Nine Indian bureaucrats to pursue Master’s degrees in Japan under INR 17 Cr grant, fostering cross-cultural leadership and collaboration
In a bid to strengthen bilateral ties through human resource development, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a Grant Agreement with the Government of India to extend its Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) program. The initiative aims to send nine Indian government officials annually to top Japanese universities for two-year postgraduate programs, with a grant valued at approximately INR 17 crores (JPY 288 million).
The agreement was formalized between Ms. Manisha Sinha, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and Mr. Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative of JICA India.
Launched in 2024, the JDS program is designed to build a pool of future-ready Indian policymakers equipped with global perspectives and advanced technical knowledge. The initiative also supports India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by enhancing the policy implementation capabilities of its civil servants.
“These scholars will play a key role in policy reforms and collaborative development projects with Japan upon their return,” JICA said in a statement. The program not only facilitates academic growth but also strengthens people-to-people exchanges between the two nations—an objective emphasized by both Prime Ministers in recent bilateral dialogues.
Mr. Takeuchi Takuro remarked, “Enhancing people-to-people exchanges is vital to deepening India-Japan relations. JICA is proud to contribute to this shared vision by empowering India’s civil servants through academic exposure and leadership training in Japan.”
The selection process for the second cohort of JDS fellows is expected to begin by mid-2025, with coursework commencing in Japan by mid-2026.
This initiative underscores the evolving strategic partnership between India and Japan, emphasizing mutual growth through education, capacity building, and cultural understanding.
