The Embassy of India, Kathmandu celebrated the 22nd Golden Jubilee Scholarship Day on Friday in which around 200 students from 76 districts of Nepal enthusiastically participated in the celebrations. Vice-chancellors of eminent universities of Nepal, Deans, Registrars, principals of eminent schools and senior officials from the Government of Nepal also attended the program.
The first batch of 9 meritorious Golden Jubilee scholars was awarded the Ambassador’s Golden Jubilee Scholarship Roll of Honour by the Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava.
The ambassador underlined the opportunities that would be created for youth by engaging and collaborating in start-up ecosystems, incubation centres etc in India, and encouraged students to seek sectors to collaborate.
Till now, more than 3300 Nepali students from all 77 districts of Nepal have benefitted from this scholarship scheme. In the current batch of scholarships, 32% of the scholars are girls and 5 are differently-abled students. Under this scholarship scheme, an MBBS/BDS student receives NRs. 4000/- per month for five years, a BE student receives NRs. 4000/- per month for four years, and a student studying in other undergraduate courses like BA, BEd, B.Pharmacy, BSc Agriculture, BBA, BBM and BBS receives NRs. 3000/- per month for three years. Scholarship Awardees informed that scholarships helped them in college and reduced the financial burden
The prestigious Golden Jubilee Scholarship was established in the year 2002 to mark 50 years of India-Nepal economic cooperation. Over the years, the number of scholarship awardees has increased to 200.
The Government of India provides around 1600 scholarships in medicine, engineering, dental science, management, commerce, nursing, Ayurveda, dance, theatre, performing arts and many other disciplines both in undergraduate and graduate streams to study in universities in Nepal and India. Since 2001, 38000 Nepali students have been direct beneficiaries of Government of India Scholarships.
India and Nepal are close and friendly neighbours and have long-standing partnerships in the field of education and capacity building. The scholarships and capacity-building programme form an integral part of India’s effort to partner in the human resource development of Nepal for the overall socio-economic benefit of the region.
By Sweta Singh (Kathmandu)