A group of Indian school students will travel to Japan next week under the Sakura Science Programme 2026, an academic exchange initiative aimed at exposing young learners to advanced scientific research and technological innovation.

The delegation was formally flagged off on Friday by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Union Ministry of Education during a ceremony held at the campus of National Council of Educational Research and Training in New Delhi.

Among those present at the event were Archana Sharma Awasthi, Additional Secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy, NCERT Director Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, and Economic Advisor A. Srija.

The week-long visit to Japan will take place from May 24 to May 30 and will include 56 students and four supervisors from India. The Indian contingent will participate alongside students from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa under the international youth exchange initiative.

Officials said the selected students include 24 boys and 32 girls studying in government schools across 15 states and Union Territories. The participants have been chosen from beneficiaries of the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme, a centrally sponsored programme designed to support academically talented students from economically weaker backgrounds.

The students represent Assam, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal.

The Sakura Science Programme, officially known as the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science, has been run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency since 2014 to encourage scientific collaboration and cultural exchange among students across Asia and Africa. India joined the initiative in 2016.

Under the programme, students spend a week in Japan visiting educational institutions, research centres and technology facilities while also experiencing Japanese culture and society.

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According to government data, 674 Indian students and 96 supervisors have visited Japan through the programme so far. The previous batch travelled to Japan in August 2025.

The Ministry of Education said the initiative aligns with the vision of the Ministry of Education under the National Education Policy 2020, which stresses experiential and interdisciplinary learning.

Officials said international exposure visits play an important role in helping students understand scientific developments, innovation ecosystems and cultural diversity beyond classroom education.

Japan is widely regarded for its technological capabilities in sectors such as robotics, electronics, manufacturing and scientific research, making it an important destination for educational exchange programmes focused on science and innovation.