Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

The Post Graduate Diploma in Early Intervention (PGDEI) at the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD), Chennai, is a 1-year full-time programme recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and affiliated to the University of Madras. Offered under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, the programme is designed for healthcare and rehabilitation professionals who wish to specialise in early identification, assessment, and intervention for children with disabilities. The course has an intake of 15 seats and follows a semester pattern with an RCI-approved syllabus. It is one of the few government-run PGDEI programmes in India, making it highly sought after by professionals in the disability rehabilitation sector. Graduates are equipped to work as early interventionists in early intervention centres, hospitals, rural and urban clinics, and as resource persons for parent training and short-term training programmes.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch have been completed. The 2027-28 admission notification is expected to be released tentatively around May-June 2027, based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official NIEPMD website (niepmd.nic.in) for the latest admission notification. The application fee for PGDEI is Rs. 1,000 for General/OBC and Rs. 500 for SC/ST candidates.

Key Points

The PGDEI programme is recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and affiliated to the University of Madras; the certificate is issued by the University of Madras.
NIEPMD is a Government of India institution under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, accredited by NAAC and ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Admission is merit-based with a structured scoring system covering academic marks, higher qualification, experience, PwD family status, rural background, and interview.
The programme follows a semester pattern with an RCI-approved syllabus covering early identification, screening, assessment, and trans-disciplinary intervention.
Graduates are eligible to register with RCI as rehabilitation professionals, enabling them to practise legally across India.
The programme is open to a wide range of healthcare and rehabilitation graduates including MBBS, BOT, BPT, B.Sc Speech and Hearing, B.Ed Special Education, B.Sc Nursing, and Masters in Child Development/Child Psychology.
Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD categories is as per Government of Tamil Nadu norms.

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Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

NIEPMD PGDEI Fees

The PGDEI programme at NIEPMD, Chennai, is a government-funded course with a highly subsidised fee structure. The total tuition fee for the 1-year programme is Rs. 20,000. This is among the most affordable postgraduate diploma programmes in early intervention in India. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at an additional cost of Rs. 18,000 per year and is optional.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Tuition Fee (Total for 1 year)	20,000
Other Charges	Included
Total Fees	20,000
Hostel Fees (optional, per year)	18,000

Hostel accommodation is optional and not included in the Total Fees row above.
Application fee: Rs. 1,000 for General/OBC; Rs. 500 for SC/ST.
Fees are subject to revision by NIEPMD, RCI, and the University of Madras.
Payment can be made via NEFT/online transfer to the institute's bank account.
PwD candidates and family members of PwD may be eligible for fee concessions as per NIEPMD norms (confirm at the time of admission).

NIEPMD PGDEI Admission 2026

Admissions to the PGDEI programme at NIEPMD, Chennai, are conducted through a structured merit-based selection process. There is no separate entrance examination; candidates are shortlisted based on a composite score covering academic marks, higher qualification, work experience, PwD family status, rural background, and an interview. The 2027-28 admission notification is expected tentatively around May-June 2027. Reservation is as per Government of Tamil Nadu norms.

Important Dates

Event	2026-27	2027-28 (Tentative)
Admission Notification Released	May 2026	May-June 2027
Last Date to Apply	July-August 2026	July-August 2027
Shortlisting / Interview	August-September 2026	August-September 2027
Batch Commencement	October-November 2026	October-November 2027

Note: No national-level entrance exam is required. Admission is based on merit scoring and interview.

Admission Scoring Criteria:

Marks obtained in qualifying examination: 50 marks
Higher qualification: 10 marks
Experience (minimum 2 years): 5 marks
Parent/Sibling/Ward of PwD: 10 marks
Rural students: 5 marks
Interview: 20 marks
Total: 100 marks

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold MBBS / BOT / BPT / B.Sc Speech and Hearing / BMR / BRS / B.Ed in Special Education / B.Sc Nursing / Masters in Child Development / Child Psychology from a recognised university.
Minimum marks: 50% for General category; 45% for SC/ST candidates.
Candidates with a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience are given additional weightage in the merit score.

