The Ministry of Minority Affairs was set up on 29 January 2006, carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Five communities were notified as minorities in October 1993 under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, and Jains were added on 27 January 2014, making six. The Ministry's three scholarships, pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means, are paid through the National Scholarship Portal by Direct Benefit Transfer. Haj matters moved to the Ministry from External Affairs on 1 October 2016.
Minority Welfare
Minority Welfare
The Ministry of Minority Affairs, set up on 29 January 2006, runs schemes for the six communities notified as minorities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains. Between 2014-15 and 2021-22 it sanctioned 4,43,50,785 pre-matric and 57,06,334 post-matric scholarships. It is also the nodal ministry for Haj, and 1,75,025 pilgrims were expected to travel for Haj in 2026. This timeline traces the main changes since 2014.
57,06,334
Post-matric scholarships sanctioned (2014-15 to 2021-22)
1,75,025
Pilgrims expected on Haj (2026)
4,000+
Women who applied successfully without mehram (Haj 2023)
Pre-matric scholarships for minority students (2014-15 to 2021-22)
2014
Jains notified as a minority
On 27 January 2014 the Centre notified Jains as a minority community under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, in addition to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis, notified in October 1993.
2016
Haj moves to Minority Affairs
2016
Hunar Haat begins
2018
Haj without subsidy; women without mehram
2022
PM VIKAS; fellowship discontinued
2023
Single women can apply for Haj
2024
Pre-matric scholarship covers classes 9–10
2025
PM VIKAS guidelines approved
2026
Haj 2026
2014
1milestones
20142026
Latest
Jains notified as a minority
On 27 January 2014 the Centre notified Jains as a minority community under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, in addition to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis, notified in October 1993.
Why it matters Scholarships help students from poorer minority households stay in school and college, and skilling schemes aim to link artisans and young people to jobs and markets. Haj arrangements affect the cost, safety and access of a pilgrimage made by lakhs of Indians.
- Six communities are notified as minorities; Jains were added on 27 January 2014 to the five notified in October 1993.
- From 2014-15 to 2021-22, 4,43,50,785 pre-matric (52.24% female) and 57,06,334 post-matric (55.91% female) scholarships were sanctioned (Ministry review, December 2022).
- The Haj subsidy was completely abolished for Haj 2018; by November 2024, 4.54 lakh pilgrims had performed Haj without subsidy.
- Women aged 45 or above could perform Haj without a mehram, in groups of four, from Haj 2018; single women could apply from Haj 2023, when more than 4,000 applied successfully.
- The Maulana Azad National Fellowship was discontinued from 2022-23, with existing fellows paid until the end of their tenure (Lok Sabha reply, August 2024).
- PM VIKAS guidelines were approved in January 2025; by February 2026 a training target of about 1.51 lakh beneficiaries had been allocated.
History
Notable milestone
From 2014-15 to 2021-22, 4,43,50,785 pre-matric scholarships (52.24% to female students) and 57,06,334 post-matric scholarships (55.91%) were sanctioned. Over the longer span from 2008-09 to 2022-23, ₹12,250.44 crore was sanctioned under the pre-matric scheme to 710.94 lakh beneficiaries, and ₹5,171.52 crore under the post-matric scheme to 92.39 lakh. The Haj subsidy, which had reached ₹836.56 crore in 2012-13, was completely abolished for Haj 2018; by November 2024, 4.54 lakh pilgrims had performed Haj without it.
How it works
The pre-matric scholarship is for students in classes IX and X, and the post-matric scholarship covers class XI to PhD; 30% of scholarships are earmarked for girls. The post-matric scholarship requires 50% marks in the previous examination and parental income of up to ₹2 lakh a year (December 2022). PM VIKAS is a central sector scheme covering skill training, leadership and entrepreneurship for minority women, and education support for school dropouts, with credit linkage through the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation. For Haj, the Haj Committee of India distributes the quota among States and UTs by Muslim population, with a draw of lots where applications exceed seats.
Outlook
PM VIKAS was approved for the 15th Finance Commission period, but training began only after its guidelines were approved in January 2025; by February 2026 a target of about 1.51 lakh trainees had been allocated. The Ministry said challenges, if any, would be identified as implementation progresses. For Haj 2026, around 60,000 pilgrims were to use the high-speed train between Makkah and Madinah, and smart wristbands were introduced to help locate missing pilgrims.
By the numbers
6 notified minority communities (since January 2014). 4,43,50,785 pre-matric and 57,06,334 post-matric scholarships (2014-15 to 2021-22). 1,75,025 Haj pilgrims (2018; expected in 2026). 4.54 lakh pilgrims without subsidy (Haj 2018 to November 2024). 4,000+ women applied successfully without mehram (Haj 2023). 1.51 lakh PM VIKAS training target (February 2026). 33 Hunar Haats (November 2016 to December 2021). Sources: Ministry of Minority Affairs via PIB.
Data current to: Scholarships to 2021-22; Haj and PM VIKAS to April 2026
Source: Ministry of Minority Affairs via PIB — milestones from 2014 to 2026. Headline: 4,43,50,785 pre-matric scholarships (52.24% to female students) sanctioned from 2014-15 to 2021-22, from the Ministry's year-end review of 16 December 2022 (linked). Other figures come from Parliament replies and releases on Haj, PM VIKAS and Hunar Haat, each dated on the page. · link