At a felicitation function held at Hotel Radisson, Kathmandu on March 13, 2008, Ambassador of India to Nepal H. E. Shri Shiv Shankar Mukherjee presented Certificates of Merit to Nepali students of the Sixth Batch of Golden Jubilee Scholarship Scheme awarded by the Government of India. The Golden Jubilee Scholarship Scheme was launched by Government of India in 2002 to commemorate 50 years of Economic Cooperation between India and Nepal. At the inception of this scheme, 50 Nepalese students undertaking different undergraduate courses in Nepal were awarded the scholarship. From last year, the number of scholarships has been doubled to 100 students.

Under this scholarship scheme, a monthly stipend of Rs 3,000/- is given to 50 students pursuing MBBS and BE courses and Rs. 2,000/- per month to 50 students pursuing other courses, including B.Sc., BA, BBA, BBS and BPH. The students are selected on the basis of merit and need and fifty percent of the seats are reserved for students from educationally disadvantaged districts.

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. Highly qualified Nepal abounds in experts and specialists in strategic positions in Nepal’s polity & economy, who have studied in India.

From last year, number of another type of scholarships provided by the Government of India, namely the Mahatma Gandhi Scheme for students of Class XI and XII studying in Nepal, has also been doubled from 500 to 1000. In addition, thousands of Nepalese students have undergone studies in India in a wide range of courses including Medicine, Engineering, Business Studies, Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture, Computers, and IT, Music and Fine Arts, Film and Television, Hotel Management, etc. though facilities provided by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the Consulate General in Birgunj. Further, courses in dairy technology have been introduced from this year for Nepalese students to study in India under the scholarship given by the Government of India. Training has also been provided to Nepalese nationals in the areas of Mass Communication, Science and technology, HRD, planning and urban development, Information Technology, etc. A number of training courses are also provided to the Nepal government/Nepalese Army at all ranks.