Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) for pursuing under-graduation in professional and general courses in India

The Government of India has announced Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) for Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Children of Indian Workers in Malaysia, for pursuing specific undergraduate courses in India during the 2018-19 academic intake. The courses under the SPDC do not include medical and related courses.

Eligibility Criteria:

The SPDC is open to applicants in the age group of 17 to 21 years as on 1^st October 2018. Applicants born on or after 1^st October 1997 and before 1^st October 2001 are eligible to apply.

PIO applicants need to submit a valid OCI card as proof of their Indian origin, in the absence of which, an affidavit from the applicant attested by the Head of Indian Mission, verifying the Indian origin status of the applicant must be submitted.

NRI applicants should have pursued at least 3 years of education abroad (in any one of the 66 countries covered under SPDC, which includes Malaysia) during the last 6 years, and should have passed the qualifying examination abroad inclusive of 11th & 12th standard or equivalent (not beyond). NRI applicants must submit a certificate, which is to be attested by the High Commissioner of India certifying that the parent(s) of the candidate is/are working in a foreign country for last two years.

Applicants who are Children of Indian Workers in ECR countries and studying abroad should have pursued at least 3 years of education in an ECR country during the last 6 years, and should have passed the qualifying examination abroad inclusive of 11th & 12th standard or equivalent (not beyond). Applicants who are Children of Indian Workers in ECR countries but studying in India should have passed the Higher Secondary i.e. Senior Secondary (10+2) or equivalent examination from a system of education recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). These applicants must submit a certificate to be attested by the High Commissioner of India certifying that their parent(s) is/are working in an ECR country since last two years. A copy of the parent(s) work permit for the ECR country must be submitted, attested by the Indian High Commission.

Academic Qualifications:

Applicants must have passed the 12^th standard or equivalent qualification from a system of education recognised by the AIU, with the requisite subjects for the course that they are applying for. The applicants must have scored a minimum of 60% aggregate marks or equivalent grades in all the subjects in the qualifying examination. The marks obtained in an improvement / compartment examination i.e. marks obtained by re-sitting for an examination would not be considered.

 Candidates who passed the qualifying examination and secured admission in an undergraduate course in the designated Institution in India and fulfil other eligibility criteria can apply for the SPDC. Such candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of marks/score obtained at the 12^th standard level along with submission of proof of Admission Letter issued by the Institution, duly stamped and signed by the Authorized Signatory of that Institution and other required documents submitted only on the SPDC portal.

Income Criteria:

The total monthly income of the parent(s) of the PIO / NRI candidates should not exceed an amount equivalent to US$ 4,000. The applicants’ parents will provide a self-attested salary certificate from the employer and latest annual income tax return, attested by the Indian Mission.

Candidates availing any scholarship / financial assistance / any other assistance under any scheme sponsored and/or funded by any State Government or the Central Government of India shall not be eligible for assistance under the SPDC. The applicants’ parents/guardians are required to sign a declaration about this in a prescribed format.

Application and Selection Process:

Selection will be based exclusively on merit. Applications have to be submitted online at the SPDC portal along with the required documents (scanned copies) by the last date which is 30^th September 2018. The list of selected candidates will be posted on the SPDC portal. Candidates will have to give their consent about acceptance of scholarship by e-mail to the MEA within 7 days of publication of the shortlisted candidates. Thereafter, candidates shall submit an undertaking duly stamped and signed by the respective Institution (within 15 days of display of the merit list) that as per the requirements of the SPDC Guidelines the Institute shall submit required documentation online from time to time. The students shall then be sent an ‘Offer Letter’ containing details of the scholarship amount admissible to them.

Financial Assistance:

In the First Year, the scholarship provides partial financial assistance of 75% of the Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) subject to a maximum of US$ 3,600 to US$ 4,000 per annum, whichever is less, depending upon the tuition fee structure of the Institution. IEC includes Tuition fee, Hostel fee and other institutional charges. (Food charges are excluded). For the Second and Subsequent Years, the amount of scholarship would depend on the marks scored by the candidate. For more details, check the complete SPDC Guidelines 2018-19.

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12^th July 2018

Appendix A: List of 66 countries for the SPDC 2018-2019

Appendix B: Declaration of Indian Originby PIOs for SPDC 2018-2019

Appendix C: List of courses and institutions covered under the SPDC 2018-2019

Appendix C1: List of institutes for under-graduation courses covered under the DASA 2016

Appendix D: Declaration by parent / guardian SPDC 2018-2019

Appendix E: Undertaking by applicant for SPDC 2018-2019

SPDC Guidelines 2018-2019

List of 17 ECR countries for the SPDC 2018-2019