- 34 Indian students from government schools selected for the Sakura Science Programme 2025 in Japan.
- The programme offers exposure to Japan’s advanced scientific innovations and promotes international collaboration.
- Students were flagged off at NCERT, New Delhi, with officials highlighting it as a golden opportunity to inspire future innovators and strengthen India-Japan ties.
Thirty-four students from government schools across India have been selected to participate in the prestigious Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science, popularly known as the Sakura Science Programme. Organized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the initiative allows young learners to explore Japan’s advanced scientific innovations while experiencing its rich culture.
The 2025 edition of the programme will take place from August 17 to 23, with participation from India alongside students from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. Representing India are 13 boys and 21 girls, selected from government schools in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Puducherry, West Bengal, and the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) demonstration schools in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, and Mysuru. Three supervisors will accompany the group.
India joined the Sakura Science Programme in 2016, and since then, more than 630 students and 90 supervisors have visited Japan under this initiative. Launched globally in 2014, the programme aims to foster scientific curiosity among youth and encourage international collaboration.
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The selected students were officially flagged off at a ceremony held at NCERT, New Delhi, hosted by the Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL). The event was attended by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of DoSEL, Professor Prakash Chandra Agrawal, Joint Director of NCERT, and Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary of DoSEL.
Speaking at the occasion, Sanjay Kumar called the programme a 'golden opportunity' for the participants. He urged students and teachers to make the most of the experience, noting that exposure to Japan’s advanced systems could inspire future innovators and strengthen India-Japan relations.
