The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) is introducing scholarships for Diaspora children to study in higher technical and non-technical institutes in India in the academic session 2006-07.

A senior official of the ministry said that the scholarship programme was open to 100 students from a list of select countries.

Educational Consultants Indian Ltd (Ed.CIL) will act as the nodal agency.

The programme is open to students from Bahrain, Fiji, Guyana, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Reunion Island, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Surinam, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

The scholarships will be offered in only those institutes with which Ed.CIL has a memorandum of understanding.

The official said a budget of Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) had been earmarked in the first year for the programme.

The number of scholarships will be increased annually till it reaches 350.

The scholarships will be applicable for professional and general courses (except medical and other related courses).

Applicants will have to pay processing charges to Ed.Cil - $200 per student for non-technical courses (humanities streams) and $350 per student for technical courses (which includes engineering, management and hospitality).

The applicants should be from the age group of 17-21 years and should have passed senior secondary (10+2) or equivalent from any educational system recognised by the Association of Indian Universities with the requisite subjects.

They should have secured at least 60 per cent aggregate marks or 6.75 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) on a scale of 10.

Selection will be based on a common written examination to be held April 30, the venues and timings of which will be announced by the Indian missions in the respective countries.

(www.hindustantimes.com)