To assist children of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in pursuing Under Graduate courses in higher and technical fields in India, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs of the Government of India introduced a Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) in 2006. Under this Programme, 67 PIO/NRI students were granted scholarship during the academic year 2006-07 while 81 students were granted scholarship in the next academic year. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs seeks application for the Scholarship Programme for the academic year 20010-11. The highlights of the scholarship are as follows:

• 100 scholarships are being offered for Undergraduate courses in disciplines including Engineering/Architecture/Technology, Humanities/Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management – BBA/BBM, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture/Animal Husbandry, Science, Law etc.

• The Programme is open only to children of PIOs/NRIs from the specified 40 countries including Sri Lanka.

• The last date for receipt of duly filled in prescribed application form by Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL) is 10th June, 2010.

• Candidates would be selected on the basis of their performance in the qualifying examination (equivalent to plus 2 stage in India) which decides the eligibility to apply for the scholarship scheme. The candidates would also have to fulfill the entire criteria prescribed for the purpose.

• The amount of scholarship admissible would be 75% of Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) or US$ 3,600 (US$ Three thousand six hundred), whichever is less.IEC includes tuition fee, hostel fee and other institutional charges.

For further information, please visit Ed.CIL websites www.edcil.co.in; and www.educationindia4u.nic.in

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