As per the response received in the “All India Survey on Higher Education” 2011-12, the number of Minority Students studying in higher education in the country is 1322332. The survey was based on the response from 611 out of 642 Universities, 21443 out of 35431 Colleges and 5542 out of 11156 Stand Alone Institutions this information was given by the Minister for Human Resources Development Smt. Smriti Irani in the Rajya Sabha.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has undertaken various measures for increasing the participation of the minority youths in the purview of higher education by implementing various educational schemes. These include establishment of Model Degree Colleges, Women Hostels and Polytechnics in the Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs). University Grants Commission (UGC) has been implementing various schemes like establishment of Equal Opportunity Cells, Establishment of Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) for SC/ST/Minorities in Universities, Remedial Coaching Schemes for SC/ST/Minorities students apart from implementing the scheme of Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students on behalf of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Centres of the Aligarh Muslim University have also been established at Mallapuram, (Kerala), Murshidabad (West Bengal) and Kishanganj (Bihar). Academies for professional development of Urdu medium teachers have been set up in 3 Central Universities viz. Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia and Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs is also implementing various schemes for educational empowerment of notified minority communities like Pre-Matric & Post Matric Scholarships, Merit-cum Mean based scholarships, Free Coaching and Allied scheme, support to minority students clearing Prelims conducted by UPSC/SSC and State Public Service Commission (PSC) etc., Padho Pardesh – Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for overseas studies and Scholarship for Meritorious Girl Students of classes XI and XII implemented by Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF).
Source: PIB
