The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has announced the opening of applications for the Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) for the academic year 2024-25.

Introduced in 2006, the SPDC aims to offer financial support to the children of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) who are pursuing undergraduate studies at Indian universities.

This initiative provides financial assistance to students, covering up to 75% of their Institutional Economic Cost (IEC), with a limit of US$ 4,000 per year. The IEC includes tuition, hostel, and other institutional fees, though it does not cover food expenses.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the primary goal of the SPDC is to make higher education in India more accessible to students from the diaspora by alleviating the financial burdens of attending university. “The SPDC is designed to prioritize merit-based selection, ensuring deserving students receive significant financial support,” a MEA official explained.

The programme is open to qualified applicants worldwide, with a special emphasis on female candidates, who will fill 50% of the available slots in each category. A total of 150 scholarships are offered this year, with 50 reserved for the children of Indian workers from Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries. Furthermore, one-third of these reserved slots are dedicated to applicants who have completed their 11th and 12th grade education in India.

To be eligible, applicants must have passed their 11th and 12th grade exams from recognized educational systems abroad. However, exceptions are made for children of Indian workers from ECR countries who studied in India. Eligible institutions include Central Universities, National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Schools of Planning and Architecture, as well as other ‘A’ Grade institutions accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Students who are enrolled in undergraduate programmes for the 2024-25 academic year can apply via the official SPDC portal of the Ministry of External Affairs. The scholarship will also cover students in their second year and beyond for those enrolled in medical courses. The application deadline is November 30, 2024.