by Moiz Mannan
Children of middle and low income non-resident Indians (NRIs), including those in Qatar, who have taken education abroad for at least three years can once again avail of a special government scholarship that could provide up to $4,000 a year for tuition, hostel and related charges in institutions in India.
The last date for applying for the programme is June 10, 2014.
The scheme is run by the Ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs (MOIA) in collaboration with Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL). Called the Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC), the scheme accommodates 100 NRI and PIO children each year for pursuing undergraduate courses in a variety of streams barring Medicine.
The scholarship scheme is limited to diaspora in countries with high concentration of NRIs and PIOs. According to the Ministry, the courses of study are available in the areas of Engineering/Architecture/Technology, Humanities/ Liberal Arts, Commerce/ Management (BBA/BBM), Computers (BCA), Journalism , Hotel Management, Agriculture/ Animal Husbandry, Sciences, Law, Ayurveda etc. Courses in the Medical faculty are not covered.
The SPDC is open for applicants in the age group of 17 to 21 years as on 1st October 2014. In other words, applicants born on or after 1st October, 1993 and before 1st October, 1997 are eligible to apply for it. Date of birth as recorded in the Secondary Education Board/University Certificate of Class 10th or equivalent, or as mentioned in a certificate for this purpose issued by appropriate Government authorities of respective countries will be taken as authentic for this purpose.
To avail of the scholarship, NRI parents have to establish that their monthly family earnings are below $2,250. There is no income limit to the PIO candidates. Half of the 100 scholarship slots are reserved for PIOs . However, in the event of the non-availability of suitable PIO candidates, the unfilled slots could be assigned to NRI candidates. Another condition that applies only to Indian nationals is that they must have had at least three years of education in foreign countries during the last six years and must have passed the qualifying examination inclusive of 11th and 12th standard or equivalent (not beyond), from the specified countries. They applicants need to have passed the senior/ higher secondary (10+2) or equivalent examination from a system of education recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), with requisite subjects.
Further, the candidates need to have scored at least 60 per cent aggregate marks or equivalent grades in aggregate of all the subjects in the qualifying examination. It is necessary for the applicants to have studied the prescribed essential subjects at the qualifying examination level to pursue a particular course of study. Those who have passed the qualifying examination or will be appearing in the qualifying examination in March/April 2014 can also apply, if they are otherwise eligible. Such candidates will, however, be admitted only if they are able to produce all the required testimonials to EdCIL(India) Limited, latest by June 10.
The scholarships are allotted purely on the basis of merit. A merit list would be drawn up on the basis of marks obtained by all the eligible candidates in +2 (or equivalent) exam. The priority of candidates would be based on the aggregate marks obtained in all the subjects of qualifying exam (+2 or equivalent). In the case of two or more candidates getting the same aggregate marks, precedence would be given on the basis of marks in the English subject. The Merit/Priority will be decided by considering their marks in English.
In case, a candidate has passed from an Examining Body which award only Grades and does not disclose marks obtained by them the merit would be based on of the Range of the Grade scored by the candidate in each subject.
The candidates selected, on the basis of their performance in the qualifying examination and fulfillment of the eligibility criterion may be admitted to the scholarship scheme and would be eligible for assistance as per the scheme.
The cases of eligible students short-listed on the basis of Merit list will be forwarded to three or four institutions providing the desired course of study. The institutions will examine the eligibility of candidates for admission and provisional admission offer letter would be issued through EdCIL (India) Ltd. The scholarship money is deposited directly with the institution or university and the scholar’s parents are required to pay the difference if any to EdCIL.
In the first year, the scholars would be entitled to financial assistance to the extent of 75 percent of the total Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) subject to a maximum of $4,000 per year in respect of NITs and other institutions covered under DASA Scheme. In institutions where there is no increase in tuition fees, the limit of 75 percent of IEC or $3600, whichever is less would continue. IEC includes tuition fee, hostel fee and other institutional charges (food charges are excluded).
For second and subsequent years, the parameters for continuation of scholarship , students need to score 50 percent marks in aggregate in an academic year with clear pass marks in all subjects of study. Students who secure less than 50 percent marks in aggregate in an academic year and have obtained clear pass marks in all subjects of study, would be eligible to receive 90 percent of the scholarship in the following year of study. Those who fail in some subjects but are promoted to the next year would get half of the money and those who are not promoted would not remain eligible for any further grant. Those who are interested to get admission in NITs/IIITs, they have to qualify SAT II examination being conducted by the College Board.
The Peninsula
A Kashmiri man quarrels with a paramilitary soldier amid curfew imposed in downtown area of Srinagar, yesterday. Curfew and severe restrictions remained in place for the third consecutive day following the killing of a 22-year-old artisan Bashir Ahmad Bhat by paramilitary troopers on April 30.
