Registration & Eligibility
- Only registration forms with all mandatory fields duly filled legibly and received between January 15, 2009 to March 10, 2009 (inclusive of both the days) will be eligible for Meritus Scholarships 2009. Registration forms with illegible handwriting will be rejected.
- Children studying in India from Std 4 to 9 can only participate. This scholarship is open only for Indian nationals residing in India
- The Children of Employees of HDFC Bank Ltd., HDFC Securities, HDFC Standard Life, HDFC Ltd., HDB Financial Services Limited, all other associate Companies of HDFC Ltd, GSK, NDTV and agencies associated with this promotion shall not be eligible to participate (How to control).
- Each participant can only register once and needs to provide a unique contact number from where he/she will be taking the Participation Rounds.
- Registration would be complete only post confirmation from HDFC Bank. Confirmation would be communicated through a sms/email at the registered mobile number mentioned in the registration form. Alternatively, the registration status can be checked at www.hdfcbank.com/meritus.
- In case of more than one participant from the same family, different telephone numbers for registration need to be given for each of them so that they can be administered different questions depending on the standard/class they belong to..
- A mobile contact number is mandatory to be provided by the participant at the time of registration to receive timely results and updates on the program
Participation Process
- Online / IVR test can be taken only from the Registered phone number(s) mentioned in the registration form only during the dates communicated via SMS/E-mail to the participant.
- A participant can take the IVR and Online test upto a maximum of five times each within 96 hours from the time the first test is taken and the score of the test taken last will be considered for the selection procedure. There is absolutely no compulsion to attempt the IVR test and Online more than once in the same round and the decision to take the test more than once is solely of the participants.
- There is absolutely no compulsion to take the IVR and Online test both
- If the participant has not finished answering his quota of 10 questions and s/he disconnects or the call / internet connection gets disconnected it will be deemed that the test has been completed. In this case, since 5 Online and 5 IVR attempts are permitted, the participant may choose at his/her discretion to take the test again.
- Access charge for the Participation rounds will be completely borne by the participant. Please refer to the table below for the rates charged by different operators when you dial in for the IVR rounds 1 & 2
| Operator | IVR (Telephonic Test) Number | Price in Rs. Per minute | Availability |
| AIRCEL | 505101012 | 6 | South and North East |
| AIRTEL | 505101012 | 6 | National |
| BPL | 505101012 | 6 | Mumbai |
| IDEA | 505101012 | 6.99 | National |
| RELIANCE | 505101012 | 6 | National |
| TATA | 505101012 | 6 | National |
| TOUCHTEL (Airtel Fixed Line) | 505101012 | 6 | National |
| VODAFONE | 505101012 | 6 | National |
| BSNL (Landline) | 1255512 | 2.4 | National |
| BSNL (Mobile) | 1255512 | 5 | National |
| MTNL (Mobile) | 1255512 | 5 | Mumbai and Delhi |
| MTNL (Landline) - Delhi | 12555 | 2 | Delhi |
| MTNL (Landline) - Mumbai | 127777 | 2 | Mumbai |
Certificate Collection
- The participant needs to present the valid Registered Telephone Number as mentioned in the registration form alongwith the participant`s identification(School ID Card/School Diary)to collect the Certificate. The participant would be eligible only for one certificate during the scholarship program.
- Participants need to collect their certificates from their nearest HDFC Bank Branch at their own cost during branch working hours.
- Last date for collection of participation certificates is 30th April, 2009. Last date for collection of scholarship is 30th June, 2009
- Each Participant would get only one certificate basis their achievement level in the MERITUS program as detailed below
| Achievement Level | Award |
| Participation in the 1st roung conducted via Online and IVR | Participation Certificate |
| Attaining qualifying marks in 1st IVR (Telephonic Test) round but do not qualify for 2nd IVR (Telephonic Test) round | Meritus Bronze Certificate |
| Participated in 2nd Participation round but do not qualify for Final written test | Meritus Silver Certificate |
| Participation in Final written test but did not win a scholarship | Meritus Gold Certificate |
| Clearance of Written Test. | Winners Certificate & Scholarship |
Final Test
- Participant would need to come to the venue at his/her own cost for written test
- We will endeavor to hold the Final Written Test in maximum cities, however the selection of cities as centers will depend on the number of finalists from that city
- The participant needs to present the valid Registered Telephone Number as mentioned in the registration form along with the participant's identification School ID Card/School Diary) and Hall ticket duly attested by the school, to appear for written test
- Participant will be required to carry original mark sheets of last 2 years of final school examinations and certificates of extra curricular/sports achievements
- If the participant forgets to carry any / all the certificates, weightage for the certificates not submitted will not be given
- If there is any discrepancy the certificates produced, the participant would be disqualified
- In case a participant is caught copying or using any unfair means whatsoever, he /she will be disqualified from participating in the further stages of scholarship
- Late entry may be permitted at the discretion of the management. Participants will not be allowed to leave the center within 15 minutes of start time
- If case due to any activity or event beyond management's control, the test center or city is unavailable, HDFC Bank has the rights to postpone/ cancel/ reschedule the test
- No parent / participant can request for re-check or re-validation of submitted answer sheets. The decision of the management will be final and binding in this regard
- Each participant can appear for the test only once
- Participation in the written test is an implied acceptance to these and all other rules and regulations governing the event, as amended by HDFC Bank from time to time
Scholarship Distribution
- Winners would be decided by an independent panel of judges on the basis of Written Test, Academics and achievements in extra curricular activities & sports.
- All decisions by HDFC Bank regarding the MERITUS scholarship program shall be final and binding. No correspondence will be entertained in this connection
- The scholarships are non-transferable and any government levies / taxes arising out of the same will have to be borne by the participant
- Only Participants who takes at least one IVR / Online test are eligible for a certificate
- Participation rounds on IVR and Online are conducted only for eliminations and the participation round scores will not be considered for evaluation of winners during the final round
Others
- Participation in Meritus Scholarship program is not linked to purchase of any product or service from either HDFC Bank or any of its associates/agencies/alliance partners promoting this program
- HDFC Bank will not be responsible for any postal / courier delays
- Any dispute arising out of this program shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent Courts in Mumbai, irrespective of whether Courts in other areas have concurrent or similar Jurisdiction, unless stated otherwise elsewhere in the terms and conditions. The existence of a dispute, if any, shall not constitute a claim to HDFC Bank
- HDFC Bank reserves the right at anytime, without prior notice to add, alter, modify, change or vary all or any of these terms and conditions or to replace wholly or in part, the above program by other program, whether similar to above program or not, or to withdraw it altogether
- Nothing herein amounts to a commitment by HDFC Bank to conduct further, similar or other programs
- The participants will not hold HDFC Bank responsible for, or liable for, any actions, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, charges and expenses which a participant may suffer, sustain or incur by way of above scholarship program
- HDFC Bank reserves the right to approach participants/parents for Marketing purposes through Telephone / Mobile / SMS / Email by the bank / its agents
- HDFC Bank would not be liable or held responsible for any lack or lapse in any communication on account of failure or delay by any of the Internet, Telecom, SMS & E-mails service provider