SPDC Scholarship for Diaspora Children 2018-19 for UG studies in India

SPDC Scholarship for Diaspora Children 2018-19 has been invited through an online application process by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The aspiring candidates can fill the application form through the official online application form given below this page. Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) is the scheme launched by the Government of India for the students of the following categories

SPDC Scholarship is for following students

1. Children of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)/ OCI
2. Children of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
3. Children of Indian Workers in ECR countries studying outside India
4. Children of Indian Workers in ECR countries studying in India

MEA Scholarship for Diaspora Children came up with the revamped scholarship scheme to assist them in pursuing Under Graduate courses in Indian Universities/Institutes. Under SPDC Scholarship Scheme scholarship up to $4000 will be awarded on a merit basis to the 150 selected students. SPDC scholarship is there for pursuing undergraduate course (Professional and Non-Professional except for medical courses)

SPDC full form

SPDC full form is Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children and it is a scholarship programme launched by Ministry of External Affairs for NRI and PIO students to pursue an undergraduate course in India with the support of financial assistance.

SPDC 2018-19 Accepting colleges list

The list of the Indian Institutions & Universities in which SPDC Scholarship is applicable are given below. Candidates are advised to check the name of the institute carefully

1. Central Universities of India offering Under Graduate Courses.
2. ‘A’ Grade Institutions accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and recognised by UGC.
3. National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Schools of Planning and Architecture and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) through DASA Scheme.

In addition NITs, IIITs and SPAs covered under DASA Scheme, candidates admitted in other premier institutes covered under DASA  Admission shall also be eligible for the scholarship under Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) Scheme. The last date to apply for SDPC Scholarship by MEA is 30 September.

SPDC 2018-19 Dates

SPDC Scholarship Amount

The maximum scholarship amount offered is US$ 4,000 only.

Scholarship For the 1st Year

The candidates will be provided with partial financial assistance to the coverage of 75% of the total Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) subject to a maximum of US$ 4,000 per annum in respect of NITs and other institutions covered under DASA Scheme with effect from the academic year 2011-2012 (covering those Institutes who had increased Tuition Fee for the Academic Year 2011-12 and onwards)

If there is no increase in tuition fees for the academic year 2011-2012, the existing limit of 75% of IEC or US$ 3600 whichever is less, would continue and would be made by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India to the candidates selected for the SPDC scheme.

Scholarship for the 2nd and Subsequent Years

Candidates securing 50% marks in aggregate in an academic year with clear pass marks in all subjects, would be eligible to receive the maximum acceptable scholarship the i.e. 75% of IEC or US$ 4,000.Candidates who secure less than 50% marks in aggregate in an academic year and have obtained pass marks in all subjects, would be eligible to receive 90% of the scholarship

Candidates, who could not secure candidates pass marks in all subjects but have been promoted by the Institute/University to the next academic year, would be eligible to receive 50% of the scholarship. Candidates, who have not been promoted to the next academic year, would not be eligible for any further scholarship in any condition.

SPDC Number of Scholarships

Under SPDC scheme financial assistance for specific undergraduate courses (except Medical and related courses) is provided towards tuition fee, admission fee, etc. The SPDC Scholarship criteria are separately given below for the candidates of first as well as the second year. Total 150 Scholarships will be disbursed to the shortlisted candidates among which 50 scholarships will be reserved for Children of Indian workers (CIWG) in the 17 Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries.

*ECR Countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Of these 50 scholarships, for CIWG category students, 1/3rd shall be reserved for children who are pursuing studies in India,

The application for the Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) is available here. Applicants can only apply online for the scholarship scheme via official application link given below. Applicants are required to check for the steps containing guidelines given below before applying

Click here to Apply Online

• STEP 1: Candidates need to register themselves on the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
• STEP 2: After registration, the candidates will receive an email verification link on their registered email
• STEP 3: Candidates need to click on the verification link so that they will be redirected to the login page.
• STEP 4: After login, the candidates will be provided with the Application Form in which the candidates have to fill the following details
  • Personal Details
  • Educational Details
• STEP 5: The candidates need to upload the documents which are listed below after reading the guidelines carefully.
• STEP 6: At last, candidates need to submit the application form, and it is advised to keep a copy of the application form intact for future reference.

Documents to be uploaded

The list of the documents to be uploaded while filling the application form is given below. Candidates are advised to upload the scanned copy of the documents whose size must not be more than 50kb.

1. Scanned passport Size photograph
2. Scanned signature
3. Proof of Indian origin countersigned and stamped by Head of Indian Mission
4. Copy of passport
5. Declaration by Parents/ Guardian
6. Signed Salary certificate/annual income tax return of parents attested by Indian Mission/Consulate
7. Institute Undertaking on their letterhead
8. A copy of Admission letter from the Institution for Under-Graduate Course of Study, duly stamped and signed by the Institution
9. Documentary proof of Class 11 and 12

Submission of SPDC Scholarship

All the applicants will have to submit the SPDC Scholarship form on or before the last date. It is advised to keep a copy of the final confirmation page for the future references. Application forms will accurate details and the uploaded with the documents listed above will be considered. The merit list of the applicants will be prepared in December.

SPDC Merit List 2018

The selection of the candidates will be done on the basis of the qualifying marks and purely merit basis. The merit list will be prepared by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

All candidates who have been awarded a scholarship under SPDC will be informed of their selection on or around December. Thereafter, candidates (names displayed in Selection List) shall submit an undertaking (Appendix E) duly stamped & signed by the respective Institution (within 15 days of display of 1st merit list) that as per the requirements of SPDC Guidelines the Institute shall submit required documentation online from time to time.

Scholarship for Diaspora Children Prospectus 2017-18

Section Officer 
OIA II Division, MEA
925, Akbar Bhawan
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 

Email: spdcindia@mea.gov.in 
Tel. : +91 11 2419 7927