India’s BJP government has stopped granting scholarships to madrassastudents across the country from classes 1 to 8, reported Indian media onTuesday.

The madrassa children from classes 1 to 5 were provided with a scholarshipof Rs1,000, while students from Classes 6 to 8 received the grant dependingon their courses.

In 2021, close to half a million children from around 16,558 madrassasreceived government-sanctioned scholarships.

The decision by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, headed by Minister SmritiIrani, to stop scholarships for madrassa students was reportedly takensince the education of students of Classes 1 to 8 is free under the Rightto Education Act, and since other essential items are given to them. Otheressential facilities include mid-day meals and free books.

The government said this is why only students of Classes 9 and 10 wereprovided with scholarships, and therefore, only their applications havebeen forwarded to the concerned department.