of the evaluation will be borne by the Ministry of Minority Affairs under the provision of the scheme. An additional provision of 3% of the total budget will be made to meet the administrative and allied costs viz. expenditure on monitoring of the scheme, impact study, evaluation study, purchase of office equipments, engaging of contract employees, if necessary and other expenditure to run the cell etc. This will be shared between the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India and the State Governments/UT Administration. 

Other Conditions for the Award

i)          The scholarship is dependent on the satisfactory progress and conduct of the scholar.  If it is reported by the Head of the Institution at any time that a scholar has by reasons of his/her own act of default failed to make satisfactory progress or has been guilty of misconduct such as resorting to or participating in strikes, irregularity in attendance without the permission of the authorities concerned etc., the authority sanctioning the scholarship may either cancel the scholarship or stop or withhold further payment for such period as it may think fit. 

ii)         If a student is found to have obtained a scholarship by false statement, his/her scholarship will be cancelled forthwith and the amount of the scholarship paid will be recovered, at the discretion of the concerned State Government.  The student concerned will be blacklisted and debarred for scholarship in any scheme forever. 

iii)        A scholarship awarded may be cancelled if the scholar changes the subject of the course of study for which the scholarship was originally awarded or changes the Institution of study, without prior approval of the State Government.  The Head of the Institution shall report such cases to them and stop payment of the scholarship money.  The amount already paid may also be recovered at the discretion of the State Government.

iv)        A scholar is liable to refund the scholarship amount at the discretion of the State Government, if during the course of the year, the studies for which the scholarship has been awarded, is discontinued by him/her.

v)         The regulations can be changed at anytime at the discretion of the Government of India. 

Procedure for Applying to avail Minority Scholarship

i)          An application for scholarship should comprise:

(a) One copy of the application for scholarship in the prescribed form (separate application forms  prescribed for ‘fresh’ and renewal of scholarship by the concerned States/UTs).

(b)  One copy of the passport size photograph with signatures of the student thereon (for fresh scholarship).

(c)  One attested copy of certificates, diploma, degree etc. in respect of all examinations passed. 

(d) An income declaration by the self-employed parents/guardians, stating definite income from all sources by way of an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper.  Employed parents/guardians are required to obtain income certificate from their employer and for any additional income from other sources, they would furnish declaration by way of an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper.

(e)  Proof of permanent residence.

i)A receipt in acknowledgement of the scholarship in the previous year on the form attached to the application duly counter-signed by the Head of the Institution concerned, if the application was in receipt of a scholarship under this scheme in the preceding year. 

ii)  The State department should satisfy itself that the student belongs to a particular minority community.

iii)   Application complete in all respects shall be submitted to the Head of the Institution, being attended or last attended by the candidates and shall be addressed to an officer specified for this purpose by the Government of State/ Union Territory to which the student belongs, in accordance with the instructions issued by them from time to time.

Eligibility criteria for Minority Scholarship

• Students, who have got admission in a recognized college to pursue technical/professional courses, on the basis of a competitive examination.
• Students, who have got admission in a recognized college to pursue technical/professional courses, without facing any competitive examination, will also be eligible for scholarship.  However, such students should have not less than 50% marks at higher secondary/graduation level. Selection of these students will be done strictly of merit.
• A scholarship holder under this scheme will not avail any other scholarship/stipend for pursuing the course.
• The annual family income of the beneficiary/parent or guardian of the beneficiary should not exceed Rs.2.50 lakh per annum from all sources.
• A student residing in a particular State/UT will be entitled for scholarship under    the quota of that State/UT only irrespective of his place of study.

How to apply for Minority Scholarship

Applications in the prescribed format may be submitted to the Secretary of the, deptt. of the concerned State Govt/UT administration, dealing with minority welfare, through the institutions where the students are pursuing technical/professional courses.  The student must submit their applications to the state which he/she belongs to and not to the state where the institution where he/she is studying, is located.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) by Students / Wards regarding Minority Scholarship Scheme

Q.No. 1.  How can I apply online for scholarship? 

