The Ministry of Minority Affairs came into being on January 29, 2006.  The Ministry has a wide charter including overall policy, planning, coordination, evaluation and review of the regulatory and developmental programes of the minority communities.

            The Ministry enhanced the authorised share capital of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation from Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 650 crore.  The share holding pattern has been changed enhancing the Central Government share from 60 per cent to 65 per cent (Rs. 422.50 crore) and reducing the share of individuals/institutions from 14 per cent to 9 per cent (Rs. 58.50 crore).  The share of State/Union Territory remained at 26 per cent (Rs. 169 crore).

            The corpus fund of Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been raised from Rs. 70.01 crore to Rs. 100 crore.  This is proposed to be doubled to Rs. 200 crore during 2006-07.

            A merit-cum-means based scholarship scheme for 20,000 students, belonging to the minority communities, to pursue higher studies is proposed to be introduced this year.  This has been announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech.

            Reports of the High Level Committee, constituted by the Prime Minister under the Chairmanship of Justice Rajender Sachar, to examine social, economic and education status of the Muslim community of India, and the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities to suggest criteria for identification of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities, are expected by June and October, 2006. 

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