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Especially for Students: United States-India Fulbright Celebrates 60th Anniversary


Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 16, 2010


In commemoration of the Fulbright Program’s contribution to strengthening United States-India bilateral relations and in honor of the accomplishments of the many Fulbright alumni from both countries who have participated in the program over 60 years, the Embassy of India will host a reception on November 16, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Ambassador Meera Shankar will deliver remarks.

During his recent trip to India, President Obama noted that education is one of the key pillars of the United States-India partnership. Since 1950, the Fulbright Program has played an essential role in nurturing established ties and building new relationships by providing opportunities for discourse between the people of the United States and the people of India. Since its inception in 1950, the U.S. – India Educational Foundation (USIEF), which administers the Fulbright Program, has awarded more than 17,000 Fulbright and Fulbright-Nehru scholarships, Fulbright-Hays awards, Humphrey Fellowships, Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching, and supported other exchanges covering a full range of academic disciplines.

In 2008, the United States and India signed an historic agreement making the two countries full partners in the governance and funding of the Fulbright Program, and in November 2009 President Obama and Prime Minister Singh announced a significant expansion of Fulbright-Nehru scholarships under the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue. Over the past two years, the Fulbright-Nehru Program has tripled in funding, and with respect to the number of students and scholars it supports each year.

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is the U.S. Government’s flagship international exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 300,000 participants from over 155 countries with the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Media Contacts:

James Lawrence, LawrenceJA@state.gov, 202-632-3241

Catherine Stearns, StearnsCL@state.gov , 202-632-6437



PRN: 2010/1657