Minority students (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi) in Uttar Pradesh have specific schemes from both the state Minority Welfare Department and the central government. However, central minority schemes have seen significant budget cuts in recent years — knowing what is still active and what to prioritise is critical. This guide gives you the current accurate picture for 2026.
Important update — what changed for minority schemes in 2026
The Union Budget 2026 cut several central minority scholarship schemes significantly. The Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for professional and technical courses for minority students was reduced to near-zero allocation (from ₹7.34 crore to ₹6 lakh). The Education Scheme for Madrasas received zero allocation. This does not affect the UP state minority scholarship — that is funded separately by the UP state budget and remains active. Always check the current status of central schemes on scholarships.gov.in before applying, as scheme availability can change each financial year.
Scheme 1 — UP Scholarship (Minority Welfare)
Managed by: Minority Welfare and Waqf Department, UP
Portal: scholarship.up.gov.in → Minority Welfare section
Who qualifies: Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi students in Class 9 and above, income up to ₹2,00,000/year
Class 9-10 income limit: ₹1,00,000/year
Benefit: Partial fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Maintenance allowance 2025-26: Same slab as General/EWS category — UG up to ₹5,000/year, BTech up to ₹7,200/year, PG up to ₹6,600/year
Portal to use: Minority Welfare section specifically — not Social Welfare or OBC section
Deadline: Class 9-12 — October 31. UG/PG/Diploma — December 20.
Check eligibility: UP Scholarship Eligibility Checker
Scheme 2 — DigiShakti Free Tablet/Smartphone
Who qualifies: ALL UP students enrolled in recognised institutions — no income limit, no category restriction. Minority students are equally eligible.
Benefit: Free tablet or smartphone
Action needed: Complete eKYC on digishakti.up.gov.in using Aadhaar OTP
Status 2026: Active
Check eligibility: DigiShakti Eligibility Checker
Scheme 3 — Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minority Students (Central)
Managed by: Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India
Portal: scholarships.gov.in
Who qualifies: Minority students in Class 1 to 10, income up to ₹1,00,000/year
Benefit: ₹1,000/year (day scholar) to ₹10,000/year (hosteller) for Class 9-10
Status 2026: Active — this scheme continues to receive central allocation
Apply: scholarships.gov.in → Minority section → Pre-Matric
Scheme 4 — Post-Matric Scholarship for Minority Students (Central)
Managed by: Ministry of Minority Affairs
Portal: scholarships.gov.in
Who qualifies: Minority students in Class 11 and above, income up to ₹2,00,000/year
Benefit: Maintenance allowance + compulsory non-refundable fee reimbursement
Status 2026: Active for post-matric
Note: Do NOT confuse with the Merit-cum-Means scheme for professional courses — that scheme’s budget was cut to near-zero in Budget 2026. Apply for the standard Post-Matric scheme.
Scheme 5 — Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Yojana
Who qualifies: All UP students — no income limit, all categories including Minority
Benefit: Free UPSC, UPPSC, JEE, NEET, NDA, CDS coaching
Portal: abhyuday.up.gov.in
Status: Active in all 75 UP districts
Scheme 6 — Kanya Vidya Dhan (Girls only)
Who qualifies: All girl students including Minority who pass Class 12 from UP Board, CBSE, or ICSE in UP
Benefit: ₹30,000 one-time assistance for higher education
Apply through: School or district education officer
All schemes — summary table for Minority students
| Scheme | Benefit | Income Limit | Status 2026 | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Scholarship (Minority) | Partial fee + maintenance | ₹2,00,000/yr | Active | scholarship.up.gov.in |
| DigiShakti | Free tablet/smartphone | None | Active | digishakti.up.gov.in |
| Pre-Matric Minority (Central) | ₹1,000–₹10,000/yr | ₹1,00,000/yr | Active | scholarships.gov.in |
| Post-Matric Minority (Central) | Fee + maintenance | ₹2,00,000/yr | Active | scholarships.gov.in |
| Merit-cum-Means (Professional) | Fee for technical courses | ₹2,50,000/yr | Budget cut 2026 — verify before applying | scholarships.gov.in |
| Abhyudaya Yojana | Free competitive coaching | None | Active | abhyuday.up.gov.in |
| Kanya Vidya Dhan (girls) | ₹30,000 one-time | None stated | Active | Via school |
Which portal must Minority students use — critical point
For UP state scholarship, Minority students must apply exclusively through the Minority Welfare section at scholarship.up.gov.in. Applying through Social Welfare (SC/ST/General) or Backward Class Welfare (OBC) causes automatic rejection. The portals look similar on the homepage — scroll down carefully to select the correct section before registering.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Are Muslim students eligible for DigiShakti free tablet?
A: Yes. DigiShakti has no religion, category, or income restriction. Any UP student enrolled in a recognised institution is eligible. Complete eKYC on digishakti.up.gov.in.
Q: The Merit-cum-Means scholarship for technical courses — is it still active in 2026?
A: The Budget 2026 reduced its allocation to near-zero (₹6 lakh from ₹7.34 crore). Practically speaking, very few students will receive this in 2026-27. Check scholarships.gov.in for current status before applying.
Q: I am studying in a madrasa. Am I eligible for UP government schemes?
A: If your madrasa is affiliated to a recognised board and UPDESCO-registered, you may be eligible for DigiShakti. For scholarship, the Madrasa Education scheme at the central level had zero Budget 2026 allocation. Contact your district Minority Welfare Office for current state-level options.
Q: Can a Minority student apply for both state and central minority scholarship?
A: You can apply for both, but generally cannot receive both simultaneously for the same expenses. Declare all scholarships in your application. Your college nodal officer can guide you on which to prioritise.
Q: I am Jain/Buddhist/Parsi — am I covered under Minority schemes in UP?
A: Yes. The UP Minority Welfare schemes cover all six notified minority communities — Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi. Apply through the Minority Welfare section at scholarship.up.gov.in.
