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Press Release on Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children - 2018 - 2019

Posted on: April 27, 2018 | Back | Print

PRESS RELEASE

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has announced “Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children” (SPDC) for the academic year 2018-19. Students who are in the age group of 17-21 years as on 01.10.2018 and who have passed Senior Secondary (10+2) or equivalent examination with minimum of 60% marks or equivalent grades in aggregate of all the subjects are eligible for the scheme.  After obtaining admission to eligible course, the candidates fulfilling the eligibility criteria can submit the online application form on the SPDC portal www.spdcindia.gov.in . Last date for submitting the online application form is 30th September 2018.

SPDC aims at providing financial assistance to the needy children of some specific categories to assist them in pursuing specific professional and non professional under-graduate courses in Indian universities/institutes. However, medical and related courses are not included in the scheme. The scheme is applicable to children of persons of Indian origin; children of non-resident Indians; children (studying abroad or studying in India) of Indian workers working in ECR countries. The scheme is applicable to children of NRIs/PIOs from 66 select countries, including the UAE.

Under the scheme, Government of India provides partial financial assistance to the extent of 75% of the total institutional economic cost (IEC) to the eligible students. IEC includes tuition fees, admission fees, hostel charges (excluding food charges) and other institutional charges. However, the assistance is capped at US$ 4000 per annum. It is stipulated that the scheme would apply only to children of parents whose monthly income is less than US$4000 or equivalent. To ensure that the government assistance reaches maximum students, candidates availing scholarship/financial assistance/any other assistance under any other scheme sponsored by State/Central Government shall not be eligible for assistance under SPDC.