Answer: - In order to apply online please visit the website through URL www.momascholarship.gov.in.  A link to the site is also provided in the website of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, i.e. www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.  After opening the site please select the name of the scholarship scheme, you wish to apply.  Then go to the ‘Student Registration’ tab as appeared on the screen and register yourself for online application. 

Q.No. 2.  What is the last date for submitting applications online for 2012-13? 

Answer:- In case of fresh scholarships for the year 2012-13 students can apply online upto midnight of 30.9.2012 and in case of renewal of scholarships students can apply online upto midnight of 31.12.2012. 

Q.No. 3. Do I have to fill up the online application in one sitting? 

Answer:-  No. You can fill up the online application in as many sittings as you wish, until you are satisfied that you have entered all desirable fields correctly.  The software provides facility to save your application at every stage. 

Q.No. 4. Can I edit the information already saved and upto what time?

Answer:-  You can edit information filled by you till you submit the online application to the next level. 

Q.No. 5. How to submit the online application? 

Answer:-  Fill up the application first, then save the details. For this please click the  ‘SAVE’ Radio Button.  Thereafter, click the Radio Button ‘Finalize & Submit’.  Once it is submitted then you cannot edit further. 

Q.No. 6.  What is to be done after submitting the online application? 

Answer: After submitting the application online to the next level, you should take a print out of the same sign and send it with requisite documents to the State Department after authenticating the application from your 

institute. Please ensure that your hard copy reaches the State Department.  You will not be considered for scholarship if the State Department of the State to which you belong to does not receive the hard copy of your duly filled in online application. It is the responsibility of the STUDENT to submit the Hard copy to the State Department.

Q.No. 7. How to find the address of the State Department? 

Answer:  A list of mailing address of the Department concerned in States/UTs dealing with this scholarship scheme is provided in the home page of the website.   For this select the respective scholarship scheme from 

the main portal, then click the “List” Button as appeared  in the homepage,and then click the ‘State/UT-wise’ postal address. 

Q.No. 8. Which fields in the application form are mandatory? 

Answer:- Fields provided with red asterisk mark are mandatory fields.

Q.No. 9. Which all fields can I edit? 

Answer:- You can edit all fields except a few  like parental income, mobile No. email ID etc.  It may be noted that editing is possible only till you finally submit your online application to the next level. 

Q.No. 10. What happens, if I detect mistakes after forwarding the applications to the institutes? 

Answer: - You should separately inform the mistakes detected by you to the institute.  The software provides facility at the level of the Institute & State to edit & correct limited information.

Q. No. 11. Which fields can Institute/State edit? 

Answer: Except some basic parameters like religion, name of institution, parental annual income & bank details, the Institute/State can edit other fields.  However, corrections made by the Institute/State, if any, would be conveyed instantly to the student through SMS/email.  What the student had filled up and the correction made by the Institute/State both would show up. 

Q. No. 12 What is UID number?

Answer: UID number otherwise known as ‘Aadhaar’ number is Unique Identification Number given by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).  The process of issuing UID number has just started in the country.  It will take some more time before everybody has UID number.  This field is not mandatory.  However, if a student has UID number, it  will be to his benefit to quote the number.

Q.No. 13.  What are the advantages of entering UID number? 

Answer: This will facilitate to authenticate your Identity and will help in avoiding duplication.  Besides, UID number is likely to help in the process of transfer of scholarship amount to your account. 

Q.No. 14.  What should I do, if I do not find my institute name in the drop-down menu? 

Answer: You should immediately approach the institute to contact with the nodal officer of the State where the institute is located.   You can also approach the nodal officer of that State directly through e-mail under intimation to the Ministry of Minority Affairs.  If your institute is an eligible institution, the State Government concerned would enter it into the database and then you can apply.   

Q.No. 15.  How do I know the name of nodal officer of my State? 

Answer: A list of nodal officer is provided in the website.  For this select the respective scholarship scheme from the main portal, then click the “List” Button as appeared in the homepage.  

