Dr Manmohan Singh scholarship announced

The University of Cambridge on Thursday announced three scholarships of £35,000 each for 2010-11 under the prestigious 'Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship' started in 2007 in honour of its illustrious alumni.

The scholarship is exclusively for Indians currently based in India to do PhD and MPhil in science and technology, economics and social sciences at St John's College, a leading college of the university.

The announcement made through the British Council in New Delhi says the last date for application is December 15. The scholarship will be for maximum three years.

St John's College, where Dr Manmohan Singh studied for a First in Economics in the late 1950s, is offering the scholarship based on merit through a special test, in order to ensure maximum effectiveness.

The announcement said large organisations like Rolls-Royce India, BP Foundation and others have agreed to sponsor this scholarship. The scholarship programme is administered by the British Council.

A selection committee, comprising an appropriate nominee from each sponsor and a panel of academics and others selected by the college will be set up in India to make recommendations to the college regarding the profile of applicants.

Last month, two outstanding scholars met the Prime Minister in Delhi before flying out to the St John's College, Cambridge as the second cohort of Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship holders.

They were Ms Aquila Mukund Mavalankar, 23, who did her master's programme at University of Pune, and Shruti Badhwar, 25, who did her masters from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bengaluru.

Aquila felt the scholarship will provide her with a once in a lifetime experience: a chance to study at a prestigious and elite institution.

Shruti felt it a privilege to study at Cambridge University, the birth place of modern physics and a great honour to be a part of the St John's College, home to quantum physicists like Dirac.

Details of the scholarship and how to apply: www.britishcouncil.org/india-scholarships-drmanmohansingh.htm