Distribution of Pre-Matric Scholarships to Minority Students Crosses Half Crore Mark in a Single Year Ministry of Minority Affairs Distributes over 55.28 Lakh Pre-Matric Scholarships during 2011-12

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has achieved a big success in the implementation of its Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme for students belonging to Minority communities from class I to class X. The Ministry distributed a total of 55,28,557 scholarships during the last Financial Year 2011-12 that ended on 31.3.2012 - as against a target of 34 lakh scholarships. For distributing these scholarships, the Ministry released an amount of Rs. 615.47 crore during 2011-12. Another milestone in the implementation of this Scheme was that 51.01 % scholarships went to girl students – which means more girl students benefitted from this Scheme than the boys! 

Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme was started in 2008-09 and a cumulative total of over 1.22 crore scholarships have been awarded till 31.3.2012. Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme is one of the three scholarship schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs included under the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities.