Bengaluru: Four govt PU college students take part in Japan science programme

Bengaluru: Four students from government pre-university colleges in Karnataka are among the 56 students from 15 states across the country taking part in the 'Sakura Science Programme 2026' being held in Japan between May 24 and 30.

The Department of School Education and Literacy shortlisted 100 students in the first step and later reduced the number based on the highest marks scored.

The students selected are Ashwitha K H of the Government PU College-Sringeri (Chikkamagaluru district), Namratha Bai from Adarsha Government PU College, KR Nagar (Mysuru), Rohith D S from the Government PU College, Arsikere (Hassan) and Akash Uday Harikant from the Government PU College, Kumta (Uttara Kannada).

This is a completely government-sponsored programme for students who have completed their SSLC from government high schools and are currently studying PUC in the science stream at government colleges.

This programme has been organised by Japan under the India-Japan Exchange Programme to broaden intellectual horizons and foster scientific exploration among young learners.

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) has been implementing the ‘Japan Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science’, also known as the ‘Sakura Science Programme’, since 2014.

India has been participating in the programme since April 2016. However, the students from Karnataka were not part of the programme in 2025. 

The students are from other countries, including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

From India, the students are from schools across 15 states and Union Territories: 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. 

Officials said the students should be recipients of scholarships under the National Means cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) Scheme of the Government of India to take part in the programme.

"Students are invited to Japan to experience the country’s advanced science and technology ecosystem and its rich cultural heritage. Top performers from the districts were chosen," said an official.