Press Release: Release of fund for Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship- February 19, 2016

The Royal Civil Service Commission received a sum of Nu. 15.51 million for the “Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship” from the Government of India (GoI).

The cheque was handed over by His Excellency, Shri Jaideep Sarkar, the Ambassador of India to Bhutan to Dasho Karma Tshiteem, the Chairman of the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) on 19th February, 2016 in the RCSC Conference Hall.

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The “Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship” is a prestigious scholarship programme that demonstrates the special relationship between the two countries by providing opportunities for Bhutan’s best and the brightest to study in premier Indian Institutes. In particular, this is expected to develop human resource capacities in areas critical to Bhutan’s development.

The Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship was instituted on 19th June 2009 with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India in Thimphu.

The duration of the MoU was for five years which ended in June 2014. During the first phase of the scholarship, a total of 39 Bhutanese were awarded this prestigious scholarship and they underwent various long-term trainings in India (both Masters & PhD).

The MoU was renewed for another five years commencing June 2014. In the same year, following the historic visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to Bhutan, the budget outlay for Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship was doubled from 10 million to 20 million per year.

Furthermore, to ensure that the scholarship is able to attract Bhutan’s best and brightest, with the support from the Embassy of India, only premier Indian Institutes such as the IIT Gandhinagar, University of Madras, Vellore Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International University, O. P. Jindal Global University, etc. are now being selected for these scholarships and at the same time, the monthly stipend has been increased from Nu. 25,000 to Nu. 50,000 and the establishment allowance from Nu. 5,000 to Nu. 10,000, in addition to other benefits.

Besides civil servants, the Nehru-Wangchuck Scholarship is also made available to private and corporate sectors including Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) through the Department of Human Resources, Ministry of Labour & Human Resources.

Till date, a total of 74 Bhutanese were awarded this prestigious scholarship, 35 after the renewal of the MoU.