Union Budget 2026 Cuts Minority Scholarships, Including Merit-cum-Means

Union Budget 2026-27 allocations have significantly reduced financial support for several scholarships aimed at minority students, raising concerns over continued access to higher education for economically disadvantaged learners. Experts and education advocates say the scale of reduction may affect student progression across technical, professional, and research programmes.

Major Reduction in Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Allocation

The Budget 2026-27 sets a markedly lower fund for the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses designed to assist minority students in expensive programmes such as engineering, medicine and management. The allocation has been cut from Rs 7.34 crore in 2025-26 to just Rs 0.06 crore in 2026-27, amounting to a reduction of more than 99 per cent. This minuscule allocation leaves the scheme nearly non-functional and raises fears that it may be phased out entirely.

Maulana Azad National Fellowship Funding Reduced

Another key scheme, the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students, which supports postgraduate research (MPhil and PhD), has also seen its funding decline. The fellowship’s allocation for 2026-27 stands at Rs 36.14 crore, down from Rs 42.84 crore in the previous year, reflecting an approximate 16 per cent cut. This reduction comes as research costs rise and alternative funding remains limited for many scholars.

Other Minority Scholarship Trends and Concerns

Data from the latest budget documents suggest that both Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarships for minorities also face challenges. While those schemes had larger Budget Estimates in previous years, Revised Estimates in 2025-26 showed minimal actual spending, pointing to implementation or administrative issues. Critics argue that the discrepancy between allocated and spent funds indicates delays and execution hurdles rather than diminished student needs.

The cumulative effect of these cuts has sparked debate among educators and minority rights advocates. They contend that reducing direct financial support at a time when professional education costs continue to climb may make it harder for students from underprivileged backgrounds to pursue degrees and research, potentially widening existing inequities in the higher education landscape.