Q.No. 16.  What is a temporary ID? 

Answer: Temporary ID (TID) is only a reference number provided to the applicants as a token of their registration in the online database.  Receipt of TIDs does not give itself a guarantee for award of scholarship. 

Q.No. 17.  What if I forget my temporary ID? 

Answer: You can re-generate the same temporary ID by filling basic information like name, date of birth & mother’s name. 

   

Q.No. 18. Can I take print-out of my application at any stage? 

Answer: Yes. 

Q.No. 19. Do I have to scan the certificates and upload in the system before forwarding the online application to the institute? 

Answer: No.  The system does not have the facility of scanning.  The documents are to be enclosed with the signed hardcopy of the application and given to the institution. 

Q.No. 20: Is there any permanent ID? 

Answer: Yes.  A permanent ID (PID) will be provided to the candidate once his/her application is recommended by the State Department for scholarship.  Permanent ID would then replace temporary ID.  It will be conveyed to candidates through SMS and e-mail.   Students should memorize their PID as it will be required while applying for renewal. 

Q.No. 21. How to check the status of my application? 

Answer: By logging-in with your ID you can check the status of your application anytime.  For this, you shall have to click the “update students details” button, and then login through your ID. 

Q.No. 22. How and when will I know the outcome of my application?

Answer: Once you are provided with a permanent ID, in order to check the status, you can login with your permanent ID to know the outcome of your application.  Otherwise you can always check the status through the Temporary ID (TID), already provided to you. 

Q.No. 23. I could not renew my scholarship in the previous year i.e. 2011-12 . Can I apply for renewal of my scholarship now i.e. for the year 2012-13? 

Answer: Yes, you can apply for renewal. In order to apply please select the option i.e. Not renewed Scholarship in 2011-12 , under the tab Student Registration.

Guidelines to Schools / Institutions regarding Minority Scholarship Scheme

• The word INSTITUTE as referred to here  indicates to SCHOOL/COLLEGE/INSTITUTE as the case may be. The software for Online Scholarship Management System (OSMS) for Merit-cum means based scholarship  and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme  would function on five distinct modules which are as follows:

(i) Student Module 

(ii) Institute Module (optional)

(iii) District/Regional Module (optional) 

(iv) State Department Module 

(v) Central Module 

• The site can be accessed through URL www.momascholarship.gov.in. A link to the same is also available in the website of this Ministry i.e. www.minorityaffairs.gov.in. 
• In case of fresh scholarships for the year 2012-13, students can apply online upto midnight of 30.9.2012 and incase of renewal of scholarships, students can apply online upto midnight of 31.12.2012.
• Students can fill up the online application in as many sittings as they wish. With save and edit facility they can also edit their application. However, no editing is possible by the student once the duly filled in application is forwarded to the institute online.
• Candidate has to take print out of his filled-in application form, sign and submit the same, with requisite enclosures, to the State Department directly after authenticating the application from his institute. It is the responsibility of the STUDENT to submit the Hard copy to the State Department.
• Online application will show up in the inbox of the institute, in respect of students of those States/UTs who have opted for the ‘institute module’ in the work flow. 
• After login the institute should click the desired tab as appeared in the homepage of the main portal that is ‘Merit cum-Means based Scholarship’ or ‘Post-Matric Scholarship’ as the case may be. 
• Only Institute registered/approved with State Authorities are allowed the facility of online verification. 

