Indian students to visit Japan under Sakura Science Programme 2026

📌 Summary:

• The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, flagged off a group of Indian students for the Sakura Science Programme 2026 at a ceremony held at NCERT, New Delhi

• From 24–30 May 2026, 56 school students (24 boys and 32 girls) and 4 supervisors will visit Japan, alongside participants from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa

• The students are from Government schools across 15 States and Union Territories and are recipients of scholarships under the National Means cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme

• The Sakura Science Programme — the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science — has been run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) since 2014; India has participated since April 2016

• Under the one-week programme students experience Japan's advanced science and technology ecosystem and cultural heritage; so far 674 students and 96 supervisors have visited Japan

• The programme aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on holistic, experiential learning and exposure trips to places of scientific and cultural importance

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (International Relations) — India-Japan cooperation in education and science diplomacy; also links to GS2 governance through NEP 2020 implementation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• The Sakura Science Programme is run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST); it started in 2014 and India joined in April 2016

• The 2026 batch comprises 56 Indian school students and 4 supervisors, flagged off from NCERT, New Delhi

• The students are NMMS Scholarship recipients; the programme aligns with NEP 2020

🔑 Key Term: NMMS (National Means cum Merit Scholarship) Scheme — a Centrally Sponsored scholarship for meritorious students from economically weaker sections, intended to reduce school dropout at the secondary stage.