Entrance Test for NRI scholarship on Oct 26

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) The Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) Ministry today announced that the Common Entrance Test for NRI/PIO students wanting to avail Indian Government's Scholarships for pursuing under graduate courses would be held on October 26.

The test will be held in 40 selected countries where there is a large concentration of persons of Indian origin and NRIs. The last date for receipt of applications is September 9.

The OIA Ministry sources said there was a major change in the schedule this year as compared to previous years when the entrance test used to be held in April-May.

They said the change is brought to make it possible for the selected students to join their educational institutions from the academic year beginning July/August, 2009.

The Ministry has decided to complete the whole selection process for the scholarship by November 2008.

''The move is expected to help the applicants taking a timely decision regarding their educational career,'' the sources added.

As many as 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, Sciences, Law etc.

The amount of scholarship admissible would be 75 per cent of the Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) or 3,600 US dollars, whichever is less.

The IEC includes Tuition fee, Hostel fee and other institutional charges.

Fifty per cent of the scholarship would be reserved for PIOs.

However, in the event of non-availability of suitable PIO candidates, the unfilled slots could be assigned to NRI candidates.

NRI candidates would be eligible for the grant of scholarship only if their total family income per month does not exceed an amount equivalent to 2,250 US dollars.

Children of NRIs should have pursued at least three years of education inclusive of 11th and 12th or equivalent (not beyond), in a foreign country during the last six years, and should have passed the qualifying examination abroad.

It is clarified that PIO and 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 admissions in the first semester/year of undergraduate courses.

The scheme seeks to make higher education in India accessible to the children of overseas Indians and promote the country as an education hub.

Children from developing countries with inadequate educational facilities, lesser opportunities for higher studies and countries where there is a significant concentration of the diaspora population have been targeted.

The programme was introduced in 2006 and has already benefitted 220 NRI and PIO children, sources said.

UNI SH ATI RN2012