<span style="color: #222222;">The government today launched a major programme offering 1,000 PhD fellowships to ASEAN students at IITs in India.<br />'' <br />'' Jointly inaugurating the programme with HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India's partnership with ASEAN is based on shared values.<br />'' <br />'' He said the country's partnership with South-East Asian nations has developed historically through a shared quest for knowledge.<br />'' <br />'' He said it is only natural that knowledge remains the fundamental driver of people to people ties.<br />'' <br />'' Our correspondent reports that those selected can complete their PhD with Government of India funding at par with Indian counterparts.<br />'' <br />'' The funding will cover the entire cost of study and living expenses for up to 5 years of a PhD programme. The admission portal for the programme is being executed by IIT Delhi.<br />''<br />''In January last year at the 25th anniversary commemorative ASEAN-India Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced 1000 fellowships for ASEAN citizens to pursue PhD programmes at an IIT of their choice.</span><br />