The Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) was launched in 2006-2007 with an objective to make higher education in India accessible to the children of overseas Indians and to promote India as a centre for higher studies.

Under the scheme, up to 100 PIO/NRI students are awarded scholarship of up to a maximum of US$ 4,500 per annum (approx. £2725) for undergraduate courses in Engineering, Technology, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.

The programme is open to NRIs/PIOs from 40 identified countries having substantial Indian Diaspora population.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs through EdCIL (India) Ltd, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, is implementing the scholarship scheme.