According to official sources on November 1, a group of Nepalese students is visiting Calcutta University to share their experiences and interact with leading educational personalities in India under a student exchange programme announced by prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the country.
Modi during his visit to Nepal on August 3-4 had announced short courses cum exposure visits for the Nepalese students in the leading universities of India namely Banaras, Kolkata and Delhi University under Nepal-Bharat Maitri Shiksha Karyakram.

Under this programme, Nepalese students pursuing undergraduate and post graduate courses in various disciplines in Nepal, are offered opportunities to learn from Indian educational institutions.

A first batch of 20 Nepalese students left for Kolkata on November 1 on a 25-day visit to learn from Indian educational institutions.

Under the programme, the participating students will have field trips to places of historical and cultural importance in Kolkata, participate in educational events and interact with various personalities.

“The programme will help in further promoting closer ties and friendly relations between the two countries,” Indian ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said while launching of the Bharat-Nepal Shiksha Maitri Karyakram.

“It’s much more about people to people relationship; our relationship is stronger because we have people to people relationship,” Rae said.

“Our prime minister is extremely keen to strengthen these engagements particularly in the youth sector. As you are going to one of the most prestigious universities of India, Calcutta University, we will also be able to learn from your experiences so that in future the programme can be improved and made more useful, more interesting and more,” he added.

“This type of programme will help enhance the understanding of our youths regarding our great civilisations and culture as both India and Nepal share the great civilisation and culture of this region,” said Bishwo Prakash Pundit, secretary in the Ministry of Education.