New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) A common entrance test will be held Oct 26 in 40 countries to select overseas Indian students for the government’s scholarships for pursuing undergraduate courses in India, the ministry of overseas Indian affairs (MOIA) announced Tuesday. The test will be held in 40 countries which have a large concentration of non-resident Indians (NRIs) or persons of Indian origin (PIOs), the MOIA said in a press release.

This is the first time the date of the test has been changed. So far, the test was usually held in April-may. But, as the academic year here starts in July-August, the ministry decided to give students enough time to make a decision regarding their educational career.

India offers 100 scholarships for undergraduate courses in sciences, humanities, engineering and commerce streams. The amount of scholarship is 75 percent of the institutional economic cost or $3,600, whichever is less.

Only candidates whose family income is not more than $2,250 per month are eligible for it.

The scholarship scheme was started in 2006 and targeted NRI/PIO children from developing countries with inadequate educational facilities, lesser opportunities for higher studies and countries where there is a significant concentration of the diaspora population. So far, 220 children have availed these scholarships.