Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme

Financial assistance will be given to pursue graduate level or post graduate level technical and professional courses from a recognized institution. Course fee and Maintenance allowance will be credited/transferred directly into the bank account of selected students.

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.

Students who get admission in technical/professional courses without taking 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.

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

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

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

The Income Certificate would remain valid for One Year.

The State Department will advertise the Scheme every year and receive the applications online through the concerned institutions as per the timeline.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The scholarship amount i.e. Course fee and Maintenance allowance would be credited/transferred directly into the bank account of selected students.

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.

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.

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.

A scholarship awarded may be cancelled if the scholar changes the subject of the course of study or changes the Institution of study, without prior approval of the State Government/UT Administration. The Head of the Institution shall report such cases to this Ministry.

A scholar is liable to refund the scholarship amount, if during the course of the year, the studies for which the scholarship has been awarded, is discontinued or change in the subject of study.

The regulations under the scheme can be changed at anytime at the discretion of the Government of India.

The list of Graduate Degree level and Post Graduate level technical and professional courses under Merit cum Means based Scholarship scheme is available on the website of this Ministry i.e. www.minorityaffairs.gov.in

The scheme is implemented through Online Scholarship Management System (OSMS). It is mandatory for all students to apply online. The students shall apply on the scholarship website of this Ministry i.e. www.momascholarship.nic.in. After submitting applications online, the student will take print out of the application and submit the same to the Institutions/College or State Governments/UT Administrations together:

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

One self attested copy of certificates, diploma, degree etc. in respect of all examinations passed.

An Income Certificate issued by an authorized Officer in the State/UT be submitted.

Self declaration of community by the student.

Complete application 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.

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.