Process of registration

• Based on information available with the State government, names of many institutions have already been entered into the OSMS database. The institute should check whether their names figure in the list or not. For this purpose, the institute should go to the homepage of the website and click the ‘list’ button. 
• Once the State government enters the name of institution into the OSMS, user ID and password are generated for that institution. If the mobile number and e-mail address of the institution are available with the State authorities and these are entered into the OSMS, user ID and password are automatically conveyed to the institution concerned through SMS/e-mail. In case these are not available with the State government, the user ID and password would have to be conveyed to the institution through the normal mail system. 
• In respect of Merit-cum Means based Scholarship scheme user Id and Password have already been given to institutes in the previous year. However, unlike previous year, from the year 2012-13 only one set of user Id and Password, that of institute’s office account will require to verify online applications.  The principal’s account has been removed from the institute module.
• Accordingly, in respect of Post-Matric Scholarship scheme only one user Id and Password  has been provided this year.
• Once the institution has the ID and password, it can enter into the OSMS. While doing so on the first occasion, the system would compulsorily ask them to change the password. Thereafter, the institute should fill up detailed information online about courses, infrastructure,  Bank Account etc. 
• This information must be filled in as quickly as possible because the capability of the institution to do online verification  would depend on that. Unless these details are entered the institution will not be able to do online verification. Once any institution is authorized to do online  verification, it need not wait for the last date for receipt of application to commence the process of  verification. In fact, the institute is advised to take up verification as soon as the online application and hard copy of the application are received from the students. 
• After 31st July of calendar year online applications for a given academic year pending with institute database for more than 30 days for want of  verification will get automatically pushed to the State Department level.
• After the verification, the application is to be forwarded to the home state of the student as given in the application form. As a matter of fact, the online application would go to its destination on its own. While forwarding the hardcopy, the institution has to take care that it is sent to the home state of the student and not necessarily in all cases to the state where the institution is located. 
• Before  verification is taken up, students may point out about some bonafide mistakes which they may have made while filling up the application like spelling mistake in names, etc. 
• Except some basic parameters like religion, name of institution, percentage of marks, parental annual income, bank details, other fields can be edited by the Institute when such mistakes come to light.    However it needs to be pointed out here that what students have entered cannot be overwritten. Any correction made by the institution will show separately and it will be apparent to anyone what the student had originally filled up and what was the correction made by the institution.
• After  verification, the hardcopy has to be signed by the institution before the same is handed over to the  Student for submission to the State Department concerned. 

State-wise distribution of scholarship among the students belonging to minority communities.

S. No.	States	Muslim	Christian	Sikh	Buddhist	Parsi	Total No of Scholarships
1	Andhra Pradesh	2211	372	9	9	0	2601
2	Arunachal Pradesh	6	63	0	45	0	114
3	Assam	2610	312	6	15	0	2943
4	Bihar	4344	18	6	6	0	4374
5	Chattisgarh	129	126	21	21	0	297
6	Goa	30	114	0	0	3	147
7	Gujarat	1455	90	15	6	3	1569
8	Haryana	387	9	372	3	0	771
9	Himachal Pradesh	39	3	24	24	0	90
10	Jammu & Kashmir	2151	6	66	36	0	2259
11	Jharkhand	1182	345	27	3	0	1557
12	Karnataka	2046	318	6	126	0	2496
13	Kerala	2490	1917	0	0	0	4407
14	Madhya Pradesh	1218	54	48	66	0	1386
15	Maharashtra	3252	336	69	1851	12	5520
16	Manipur	60	234	0	0	0	294
17	Meghalaya	30	516	0	0	0	546
18	Mizoram	3	246	0	24	0	273
19	Nagaland	12	567	0	0	0	579
20	Orissa	243	285	6	3	0	537
21	Punjab	120	93	4620	12	0	4845
22	Rajasthan	1515	24	261	3	0	1803
23	Sikkim	3	12	0	48	0	63
24	Tamil Nadu	1098	1197	3	3	0	2301
25	Tripura	81	33	0	30	0	144
26	Uttar Pradesh	9735	66	216	96	0	10113
27	Uttarakhand	321	9	66	3	0	399
28	West Bengal	6408	162	21	78	0	6669
	Union Territories
29	Andaman & Nicobar	9	24	0	0	0	33
30	Chandigarh	12	3	45	0	0	60
31	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	3	3	0	0	0	6
32	Daman & Diu	3	0	0	0	3	6
33	Delhi	513	42	177	9	0	741
34	Lakshadweep	18	0	0	0	0	18
35	Puducherry	18	21	0	0	0	39
Total		43755	7620	6084	2520	21	6000