The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) under the Ministry of Education on Saturday flagged off a delegation of Indian students selected to participate in the Sakura Science Programme 2026 at a ceremony held at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in New Delhi.
The ceremony was attended by Additional Secretary, DoSEL, Archana Sharma Awasthi, NCERT Director Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani and Economic Advisor, DoSEL, A. Srija.
A total of 56 students and four supervisors will visit Japan from May 24 to May 30 under the programme, alongside participants from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. The Indian contingent includes 24 boys and 32 girls from government schools across 15 States and Union Territories — Assam, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal.
All participating students are beneficiaries of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme of the Government of India.
The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) has been implementing the Japan Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science, popularly known as the Sakura Science Programme, since 2014 to promote scientific learning and cultural exchange among students. India has been participating in the initiative since April 2016.
Under the programme, selected students spend a week in Japan experiencing the country’s advanced science and technology ecosystem while also gaining exposure to its cultural heritage. According to the Ministry, 674 Indian students and 96 supervisors have visited Japan under the initiative so far, with the previous batch travelling in August 2025.
The Ministry said the initiative aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises holistic, experiential and engaging learning. It added that educational exposure visits to places of scientific, technological and cultural importance help broaden students’ perspectives and encourage innovation and global understanding.
Japan’s technological advancements and educational ecosystem offer students valuable opportunities to explore innovative practices and gain international exposure, the Ministry noted.
