India signs pact to fund & send government officials for post-graduation study in Japan

In a move to enhance India-Japan relations, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a Grant Agreement with the Government of India to implement "The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)."

This initiative is designed to provide full scholarships to 36 Indian government officials over the next four years, allowing them to pursue two-year master’s degrees at Japanese universities. The first cohort of nine officials will be admitted under an initial grant of approximately Rs 12 crores (JPY 223 million).

The leaders of both nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, have highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people exchanges. The new scholarship program aligns with their shared vision of increasing the number of Indian students studying in Japan, promoting cross-cultural understanding, and bolstering bilateral ties.


Each year, the program will select nine government officials who specialize in key areas relevant to Indian policy. Upon their return, these officials will apply their knowledge to drive significant policy changes and development projects that align with India’s growth ambitions and cooperation with Japan.

The selection process for the first batch of JDS scholars is set to begin in mid-2024, with the first admissions scheduled for mid-2025. Participating Japanese universities known for their academic excellence include:

1. Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo
2. Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
3. Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University
4. Graduate School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University
5. Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University

“As envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Ministers of India and Japan, enhancing people-to-people exchanges is a key step to further deepening the ties between our nations. JICA is delighted to contribute to this important mission by extending study opportunities in Japan to Indian government officials, leading India towards Viksit Bharat. I urge ambitious and talented government officials to apply for this program and prepare themselves to lead India into the future,” Saito Mitsunori, Chief Representative of JICA India, said.