The Ministry of Education has flagged off a new batch of Indian students for the Sakura Science Programme 2026, an international exchange initiative aimed at promoting scientific learning and global exposure among young students.
Organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), the programme will see 56 students and four supervisors travel to Japan from May 24 to May 30, 2026. The participants, selected from government schools across 15 States and Union Territories, are beneficiaries of the National Means cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme.
The initiative is part of the Japan Science and Technology Agency’s Sakura Science Programme, also known as the Japan Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science, which has been running since 2014. India has been participating in the programme since 2016.
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During the visit, students will experience Japan’s advanced science and technology ecosystem while also gaining exposure to the country’s culture and innovation practices. So far, 674 Indian students and 96 supervisors have participated in the programme.
The Ministry said the initiative aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes experiential, holistic, and engaging learning experiences beyond traditional classrooms.
