Press Releases 2008

India, U.S. Now Full Partners in Educational Exchange

July 4, 2008

Historic Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship Agreement to Double Scholarly Exchanges
 
NEW DELHI - United States Ambassador David C. Mulford and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon today signed an historic new agreement that will strengthen educational exchanges between India and the United States.

Under the new agreement, the Government of the United States and the Government of India will become full partners in the Fulbright scholarship program, first established in India in 1950.  The number of scholarships and grants exchanged each year is expected to double.  Reflecting this new partnership, scholarships awarded under this program will be known as Fulbright-Nehru Scholarships.

Signed at Hyderabad House in the presence of U.S. Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Thad McCotter (R-MI), and Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), the agreement represents the strong and growing people-to-people ties that bind the world's oldest and the world's largest democracies and emphasizes the value both countries place on education and scholarly exchange. 

The Fulbright Program was established by the United States Congress in 1946 to promote "international goodwill through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science."  Now six decades old, it remains the U.S. Government's most prestigious scholarship program, operating in 155 countries.  Since its signing by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and U.S. Ambassador Loy Henderson on February 2, 1950, 14,800 Indians and Americans have participated as Fulbright scholars.

The new agreement provides for expansion of the existing program with, for the first time, (i) a direct financial contribution by the Government of India, (ii) Government of India co-chairing the Board of Directors of the Foundation and (iii) participating equally in policy and decision-making on the exchange of Indian and U.S. scholars under the India-U.S. program.

The Foundation will now be called the "U.S.-India Educational Foundation" awarding "Fulbright-Nehru Scholarships and Grants."

The programs of the Foundation will continue to finance (i) studies, research, instruction and other educational activities of/for U.S. citizens and nationals in India and Indian citizens and nationals in U.S. schools and institutions in USA, (ii) visits and exchanges of students, trainees, teachers, instructors and professors and (iii) other related educational and cultural programs and activities.

Together the governments will to endeavor to see that the Foundation's programs of activities, research and studies will complement the bilateral initiatives announced by the U.S. and Indian Governments on July 18, 2005 and March 2, 2006 in the areas of agriculture, science and technology, sustainable development, clean and efficient energy, environment, climate change, democracy and capacity building in emerging democracies and global issues of common concern - among others - and create further awareness and understanding of India in the USA and vice versa, strengthening the 'knowledge' linkages between the people of the two countries.