SAARC Diary: Applications Invited from Bhutanese Students for Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship
NEW DELHI, Jan 13: The Indian Embassy in Thimphu has invited applications from the Bhutanese students for the ‘Nehru-Wangchuck’ scholarship for the 2021-2022 period to study in various educational institutions in India.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the governments of India and Bhutan on June 19, 2009, the ‘Nehru-Wangchuck’ scholarship is given by the Government of India symbolising the country’s special relations with Bhutan. It offers nine fully-funded scholarships in the field of medical, engineering, IT, law, leadership, business management and natural sciences each year to Bhutan’s brightest candidates to study and enhance academic knowledge in leading Indian Institutes.
Six Bhutanese civil servants are allowed to pursue postgraduate programmes at Indian institutions, while three scholarships are given to non-government individuals for furthering their academic careers to study Master’s programme in India.
A total of 105 Bhutanese citizens have been awarded the scholarship till date many of whom currently hold key roles in the Royal Government of Bhutan. The scholarship amount was doubled in 2014 from Nu 10 million to Nu 20 million per year.
The MoU was renewed for the third time on January 17, last year.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
