India has taken a significant step towards fostering education and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. During the Quad Leaders’ Summit held on Sunday, India announced a new initiative to award 50 Quad Scholarships worth ₹ 4 crore (approximately $500,000). These scholarships will be awarded to students from the Indo-Pacific who aspire to pursue a 4-year undergraduate engineering program at a Government of India-funded technical institution.
The announcement was made in the Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement released by the White House, highlighting India’s commitment to promoting education and development within the region. The scholarships represent a valuable opportunity for students to access high-quality engineering education and contribute to the advancement of their home countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Quad Leaders’ Summit, where he also participated in the Quad Cancer Moonshot event and held bilateral meetings with US President Biden, Japan’s Fumio Kishida, and Australia’s Anthony Albanese. During the summit, PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to a rules-based international order, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also stated that the Quad is not against any specific nation but aims to foster a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
In addition to the scholarships, PM Modi announced other initiatives to further strengthen regional cooperation. India pledged a $7.5 million support for sampling kits, detection kits, and vaccines to combat cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific. The country also committed to contributing 40 million vaccine doses for the region through the GAVI and QUAD initiatives.
Furthermore, PM Modi announced that India will collaborate in radiotherapy treatment and capacity building for cancer care. These initiatives highlight India’s proactive role in promoting health and well-being across the Indo-Pacific region. The next Quad Leaders’ Summit is scheduled to be held in India in 2025, signifying the growing importance of the Quad partnership in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.
