. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India, has been, since 2004, organizing a three-week orientation programme, called “Know India Programme (KIP)” for the diaspora youth with a view to promote awareness among them on different facets of life in India and the progress made by the country in various fields such as economic, industrial, education, Science & Technology, Communication & Information Technology, culture, etc. It is a three-week internship programme undertaken in partnership with State Governments. Upto 40 participants could be covered under each programme. So far, 14 such KIPs have ben held in different States. 2. The next three KIPs are scheduled to take place as per the follows:
Tentative Period Partner States Last date for receipt of nominations 15th KIP August - September 2010 Assam & Meghalaya 17th June 2010 16th KIP December 2010-January 2011 West Bengal & Bihar 16th September 2010 17th KIP March-April 2011 Punjab & Himachal Pradesh 16th December 2010 3. The guidelines/conditions for participation in the above three programmes are given below : (a) The programme is open to youth of Indian origin in the age group of 18-26 years as on the first day of the month in which the programme is expected to start. It is open to Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) from all over the world. (b) The candidates should either be studying in the under-graduate level or should have completed under-graduation or equivalent. (c) They should be able to converse in English. [They should have studied English as a subject at the High School level or as medium of instruction for under-graduate courses] (e) They should not have participated in any previous Know India Programme or Internship Programme for Diaspora Youth. (f) They are not permitted to leave the programme mid-way, and are expected to follow the entire programme as a group and stay at places designated/selected for this purpose. (g) Each of the three programmes will be of three-weeks’ duration. Exact dates would be conveyed on finalization of the respective programmes. (h) The participants will have to pay for their international travel costs from their respective country to Delhi and back. An amount equivalent to 90% of the total cost of air ticket by the lowest economy/excursion class will be reimbursed to them, which can be claimed from the Embassy on production of receipt. (i) The organizers will arrange/provide boarding/lodging in State guest houses or budget hotels, travel within India, and a per diem allowance of Rs. 100 per day. 4. Interested candidates may send completed applications for the programme to the Embassy of India, Kuwait {Attn: Shri K. Narsing Rao, Counsellor} to reach latest by the respective due dates mentioned in para 2 above. Incomplete and unsigned applications, or forms not accompanied by photographs are liable to be rejected. Blank applications forms and other details of the Programmes may be accessed on Embassy’s website: www.indembkwt.org; or http://moia.gov.in or http://knowindiaprogram.com. _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. https://signup.live.com/signup.aspx?id=60969