New Delhi: The Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) Scholarships, for the last academic year 2015-16, has sanctioned scholarships to 48,000 girl students, studying in Class XI, amounting to Rs. 57.60 crore. Out of this, 45,700 students have already received the first installment of scholarship.

This information was given by Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State (IC) for Minority Affairs, in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

This scholarship is offered to only girl students belonging to National Minorities. The girl students should have secured not less than 55% marks (in aggregate) in the secondary school certificate examination (Class x th) conducted by any recognized Centre/State Board of Secondary Education. Family income of the student from all sources should be less than Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only) in the preceding financial year. Girls should have confirmed admission in class-XI.