Central Idea

Research students have raised concerns about the disparity in scholarship amounts under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) compared to other research fellowships.

About Maulana Azad National Fellowship

	Details
Objective	To support students from minority communities in pursuing M.Phil. and Ph.D.
Launch	Launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India
Eligibility	Students from minority communities (Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Jains) who have cleared CBSE/NTA-UGC NET or CSIR NET
Financial Assistance	Covers university fee, maintenance allowance, and other necessary allowances; granted for up to 5 years
Administration	Managed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs; University Grants Commission (UGC) as the nodal agency
Selection Process	JRF-NET (Junior Research Fellow- National Eligibility Test) examination
Purpose and Impact	Encourages higher studies and research in various fields; aims at educational and socio-economic development of minority communities

Discontinuation of MANF: Union Minority Affairs Minister announced the discontinuation of MANF, citing overlaps with similar scholarships.
Research Community’s Reaction: The research community, represented by the All India Research Scholars Association (AIRSA), has expressed disappointment, emphasizing the role of research in socio-economic development and the importance of MANF for financially constrained minority students.

Last Revision in 2019: The last increase in MANF scholarship amounts was in 2019, while other scholarships have seen recent revisions.
Current Fellowship Amounts: UGC-approved schemes now offer ₹37,000 for junior researchers and ₹42,000 for senior researchers, a significant increase from previous amounts.

Scholarship Schemes for Religious Minorities: Reality Check