Meritorious female students who complete graduation before getting married will get a special gift of Rs 51,000 from the Modi govt. The proposal by Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been cleared by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, reported News 18.

The Shaadi Shagun Scheme is aimed at incentivising higher education among women. All students funded by the Maulana Azad Foundation are eligible to apply for this provision.

The proposal was submitted to Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Naqvi in July. Hussain Ansari, treasurer of Maulana Azad Education Foundation said: “We felt that families of Muslim girls and other minorities are always in dilemma about their daughter’s graduation studies and marriage. The minority groups prefer to save money for their daughter’s marriage rather than spend it on their graduation.”

This is in addition to the existing Begum Hazrat Mahal Scholarship given to students from six minority communities - Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains. However, parents of wards who earn more than Rs 2 lakh per annum cannot avail this scholarship.