Dated : 20th June, 2011

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), Government of India launched a scheme called the  ‘Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children(SPDC)’ in the academic year 2006-2007 with the objective to assist children/wards of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) in pursuing under graduate courses in several disciplines in India. Under this scheme, over 387 PIO/NRI students have benefited during the last five academic years.

2.    The following are the highlights of the SPDC-2011-2012:

• 100 scholarships are being offered for undergraduates courses in several 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 PIOs/NRIs from the specified 40 countries having a larger concentration of Indian Diaspora;

• 50% of the scholarship slots would be reserved for PIOs.  However, in the event of non-availability of suitable PIO candidates, the unfilled slots could be assigned to NRI candidates; 

• NRI candidates would be eligible for the grant of the scholarship only if their total family income per month does not exceed an amount of equivalent to  US $ 2,250/-;

• The amount of scholarship admissible would be 75% of the total Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) or US$ 3,600/- per annum, whichever is less.  IEC includes Tuition fee, Hostel feel & other institutional charges;  

• Children of NRIs should have pursued at least three years of education, inclusive of 11th & 12th or equivalent (Not beyond), in a foreign country during the last six years, and should have passed the qualifying examination abroad.

3.    More details about the scholarship are available on websites : http://moia.gov.in and www.edcilindia.co.in  The scheme is being implemented through EdCIL (India) Ltd., a Government of India Enterprise, which has been designated as the ‘Nodal Agency’.  The last date for receipt of duly filled-in application forms in the prescribed format by Ed.CIL is 18th June, 2011.  Candidates are required to submit the Original Application Form  complete in all respects to the following address:

The Project Manager (SPDC),
Placement & Secondment Division
Ed.CIL (India) Limited
(A Government of India Enterprise)
Ed.CIL House-18-A, Sector-16-A
NOIDA - 201 301, UP, (India),