Maulana Azad National Scholarship; Overview, Eligibility & Other

Maulana Azad National Scholarship is a scholarship and fellowship program introduced by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, aimed at providing assistance to students belonging to officially recognized minority communities specifically Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis. The primary objective of this scheme is to enable meritorious students to pursue their education without facing any financial barriers. Under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), financial assistance was provided to minority students pursuing M.Phil. and Ph.D. courses at recognized universities and educational institutions across India. This fellowship encompassed a monthly stipend, contingency grants to cover incidental expenses, and other education-related costs. The scheme was implemented through the University Grants Commission (UGC) and was primarily designed to target students from economically disadvantaged families.

Overview of Maulana Azad National Scholarship

• Scholarship Name: Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)
• Offered By: Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Implemented By: University Grants Commission
• Beneficiaries: Minority community students
• Course Level: M.Phil. and Ph.D.
• Eligible Communities: Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi students
• Income Limit: Family income generally not exceeding Rs.2.5 lakh per year
• Mode of Benefit: Direct financial assistance for higher studies and research

Benefits of Maulana Azad National Scholarship

Monthly fellowship for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF).
House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per government rules.
Annual contingency grant for research work.
Support for research in Science, Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, and Engineering disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria of Maulana Azad National Fellowship

• The applicant must belong to a notified minority community.
• He/She must be enrolled in a regular, full-time M.Phil. or Ph.D. program.
• He/She must have secured a minimum of 50% marks at the postgraduate level.
• The annual family income must fall within the prescribed limit.

Objective of of Maulana Azad National Scholarship 2026

The primary objective of the MANF was to provide integrated fellowships to minority students with the aim of facilitating opportunities for advanced research in various academic fields, such as:

• Science
• Engineering and Technology
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Commerce

The goal of this fellowship was to enhance the representation of minority communities within the realms of higher education and research.

Maulana Azad National Fellowship Amount

Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) -

• Rs.25,000 per month
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per government norms

Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) -

• Rs.28,000 per month
• HRA as per government rules

Contingency Grant

Humanities, Social Sciences & Commerce 

• Rs.10,000 per year (first two years)
• Rs.20,500 per year (remaining period)

Science, Engineering & Technology -

• Rs.12,000 per year (first two years)
• Rs.25,000 per year (remaining period)

Selection Process of Maulana Azad National Scholarship

The selection process was primarily conducted based on the following criteria:

• Merit in UGC-NET / CSIR-UGC NET.
• Eligibility verification.
• Minority community certificate.
• Income criteria.
• Admission to a recognized M.Phil./Ph.D. program.

Documents Required of Maulana Azad National Scholarship

Minority Community Certificate
Income Certificate
Aadhaar Card
Postgraduate Mark Sheet
Admission/Registration Certificate
Bank Account Details
Passport-size Photograph
Research Course Documents

Important Note:

The Government of India discontinued fresh admissions under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship scheme in 2022. However, students who had already been awarded the fellowship were allowed to continue receiving benefits as per existing guidelines.

Maulana Azad National Scholarship - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q1. Is the Maulana Azad National Fellowship still available?

• Answer: No. Fresh admissions under the scheme were discontinued from 2022-23 onwards. Existing beneficiaries continue to receive support as per government guidelines.

Q2. Who could apply for MANF?

• Answer: Students from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi communities pursuing M.Phil. or Ph.D. studies were eligible.

Q3. What was the income limit?

• Answer: The annual family income limit was Rs.2.5 lakh from all sources.

Q4. What was the duration of the fellowship?

• Answer: The fellowship was available for a maximum period of 5 years, subject to academic performance and continuation rules.