By: MD. SHAKEEB SAYEM (Kolkata)

The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has invited online application under NAI UDAAAN scheme for monetary assistance to students belonging to minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis who have passed preliminary examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), State Public Service Commissions (PSCs) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) in the year 2016-17. The candidates whose results declared after 1^st March, 2016 are eligible for financial assistance during 2016-17.

The eligible candidates will be awarded a sum of Rs. 50,000 for Gazetted posts and Rs. 25,000 for Non-Gazetted post. This financial assistance will be provided only once to each qualifying candidate and for one examination only. Those who have already availed this opportunity in previous years are ineligible to apply this year. Only candidates belonging to minority communities notified under Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 can seek this financial assistance. The candidates who have passed the prelims examination conducted by UPSC, SSC, State PSCs and whose annual family income is not more than Rs. 4.50 Lakh are eligible to apply for this scheme. A candidate must have a bank account in his/her name in any Nationalised Bank with cheque facility.

The candidate can apply for the scheme only through online mode. Applications sent through off-line mode like speed post, courier etc. will be rejected thoroughly.

Before applying online the candidate should keep the following personal details and documents ready – (1) a valid email ID (2) scanned photo and scanned signature of the candidate (3) self declaration of one’s religious identity as per Format-I available under Forms & Guidelines section of the website www.naiudaan-moma.gov.in. (4) Self declaration of annual income of the family as per Format-II available under Forms & Guidelines section of the website (5) scanned documents for identity i.e. Aadhar card, Voter card, PAN card etc. (6) scanned copy of a cancelled cheque of bank account of the candidate not of his/her parents. (7) Scanned copy of an affidavit on Non-judicial paper of Rs.5/- duly notarized declaring that the candidate is not availing and have not availed financial assistance from any other source. (8) Scanned copy of Admit Card of prelims examination passed (9) scanned copy of Roll no. slip with copy of result page in which the roll no. of the candidate is printed. (10) the candidate should at hand relevant bank details like account number, bank name, address of bank, MICR code, IFSC code and scanned cancelled cheque.

How to apply: First of all a candidate needs to register himself/herself with valid email ID and fill up all the relevant information asked. The candidates are required to register on the following website www.naiudaan-moma.gov.in. A computer generated registration number, ID, password will be sent to registered email ID of the candidates. After successful registration the candidate is required to login the website with ID and password and fill up the information asked and upload necessary documents. One should take the printout of the submitted application form for future reference. A candidate should keep a tab on his/her email and Ministry’s website for updates. The candidates are advised to take utmost precaution during the entire applying process because no modification can be made once applied. The applicant should apply within 30 days from the date of announcement of results of the preliminary examination. 100% financial support will be provided to the selected candidates through a Nationalized Bank as this is a Central Sector Scheme (CSS).

The scheme was launched by UPA-II Government with the sole aim of increasing the representation of minority communities in the Government job in general and Civil Services in particular given the lower representation of the Minority Communities in the Civil Services compared to the ratio of their population. The present government also continued the programme keeping in mind to increase the participation of minority communities in Civil Services.

A dedicated online Portal for Nai Udaan Scheme for Support to Minority Students for preparation of Main Examination who clear Prelims conducted by Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, State Public Service Commissions etc was launched by DR NAJMA HEPTULLA, Honble Minister of Minority Affairs on 28^th May 2016 at Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi.

The candidates should apply carefully and upload all relevant documents because every year only up to a maximum 800 candidates are awarded the financial assistance. The Ministry of Minority Affairs received total 629 applications in the year 2013 for the scheme, out of which 483 deserving candidates were provided with the financial assistance. There were 786 beneficiaries of this scheme in the year 2014. For further information log on to www.naiudaan-moma.gov.in.