SDPI Urges Immediate Restoration of Pre and Post Matric Scholarship Schemes

The Social Democratic Party of India strongly condemns the Union Government’s abrupt discontinuation of the Pre Matric, Post Matric and Merit cum Means Minority Scholarship Schemes beyond the academic year 2021–22, as acknowledged in the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ reply to Lok Sabha on 18 March 2026.

The data placed on record reveals a serious breakdown in implementation. Since 2021–22, no fresh beneficiaries have been enrolled under these schemes, while expenditures have been limited to the clearance of pending liabilities despite substantial budget allocations. This halt followed a study by the National Council of Applied Economic Research which identified irregularities involving 830 institutions and an estimated loss of ₹144.33 crore.

However, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, in its Twentieth Report on Demands for Grants for 2026–27 tabled on 11 March 2026, has categorically observed that withholding the revival of these schemes pending recovery is unjust and places an undue burden on innocent minority students who are being made to suffer for administrative lapses.

It is deeply concerning that, despite the Expenditure Finance Committee having cleared proposals for revival on two separate occasions, the Union Cabinet has yet to grant its approval. This continued delay has deprived millions of economically disadvantaged students from the six notified minority communities of essential educational support.

The Social Democratic Party of India calls upon the Union Government to accord immediate Cabinet approval for the revival of these schemes, ensure targeted implementation in states where no irregularities have been reported, and initiate concrete, time bound measures to fully restore their functioning. Safeguarding access to education and advancing socio economic empowerment for vulnerable sections must remain an uncompromising national priority.

Ya Mohideen
National Secretary