MOMA Scholarship is an initiative of Ministry of Minority Affairs to provide financial assistance to students belonging to minority communities in India. The scholarship has been introduced for economically weaker sections of the society and thus, provides an opportunity to poor and meritorious students to pursue higher education.
In India, minority community refers to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains. MOMA scholarship scheme is of three types named as Pre Matric, Post Matric and Merit-Cum means scholarship. The scheme is considered as a very noble step taken by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to provide satisfactory progress to the selected MOMA scholars.
Pre-Matric scholarship is given to students of class 1-10 and Post-Matric scholarship is for students of class 11, 12, UG, PG, and M.Phil. & Ph.D. courses. Selection of students is strictly merit based and thus, depends on their marks obtained in previous classes and the financial need of the students.
Details of MOMA Merit-Cum Means Based Scholarship:
Ministry of Minority Affairs has introduced a scheme for students of Minority community, studying professional/vocational courses in any of the recognized Indian institute/college. The scholarship has been introduced specifically for students of financially weaker backgrounds those who wish to pursue their higher education and thus, offers these students a lifetime opportunity to avail financial assistance for their studies. Given to 20,000 students every year, MOMA Scholarship-Merit Cum Means Scholarship aims to support the meritorious students and is awarded through the state Governments/UTs to the different candidates within the regions of India. 30% scholarship is reserved for girls of each minority community in a State/UT.
The scheme is applicable to undergraduate and postgraduate courses like Engineering/ Architecture/ MBBS/ Medical & Para Medical Courses/ Veterinary Sc. & Animal Husbandry/ CA/CS/ ICWA/ Fashion Technology/ Design/ Pharmacy/ Law/ Management/MCA.
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must have secured 50% marks class 12 examination. Also, the applicants should have secured admission in the college/institution through competitive exam or through merit. For students seeking admission based on merit, they should have attained a minimum of 50% marks in their class 12 exams. The annual income of student/parent/guardian must not exceed the Rs. 2,50,000. Scholarship is given to a maximum of 2 members of a family and those who are already in receipt of any other scholarship are not eligible to apply for MOMA Scholarship.
Under the scheme, selected students are offered financial assistance including the course fees and maintenance allowance. The academic fees is directly given to the institutes and maintenance allowance is given to students directly. For hostlers maintenance allowance has been kept as Rs. 10,000 per year (for 10 months) and for day scholars, it is of Rs. 5000 per year. Selected students will be given Rs. 20,000 per annum as their course fees. Also, for students who have secured admission in Premier Institutions of India such as IITs & NITs, there is full reimbursement of their course/tuition fee along with the maintenance allowance, under the MOMA Merit-Cum Means Based Scholarship Scheme.
The application date of MOMA scholarship has been extended to October 7, 2014. Giving preference to underprivileged students of minority groups, the scholarship offers an opportunity to the scholars to pursue their higher studies & thus excel in their educational career.
