Centre examining project report of PIO Varsity

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) The Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) Ministry is considering a Project Report from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education Trust, Manipal, for establishment of the country's first PIO University in Bangalore.

"The detailed shape of the University will be worked out after more consultations with the Academy," OIA ministry sources said here today.

Manipal Academy was the only organisation selected for the country's first PIO University, following the recommendations of a high level committee.

The university will have the status of a deemed university.

It will have 50 per cent seats earmarked for PIOs/NRI and the remaining 50 per cent for resident Indians.

The high-level committee on Indian Diaspora was appointed by the Government in the year 2000.

The committee had visited various countries with large concentration of Indian Diaspora. It had recommended the establishment of a new university and professional institutions offering courses of international standards in Management, information Technology, media, acultural research, Medicine and Food Processing etc.

Besides the PIO University, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has taken up several other programmes specially targeted at overseas Indian youth including award of scholarships and Know India tours.

UNI SH AKJ ND1455