Kathmandu, Mar. 16: The Embassy of India in Kathmandu celebrated the 22nd Golden Jubilee Scholarship Day on Friday. Around 200 students participated in the celebrations.

In the event, the first batch of nine meritorious Golden Jubilee scholars were awarded Ambassador’s Golden Jubilee Scholarship Roll of Honour by Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava.

Ambassador Srivastava in his speech congratulated the awardees of 22nd Batch of Golden Jubilee Scholarship scheme and meritorious students of the first edition Ambassador’s Roll of Honor and motivated the students to excel in their respective fields. He also underlined the opportunities that would be created for youth by engaging and collaborating in  startup ecosystems, incubation centers etc in India, and encouraged students to seek sectors to collaborate.

Prof Dr. Gyanendra Giri, Vice Chancellor of  BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan; Prof Dr. Subarna Lal Bajracharya, Vice Chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University, Lumbini; Prof Dr Bhola Thapa, Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel; Prof Dr. Punya Prasad Regmi, Vice Chancellor of Agricultural & Forestry University, Chitwan; Prof Dr. Sailesh Mani Pokhrel, Vice Chancellor of Purbanchal University, Biratnagar and Prof Dr. Amar Prasad Yadav, Vice Chancellor of Rajarshi Janak University, Janakpur also graced the occasion with their presence. Deans, Registrars, principals of eminent schools and senior officials from the  Government of Nepal also attended the program.

The Golden Jubilee Scholarship was established in the year 2002 to mark 50 years of India-Nepal economic cooperation. Over the years, the number of scholarship awardees have increased to 200. Under this scholarship scheme, an MBBS/BDS student receives Rs. 4000/- per month for five years, a BE student receives Rs. 4000/- per month for four years, and a student studying in other undergraduate courses like BA, BEd, B.Pharmacy, BSc Agriculture, BBA, BBM and BBS receives NRs. 3000/- per month for three years.

More than 3,300 Nepali students from all 77 districts of Nepal have benefitted from this scholarship scheme. The current batch of scholarship awardees are from 76 districts of Nepal, with 32% of the scholars being girls. Five differently abled students have also been selected this year.