India’s Students Join Japan’s Sakura Science Programme 2025

Context:

Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, flagged off 34 students from India to Japan under the Sakura Science Programme (17–23 August 2025).

Sakura Science Programme:

Launched in 2014 by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
Aims to promote youth exchanges in science and technology between Japan and Asian/African countries.
India joined the programme in 2016; since then, 639 students and 93 supervisors have participated.

India’s Participation

The 2025 batch includes 34 school students (13 boys and 21 girls) and 3 supervisors.
Students are from government schools in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Puducherry, West Bengal, and NCERT’s RIE Demonstration Schools at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, and Mysore.
The programme supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes experiential, holistic, and integrated learning.

Objectives and Significance

Provides exposure to Japan’s advanced science, technology, and culture.
Enhances bilateral ties between India and Japan, building people-to-people connections at a young age.
Encourages students to imbibe values of punctuality, discipline, cleanliness, and innovation from Japan while showcasing Indian culture abroad.

Institutional Role in India

Coordinated by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, with NCERT support.
Ceremony held at NCERT, New Delhi, with participation of senior MoE and NCERT officials.

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