Admission Process

Download the application form from the official NIEPMD website (niepmd.nic.in) when the notification is released.
Pay the application fee (Rs. 1,000 for General/OBC; Rs. 500 for SC/ST) via NEFT to the institute's bank account.
Submit the completed application form along with self-attested copies of all qualifying degree certificates, mark sheets, experience certificates (if applicable), community certificate, UDID card (if applicable), and passport-size photographs.
Shortlisting is done based on the composite merit score (academic marks, higher qualification, experience, PwD family status, rural background).
Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview at NIEPMD, Chennai.
Final selection is based on the total merit score including interview marks.
Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD categories is as per Government of Tamil Nadu norms.

NIEPMD PGDEI Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in the PGDEI programme at NIEPMD, Chennai, can avail various central and state government scholarships. As a government-funded institution, NIEPMD offers subsidised fees, and eligible students can additionally apply for scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). PwD students and family members of PwD may also be eligible for fee concessions as per NIEPMD norms.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship / Benefit	Eligibility	Amount	Remarks
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students; income as per govt. norms	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	Apply via National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
Central Sector Scholarship (EWS/OBC)	EWS/OBC students; parental income as per norms	Variable	Apply via NSP
NIEPMD Fee Concession (PwD/Family of PwD)	PwD students or family members of PwD	Partial/full fee waiver (confirm with institute)	As per NIEPMD norms at time of admission
PM-VIDYALAXMI Scheme	Students in government-recognised institutions	Education loan facilitation	Apply via PM-Vidyalaxmi portal
Tamil Nadu Government Scholarship	Tamil Nadu domicile students in eligible categories	Variable	Apply via Tamil Nadu e-Scholarships portal

Scholarship applications for NSP schemes must be submitted within the deadlines notified on the NSP portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Candidates are advised to confirm the availability of fee concessions and stipends directly with NIEPMD at the time of admission, as these may vary by year.

NIEPMD PGDEI FAQs

Ques. What is Early Intervention and why is the PGDEI programme important?

Ans. Early Intervention refers to the systematic provision of services and support to infants and young children (typically 0-6 years) with developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. Research consistently shows that early identification and intervention significantly improve developmental outcomes for children with disabilities. The PGDEI programme at NIEPMD trains professionals to conduct newborn screening, developmental assessments, and provide trans-disciplinary intervention, making it a critical qualification for anyone working in child disability rehabilitation.

Ques. I am a B.Ed Special Education graduate. Am I eligible for PGDEI at NIEPMD?

Ans. Yes, B.Ed in Special Education is one of the listed eligible qualifications for the PGDEI programme at NIEPMD. You must have secured a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) in your B.Ed Special Education degree from a recognised university. You are also eligible for additional weightage if you have a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience.

Ques. Is work experience mandatory for admission to PGDEI at NIEPMD?

Ans. Work experience is not mandatory for eligibility, but it carries additional weightage (5 marks for a minimum of 2 years of experience) in the merit-based selection process. Candidates without work experience can still apply and be selected based on their academic marks, higher qualification, PwD family status, rural background, and interview performance.

Ques. What is the career scope after completing PGDEI from NIEPMD Chennai?

Ans. Graduates of the PGDEI programme can work as Early Interventionists in Early Intervention Centres, conduct newborn screening programmes, work as trans-disciplinary professionals in rural and urban clinics and hospitals, serve as resource persons for training programmes run by NGOs and government organisations, and conduct parent training programmes. With RCI registration, graduates can practise legally as rehabilitation professionals across India. The growing focus on early childhood disability services under the RPWD Act 2016 and national programmes like RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram) has significantly increased demand for qualified early interventionists.

Ques. Is the PGDEI certificate from NIEPMD recognised for RCI registration?

Ans. Yes, the PGDEI programme at NIEPMD is recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Graduates are eligible to register with RCI as rehabilitation professionals. RCI registration is mandatory for legally practising as a rehabilitation professional in India, and the PGDEI from NIEPMD fulfils this requirement.

Ques. How competitive is admission to PGDEI at NIEPMD? What score do I need to get selected?

Ans. The PGDEI programme has only 15 seats, making it quite competitive. The selection is based on a 100-point merit score covering academic marks (50 points), higher qualification (10 points), experience (5 points), PwD family status (10 points), rural background (5 points), and interview (20 points). Candidates with strong academic records, relevant postgraduate qualifications, work experience in disability rehabilitation, and good interview performance have the best chances of selection. Candidates from rural backgrounds and those who are parents/siblings/wards of PwD also receive additional weightage.