Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)

Overview

The Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) was a fellowship scheme launched in 2009 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to provide financial assistance to students from six notified minority communities — Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, and Sikh — for pursuing regular, full-time M.Phil and Ph.D programmes at UGC-recognised universities and institutions across India.

The scheme was discontinued from the academic year 2022-23 onward by the Central Government on December 8, 2022, citing overlap with other fellowship schemes. Between 2014-15 and 2021-22, a total of 6,722 candidates were selected under MANF, and fellowships amounting to ₹738.85 crore were disbursed. Existing fellows continue to receive support until the completion of their respective tenures, though recent payment delays and budget reductions have created significant challenges.

Fellowship Details (Pre-Discontinuation)

Eligibility (Pre-Discontinuation)

• Must belong to one of the six notified minority communities: Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, or Sikh
• Must have qualified UGC-NET or CSIR-NET examination
• Must be enrolled in a regular, full-time M.Phil or Ph.D programme at a UGC-recognised institution
• Family income ceiling applied as per prevailing UGC norms
• Only one fellowship per scholar — dual fellowship not permitted

Reason for Discontinuation

The Central Government cited overlap with other scholarship and fellowship schemes as the primary reason for discontinuation. Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani stated that the decision was made to rationalise fellowship schemes and avoid duplication. However, critics have noted that:

• No research scholar is permitted to hold more than one fellowship simultaneously, so the “overlap” argument is contested
• MANF was the only fellowship exclusively designed for minority community scholars pursuing research degrees
• Other fellowships (like UGC-NET JRF) are open to all categories and do not specifically target minority representation in research

Impact of Discontinuation

• No new selections from academic year 2022-23 onward
• Existing fellows continue to receive stipends until their tenure ends, subject to compliance with extant guidelines
• The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) handles residual disbursements
• Minority students now rely on general category fellowships (UGC-NET JRF, CSIR-NET JRF) and state-level minority welfare schemes

Latest Developments

• December 8, 2022: Central Government formally discontinued MANF from the 2022-23 academic year, citing overlap with other schemes
• 2024-2025: Existing MANF fellows reported stipend delays of up to three months — the second such disruption in less than a year
• Re-verification Exercise: Ministry of Minority Affairs launched a tighter scrutiny and re-verification exercise, linking it to concerns over duplication and alleged misuse
• Budget 2026-27: Allocation for residual MANF payments reduced to ₹36.14 crore — down from ₹42.84 crore in 2025-26 (a 16% cut), reflecting the tapering number of existing fellows
• Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF): The broader Maulana Azad Education Foundation — a 40-year-old body promoting education among minorities — was also dissolved; Delhi High Court dismissed the petition challenging its closure, and the Supreme Court heard the appeal

Prelims Importance

• MANF launched: 2009; discontinued from 2022-23 academic year
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Implementing Agency: UGC (University Grants Commission)
• Six notified minorities: Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Sikh
• Fellowship: ₹31,000/month (JRF); ₹35,000/month (SRF)
• Duration: 2 years (M.Phil); 5 years (Ph.D)
• Selection: UGC-NET and CSIR-NET merit list
• Candidates selected (2014-22): 6,722
• Total disbursement (2014-22): ₹738.85 crore
• Budget 2026-27: ₹36.14 crore (residual payments only)
• Reason for discontinuation: Overlap with other fellowship schemes

Mains & Interview Importance

GS Paper 2 — Social Justice, Minority Welfare:

• Critically examine the government’s decision to discontinue the Maulana Azad National Fellowship. Was the “overlap” rationale justified given that scholars cannot hold dual fellowships?
• Discuss the impact of discontinuing targeted minority welfare schemes on educational equity and representation of minorities in higher education and research.

GS Paper 2 — Governance:

• Analyse the broader trend of rationalisation of welfare schemes. When does rationalisation improve efficiency, and when does it reduce access for vulnerable groups?
• Evaluate the role of the University Grants Commission in promoting research among under-represented communities.

Interview Angle: “MANF was discontinued citing overlap with other fellowships. But MANF was the only fellowship specifically for minority students in research. If overlap were the real concern, why not merge it into UGC-NET JRF with a minority sub-quota, rather than discontinue it entirely? What does this tell us about the balance between scheme rationalisation and affirmative action?”

Sources: Ministry of Minority Affairs, PIB, Deccan Herald, The Print, Scroll.in