Britain announces 60 new scholarships for Indians

Mumbai. British Prime Minister David Cameron Wednesday announced 60 new "Jubilee Scholarships" to be awarded in India for one-year masters course in Britain, a statement said.

Funded by the British Council and the British government, the scholarships have been launched as part of the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The aim is to enable exceptional talent from across India to come and study masters courses in business, administration, manufacturing, science or technology.

"We're delighted that we're able to offer this opportunity for sixty Indian scholars to study in the UK. A scholarship is a fitting way to mark the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee, as it is the creation of new opportunity - not just for the student, but for the host institution to benefit from Indian perspectives and ideas, for new friendships to be made and new links to be created and fostered between our two countries," said Rob Lynes, the British Council's director in India.

The awards will be open to applicants from all over India, and the scheme aims to include students from every Indian state among the awardees. Each award will cover university tuition fee, living expenses for the duration of the scholarship (maximum 12 months), a month-long internship in the Britain, return airfare and a British visa.

The last date to apply online is April 30. Further details are available on the British Council's website: www.britishcouncil.org/india-scholarships-jubilee_scholarships.htm

Stabbing of Indian student a terrible incident: Britain

Bangalore: Britain termed the stabbing of an Indian student in London a "terrible incident" even as it sought to downplay it, saying the European country was one of the safest.

"I am aware of the case. Obviously it's a serious offence and we must all be very concerned about the victim", UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Jeremy Browne, told reporters in response to questions.

Three Indians have been charged with the attempted murder of Praveen Reddy, an MBA student in London, who was critically stabbed on Friday night in Newham.

Browne said the British police would investigate the incident "very carefully, very thoroughly" and they are generally very efficient in catching perpetrators of crimes.

"So, this is a terrible incident. Everybody in Britain will be very upset by what has happened", he said. Browne, however, stressed that "bad, terrible times" happen in all countries of the world but Britain is one of the safest.
"But I hope that people will not believe that this (the stabbing incident) is typical of what happens generally in Britain", he added.