Kuala Lumpur: New Delhi has announced scholarships for the Indian diaspora for undergraduate studies in India during 2010-11.

The undergraduate courses include engineering, architecture, technology, humanities, liberal arts, commerce, management (business administration and business management), journalism, hotel management, agriculture/animal husbandry, science and law, The Star newspaper said on Wednesday.

The global Indian diaspora is 25 million strong and is spread over 130 countries.

"The scholarships will cover 75 percent of the institutional cost which includes tuition fee, hostel fee and other institutional charges or $3,600 (RM11,980), whichever is less," the media report said citing the Indian High Commission here.

NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) candidates would only be eligible if their total family income does not exceed $2,250 (RM7,488).

"Children of NRIs should have pursued at least three years of education inclusive of 11th and 12th grade or equivalent (not beyond) in a foreign country (in) the last six years and passed the qualifying examination abroad," it said.

Malaysia is home to nearly two million Indian diaspora, a bulk of whom are Tamil-speaking. IANS