Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India had 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.

 The following are the highlights of the SPDC 2014–15:

• 100 scholarships are being offered for undergraduate 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 40 specified countries, having a larger concentration of Indian Diaspora that includes Qatar.( Appendix-A)
•  50% of the scholarship slots would be reserved for PIOs. However, in the event of non-availability of suitable PIO candidates, the unified 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 11^th & 12^th or equivalent (not beyond), in a foreign country during the last six years, and should have passed the qualifying examination abroad. 
• 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 admission in the first semester / year of undergraduate courses. 
• 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 all the criteria prescribed for the purpose.
•  The amount of scholarship admissible would be 75 % of the total Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) subject to a maximum of US $ Four Thousand (US$ 4,000) per annum in respect of NITs and other institutions covered under DASA Scheme with effect from the academic year 2011-2012 and where there is no increase in tuition fees for the academic year 2011-2012, the existing limit of 75% of IEC or US$ 3600, whichever is less would continue and could be made by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India to the applicants selected for the SPDC. IEC includes Tuition fee, Hostel fee & other institutional charges (Food charges are excluded).
• Admission may be sought in one of the institutes/colleges/universities given in Appendix ‘C’ and may be accessed at http://edcilindia.co.in//download/spdc_2014.pdf
• The last date for receipt of duly filled-in application forms in the prescribed format to Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL) has been extended up to 18^th June, 2014.
• For further information and application forms you may visit websites of MOIA: www.moia.gov.in  or Ed.CIL: www.edcilindia.co.in.
•  

Appendix-A

LIST OF COUNTRIES