The Government of India launched a scheme called the “Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children” (SPDC) in 2006-07, 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 290 PIO/NRI students have benefited during the last four academic years. The following are the highlights of the SPDC 2010-11:
· 100 scholarships are being offered for undergraduate courses in several disciplines including Engineering / Architecture / Technology, Humanities / Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management (Bachelor of Business Administration / Bachelor of Business Management), 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 of PIOs. However, in the event of the 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 equivalent to US $ 2,250 (US dollars two thousand two hundred and fifty only)
· 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.
· The student should send the original application form directly to Ed.CIL, and a copy of the application form must also be sent to the Education Wing, High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur.
· The last date for receipt of duly filled-in application forms in the prescribed format by Ed.CIL is 10th June 2010.
· PIO/NRI Students already studying in India on a self-financing basis or under any other arrangement will not be eligible under this scheme, which is open only for fresh admissions in the first semester/year of undergraduate courses.
· Candidates would be selected on the basis of merit i.e. on their performance in the qualifying examination (equivalent to Standard 12 in India, or STPM or 'A' Levels in Malaysia) which decides the eligibility to apply for the scholarship scheme. The candidates would also have to fulfil all the criteria prescribed for the purpose.
· The amount of scholarship admissible would be 75 % of the total Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) or US $ 3,600 (US dollars three thousand six hundred) per annum, whichever is less. IEC includes Tuition fee, Hostel fee & other institutional charges.
· Admission may be sought in one of the institutes/colleges/universities given in Appendix ‘C’ of the information booklet.
· However the procedure for admission in NITs will be notified separately on our website after the ongoing review of the DASA scheme by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) is completed.
Eligibility:
Malaysian Indians should apply under the PIO category. PIO Applicants need not fill-up the income declaration form.
Indian citizens living abroad should apply under the NRI category, provided they are eligible for NRI status.
Age: Applicants in the age group of 17 to 21 years as on 1st October 2010 are eligible to apply for SPDC 2010-11 i.e. applicants born on or after 1st October, 1989 and before 1st October,1993 are eligible to apply for the year 2010-11.
Academic Qualification: Candidates with 60% aggregate marks or equivalent grades in Higher Secondary (12th standard) or equivalent i.e. A Levels, STPM, etc. as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), are eligible to apply. The candidate must have studied the prescribed essential subjects at the qualifying examination level to pursue a particular course of study.
Preparation of Merit List: A Merit List would be drawn up on the basis of marks obtained by all the eligible candidates in their qualifying exam (Standard 12 or STPM or 'A' Levels or equivalent) in the following manner:
· 100 scholarships are being offered for undergraduate courses in several disciplines including Engineering / Architecture / Technology, Humanities / Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management (Bachelor of Business Administration / Bachelor of Business Management), 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 of PIOs. However, in the event of the 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 equivalent to US $ 2,250 (US dollars two thousand two hundred and fifty only)
· 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.
· The student should send the original application form directly to Ed.CIL, and a copy of the application form must also be sent to the Education Wing, High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur.
· The last date for receipt of duly filled-in application forms in the prescribed format by Ed.CIL is 10th June 2010.
· PIO/NRI Students already studying in India on a self-financing basis or under any other arrangement will not be eligible under this scheme, which is open only for fresh admissions in the first semester/year of undergraduate courses.
· Candidates would be selected on the basis of merit i.e. on their performance in the qualifying examination (equivalent to Standard 12 in India, or STPM or 'A' Levels in Malaysia) which decides the eligibility to apply for the scholarship scheme. The candidates would also have to fulfil all the criteria prescribed for the purpose.
· The amount of scholarship admissible would be 75 % of the total Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) or US $ 3,600 (US dollars three thousand six hundred) per annum, whichever is less. IEC includes Tuition fee, Hostel fee & other institutional charges.
· Admission may be sought in one of the institutes/colleges/
· However the procedure for admission in NITs will be notified separately on our website after the ongoing review of the DASA scheme by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) is completed.
Eligibility:
Indian citizens living abroad should apply under the NRI category, provided they are eligible for NRI status.
Age: Applicants in the age group of 17 to 21 years as on 1st October 2010 are eligible to apply for SPDC 2010-11 i.e. applicants born on or after 1st October, 1989 and before 1st October,1993 are eligible to apply for the year 2010-11.
Academic Qualification: Candidates with 60% aggregate marks or equivalent grades in Higher Secondary (12th standard) or equivalent i.e. A Levels, STPM, etc. as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), are eligible to apply. The candidate must have studied the prescribed essential subjects at the qualifying examination level to pursue a particular course of study.
Preparation of Merit List: A Merit List would be drawn up on the basis of marks obtained by all the eligible candidates in their qualifying exam (Standard 12 or STPM or 'A' Levels or equivalent) in the following manner:
· The Merit/Priority of candidates will be based on the aggregate marks obtained in all the subjects of qualifying exam.
· In the case of 2 or more candidates getting the same aggregate % of marks, the Merit/Priority will be decided by considering their marks in English.
· A student scoring higher marks on the above criteria would have higher priority as compared to one scoring less marks.
· In rare cases, where two or more applicants have a tie on the basis of above criteria, the Merit/Priority shall be decided on the basis of date of birth [As per Christian Era] of the student. The senior student would be preferred to the younger.
· In case of any further tie, EdCIL shall recommend the criteria as appropriate to the situation.
· In case, a candidate has passed from an Examining Body which award only Grades and does not disclose marks obtained by them, the candidate would be required to submit the Range of the Grades adopted by the concerned Board/Examining Body and the Merit/Priority in such cases, would be decided on the basis of average/mean of the Range of the Grade scored by the candidate in each subject.
· In the case of 2 or more candidates getting the same aggregate % of marks, the Merit/Priority will be decided by considering their marks in English.
· A student scoring higher marks on the above criteria would have higher priority as compared to one scoring less marks.
· In rare cases, where two or more applicants have a tie on the basis of above criteria, the Merit/Priority shall be decided on the basis of date of birth [As per Christian Era] of the student. The senior student would be preferred to the younger.
· In case of any further tie, EdCIL shall recommend the criteria as appropriate to the situation.
· In case, a candidate has passed from an Examining Body which award only Grades and does not disclose marks obtained by them, the candidate would be required to submit the Range of the Grades adopted by the concerned Board/Examining Body and the Merit/Priority in such cases, would be decided on the basis of average/mean of the Range of the Grade scored by the candidate in each subject.
The application forms are available for download from the High Commission of India's website (www.indianhighcommission.com.my). Alternatively a printed copy can be obtained from the Education Wing, High Commission of India, located at No. 2, Jalan Taman Duta, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, (Telefax: 03 2092 2339).
Further information on SPDC can also be accessed at (www.edcilindia.co.in).
