As in the past, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Government of India, in coordination with the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and the Government of Himachal Pradesh as the partner State, is organizing the 5th Internship Programmes for Diaspora Youth (IPDY), (renamed now as "Know India Programme") from 15th May to 12th June 2006 in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. The Programme is oriented towards participants getting the exposure to various facets of Indian way of life, culture, spirituality, adventure and sports, creativity and composite character of India and interaction with youth from different parts of India.

The qualifying age for the Programme will be 18-25 years and the applicant should have distinguished himself/herself in a particular field, with an abiding interest in India and links with India through parentage. The application should include the applicant's bio-data and other personal details. The participants will have to pay for their international travel costs from their respective countries to Delhi and back, while expenditure on internal travel, boarding/lodging, etc. will be met by MOIA. The broad features of the Programme will be as follows:

• Acclimatization with urban India in New Delhi for two days (May 16 & 17 and again on June 12, & 13) each during the starting and finishing of the Programme. Exposure to MOIA, calls on Ministers/PM/President, site-seeing, shopping, etc. are being arranged during this period after which the participants will be taken to Himachal Pradesh.
• Home stay in a village for one week, exposure to the Heritage Camp including national integration camp being organized by NYKS. (Activities in the camp, includes lectures on ethics, Indian culture and values, adventure sports, cultural programmes, yoga, meditation, Ayurveda and Naturopathy). Skill development exposure to participants in the areas of sculpture, painting, photography, musical instruments, etc. according to their choice.
• One week trekking programme and local sightseeing
• Calls on important dignitaries in the State Government.
• Visits to industrial establishments in Himachal Pradesh.

Details of the programme can be accessed at the MOIA website http://moia.gov.in

Last date for receipt of applications in the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi [Tel : (02) 4492700; Fax : (02) 4444685] is Thursday, 30th March, 2006.