The Centre has provided 42,476 merit-cum-means scholarships to students belonging to minority communities for studying in technical and professional courses during the last financial year.

An official release says, 115 crore rupees were sanctioned for the scheme.

The budgetary provision for the scheme has been increased to 220 crore rupees and the physical target has also been increased to 80,000 scholarships for the current financial year.

More than one and half lakh scholarships have been provided to the students till the 31st of March this year.