Scholarship Programmes for Diaspora Childrens

Scholarship Programmes for Diaspora Children

It is good news for the children of PIOs (People of Indian origins) and NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) as they can avail scholarships for higher education right in their motherland. Introduced a decade back, the SPDC (Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children) helps to pursue higher studies in the different programme except for the medical and related courses. In the process, India becomes a centre of excellence for higher studies.

(Diaspora means to scatter from their homeland to places across the globe, spreading their culture as they go. The popular name for Diaspora in India is Pravasi).

Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) was introduced in 2006-07 to make higher education in Indian Universities and Institutes in different fields (except medical and related courses) in India accessible to the children of overseas Indians (PIOs) and Non-resident Indian students (NRIs) and promote India as a centre for higher studies. These are meant for Children of Indian workers (CIWG)

Under the Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children scheme, PIO/NRI students are eligible for US$ 4000 per annum for payment of tuition fee, admission fee and post-admission services for Under Graduate courses in

• Engineering
• Technology
• Humanities
• Liberal Arts
• Commerce
• Management
• Journalism
• Hotel Management
• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry
• Technology etc

Let's check the CIWG scheme in detail:

Presently the SPDC programme is extended to about 66 countries. That includes 17 ECR (Emigration Check Required) countries with additional 50 scholarships with 33% reservation for Children studying in India.

The scholarships for undergraduates in Central Universities of India are for Courses, including those about

• Information Technology,
• B.Sc (Nursing) and B.Pharma 
• National Institutes of Technology (NITs),
• Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs),
• Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) etc.

(For B.Sc. Nursing and Pharm, the Institutions should have accredited "A" Grade by NAAC accreditation and covered under DASA Scheme)

More details can be had from website www.spdcindia.gov.in.  So far about 800 candidates were awarded scholarships since the commencement of this scheme. In a nutshell, the eligibility criteria for availing SPDC scholarship programme are as follows.

• The current revamped Scheme 2016-17 shall govern the scholarship eligibility for previous year students.
• Uploading of self-attested copies of all supporting documents along with proof of Indian Origin attested by Mission and submitted on SPDC Portal is possible under SPDC. Submission of application is through the internet only
• Besides NITs, IIITs, and SPAs covered under DASA Scheme, students admitted in other premier institutes covered under DASA shall also be eligible for scholarship Scheme.

As per the programme 2016-17 the scholarship amount is given for payment of tuition fee, admission fee and posts-admission services including hostel fee but excluding payment of food charges.

In the First Year, partial financial assistance is up to 75% of the total Institutional Economic Cost subject to a maximum of US$ 4000 per annum in respect of NITs and other institutions covered under DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad Scheme.

(The 17 ECR countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand & United Arab Emirate)

SAT Preparation Resources: