Minister of Education Dhaniram Paudel and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shri Ranjit Rae presented Certificates of Merit to Nepali recipients of the Golden Jubilee Scholarship awarded by the Government of India.

According to a press release issued by Indian Embassy, the Golden Jubilee Scholarship Scheme was launched by Government of India in 2002 to commemorate 50 years of Economic Cooperation between India and Nepal from 1951 to 2001. At the inception of this scheme, 50 Nepalese students undertaking different undergraduate courses in Nepal were awarded the scholarship.

 In the year 2007, the number of scholarships was increased to 100. Since the year 2012, the number of scholarships has been doubled to 200 and monthly stipend increased from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 4000 for MBBS and BE courses and from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 for other courses, including B.Sc., B.A., BBS, etc. The students are selected on the basis of merit. Seats are reserved for students from educationally disadvantaged districts. Due weightage for underprivileged and physically challenged students has been accorded.

There is an extensive and close relationship between India and Nepal in the field of human resources development. Over a period of time, the quantum of Indian assistance in the field of education has increased manifold, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Nepal abounds in highly qualified experts and specialist in strategic positions in Nepal’s polity and economy, who have studied in India.

Over the years, India-Nepal cooperation has made major contributions towards human resource development in Nepal. Government of India extends over 3000 scholarships to Nepalese citizens through the Embassy of India in Nepal. The scholarships are provided for a wide spectrum of courses including medical, agriculture, sciences, law, arts, veterinary sciences, pharmacology, computer sciences etc. at various levels of Under-Graduate, Post-Graduate, Fellowships, etc.

Training has also been provided to Nepalese nationals in the area of Mass Communications, S&T, HRD, Planning and Urban Development, Information Technology, etc. Some seats in Nursing, which has a great demand in Nepal, has also been added. Numbers of mid-career, short-term training courses are also provided to Nepal Government officials at all ranks. Apart from these scholarships, Nepalese citizens are able to join the Indian educational institutions directly. Similarly, scholarships are extended to Nepalese Gorkha soldiers who have worked in Indian Army in a small attempt to acknowledge their services.

“The Embassy of India is committed to the continued support extended by the concerned organizations in implementing its ambitious goals of making education available to a large number of Nepalese students,” said Indian Embassy in a press release.