Manipal: The much-awaited Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) University will become a reality in India soon, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Manipal University) will set up the first in Bangalore.
  
Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs stated that the Manmohan Singh government is committed to start more such universities.
  
Prof H S Ballal, pro-chancellor, Manipal University, told that PIO universities were the PM’s brainchild.

A quality professional education could be imparted to children of Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin at reasonable rates, he said the concept is promising. An Institution of Excellence, the PIO university is expected to be a Deemed University De-Novo under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act,  Ballal added
  
He said there are 25 million people of Indian origin living in 130 countries across the world. Ballal said they hoped to start courses in 2011-12, initially beginning engineering and management, followed by medicine. 
 
About 200 hundred acres near Devanahalli in Bangalore have been identified for this. Ballal said 50% of the seats would be reserved for PIOs, 15% for NRIs and 35% for Indian students. The fee structure is being worked out, he added.