By P. Vijian, NNN-Bernama,
New Delhi : The Indian government has approved a private university exclusively for overseas Indians, in Bangalore, which will begin its academic year in 2009.
The Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the Manipal Academy of Educational Trust had been entrusted to start the university in Bangalore, known as the Silicon Valley of India, which would offer professional courses for people of Indian origin (PIO).
“The norms for admission to the university and fee structure are being worked out by the officials. Our aim is to start two universities but the next one will come at a later stage,” Ravi told reporters.
India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh proposed a university specially for overseas Indians, last January, at the 6th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference, an annual event that draws politicians, academics, entrepreneurs and social workers of Indian origin from around the globe.
There are an estimated 25 million Indians living outside India, and Malaysia has the second largest population with 1.8 million people, while the United States is home to nearly three million Indians.
Meanwhile, the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry also announced that Singapore would host the second mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Oct 10 and 11.
Following the success of the inaugural mini conference held in Los Angeles in 2007, the ministry decided to host the second meeting, which is a prelude to the main gathering held in India during the first week of January.
The conference is jointly organised by the ministry and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) every year.