Miscellaneous Schemes under Ministry of External Affairs

Know India Programme (KIP)

• Aim: To connect the Indian diaspora youth with the changes and developments happening in India.
• Nature: A three-week orientation programme to promote awareness of different facets of life in India—economic, industrial, educational, scientific, and technological progress.
• Eligibility:
  • Youth (18–30 years) of Indian origin (excluding non-resident Indians).
  • Must be a graduate/enrolled in graduation.
  • Should be able to speak English.
• Preference: Given to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) from Girmitiya countries (Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, Jamaica).

➡️ In short, KIP is like a cultural and developmental bridge for young diaspora Indians to reconnect with their roots.

Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

• Objective: To train and certify Indian workers so they can take up overseas employment in specific sectors and job roles, aligned with international standards.
• Ministries Involved:
  • MEA (Ministry of External Affairs)
  • Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
• Implementing Agency: National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
• Nature of Programme:
  • Short-term (2 weeks to 2 months).
  • Provides training in communication, trade-specific skills, and cultural orientation.

➡️ This scheme ensures that Indian workers going abroad are skilled, confident, and globally competitive.

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC)

• Established in: 1964 – one of India’s oldest institutionalized arrangements for capacity building in partner countries.
• Nature:
  • Demand-driven, response-oriented programme.
  • Focuses on needs of developing countries through innovative technological cooperation.
• Scope:
  • Primarily a bilateral programme, but also supports trilateral and regional projects (e.g., with UNIDO, G-77, Economic Commission for Africa).
• Offerings:
  • Nearly 10,000 fully funded training opportunities annually.
  • Conducted at 100+ premier institutes across India.
• Administered by: Development Partnership Administration-II Division of MEA.
• Key Initiatives:
  • eITEC → Online training using digital delivery platforms.
  • ITEC-Executive → Short-term policy/in-person training for senior executives.
  • ITEC-Onsite & ITEC-Expert → Onsite capacity building by Indian experts.

➡️ ITEC is India’s way of sharing its knowledge and expertise with the developing world, enhancing global goodwill.

e-VidyaBharati and e-AarogyaBharati (e-VBAB) Network Project

• Purpose: To provide free tele-education and tele-medicine services to African countries.
• Significance: Uses India’s IT and medical expertise to strengthen relations with Africa.