In News:

• A group of 34 students from government schools across India has been selected to participate in the Sakura Science Programme 2025, a prestigious Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science.
• The initiative, implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), provides young learners an opportunity to explore cutting-edge scientific innovations and experience Japanese culture firsthand.

Programme Details

• The 2025 edition of the programme was held, with participants from India, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. The Indian delegation consists of students, hailing from nine states—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. The students will be accompanied by three supervisors.
• The selected students were flagged off at a ceremony at NCERT, New Delhi, hosted by the Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), attended by key officials including Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of DoSEL, Professor Prakash Chandra Agrawal, Joint Director of NCERT, and Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary of DoSEL.

Background and Objectives

Launched globally in 2014, the Sakura Science Programme aims to foster scientific curiosity among youth and promote international collaboration. India joined the programme in 2016, and since then, over 630 Indian students and 90 supervisors have participated.

The programme’s objectives include:

• Developing talented human resources overseas with potential contributions to science and technology innovation.
• Facilitating international brain circulation.
• Promoting continuous collaboration between Japanese and foreign educational and research institutes.
• Strengthening diplomatic relations through science and technology exchanges.

Through short-term visits to Japan, students gain exposure to advanced scientific research, innovation ecosystems, and Japanese culture, fostering both academic growth and cross-cultural understanding.