Nai Udaan, Nai Manzil Schemes

Nai Udaan, Nai Manzil Schemes

Why in news :

• The Union Budget for 2023­24 came with a reduction of 38% in funds for the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• The fund crunch is likely to impact spheres of madrasas besides general school education, higher research and local development in areas of minority concentration.
• The total allocation for minorities’ educational uplift was slashed to ₹1,689 crore from ₹2,515 crore last year with schemes for research as well as pre-matric scholarships experiencing a fund withdrawal or downsizing.

More about Nai Udaan scheme :

• Nai Udaan Scheme is the financial assistance scheme of Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• It specially focuses on the candidates from the six notified minority communities in India.
• Candidates cleared Prelims Examination of UPSC, State PSC and SSC are eligible to avail benefit.

Features of the scheme :

• Benefit will be given to the candidates in the form of Direct Benefit Transfer.
• Each year 5100 seats are available under Nai Udaan Scheme.
• Rs. 1,00,000/- will be given to the candidate who cleared Prelims of UPSC Examination.
• Rs. 50,000/- will be given to the candidates who cleared State PCS (Gazetted) Examination.
• Rs. 25,000/- will be given to the candidates who cleared SSC CGL & CAPF Group-B Examination.
• Rs. 25,000/- will be given to the candidates who cleared State PCS (Non-Gazetted) Examination.
• It is a financial aid to the candidates to let them prepare better for the mains examination.

Eligibility Conditions :

• Candidate must belong to one of the minority community :-
  • Muslims.
  • Christians.
  • Sikh.
  • Buddhist.
  • Jain.
  • Parsis (Zoroastrians).
• Candidate must have passed any of the Preliminary Examination conducted by:
  • Union Public Service Commission (Civil Services, Indian Engineering Services & Indian Forest Services).
  • State Public Service Commission (Group A and B (Gazetted and Non-Gazetted posts).
  • Staff Selection Commission (Combined Graduate Level/CAPF for Group B (Non-Gazetted Post).
• The annual family income of the candidate should not exceed Rs. 8.0 lakh per annum.
• The benefit under Nai Udaan scheme has not been availed by the candidate in the past.

About Nai Manzil scheme :

• Nai Manzil scheme launched on 8th August 2015, aims to benefit the minority youths who do not have a formal school leaving certificate in order to provide them formal education and skills, and enable them to seek better employment and livelihoods in the organised sector.
• The scheme is also significant as it combines education with skills for school dropouts which will significantly enhance their employability.
• This is the first World Bank supported programme for minority welfare being managed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Main objectives under the scheme :

• The objective of the scheme is to provide education and market-driven skills training to youth between the ages of 17-35 years from minority community families who are Below Poverty Line (BPL).

• The scheme offers non-residential integrated education and skills training for 9 to 12 months, of which a minimum of 3 months are devoted to skills training.
• The scheme intends to provide placements to at least 70% of the trained youth in jobs which would earn them basic minimum wages and provide them with other social protection entitlements like Provident Funds, Employee State Insurance (ESI) etc.

Target Beneficiary under the scheme :

• The trainee should belong to six notified minority communities.
• Other minorities notified by the States/UTs also eligible for up to 5% of the total seats.
• The trainee should be between 17-35 years of age
• The minimum qualification of trainee should be as per NIOS / equivalent for class VIII and class X bridge program
• The trainee should belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) population both from urban and rural areas
• 30% of the beneficiary seats earmarked for girl/women candidates.

Syllabus : Prelims + Mains; GS2 – Governance