French Ambassador Thierry Mathou Honours Graduates and Felicitates First Indian Recipient of France Excellence Major Scholarship at the Lycée Français International de Delhi
New Delhi, July 01: The Lycée Français International de Delhi (LFID) hosted its annual graduation ceremony at the school. The event was graced by the Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, who presented certificates to the graduating class of 2026. This year’s ceremony marked a significant milestone for LFID, as it was the first time an Indian student, Antara Agarwal, was awarded the highly competitive and globally recognized France Excellence Major scholarship.
This elite honour is reserved for only a select few top-performing non-French graduates across a global network of over 612 schools. Celebrating the milestone, LFID Principal Ms. Valérie Beaubeau highlighted the significance of the achievement:
“The France Excellence Major (FEM) scholarship is a scholarship from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, managed by the AEFE and Campus France. It allows brilliant students from the AEFE network to pursue higher education in France. It is awarded based on a proposal by the high school, taking into account the excellence of the academic record, the study plan, and admission to a higher education institution in France. It offers financial assistance and guidance throughout the five years of study, and for the very first time this year, we have an Indian student! Bravo, Antara!”
Antara’s achievement was mirrored by the rest of the graduating class, who upheld LFID’s tradition of academic excellence by securing a 100% pass rate in the Baccalauréat examination. In his address to the school community, Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou commended the cohort for their hard work and discipline:
“Education is one of the strongest bridges connecting France and India, and today we celebrate the excellence that continues to strengthen this bond. My warmest congratulations go out to this graduating class for their dedication and outstanding achievements. France has set an ambitious goal to welcome 30,000 Indian students by 2030, and today we celebrate the remarkable young people who will help achieve this goal. As you move forward, embrace the curiosity, resilience, and global perspective you have developed at LFID. France is proud to welcome you to our finest universities, where you will continue to innovate, inspire, and lead.”
For Antara, the scholarship recipient, the moment represented the culmination of years of dedication:
“This means a great deal to me. The result reflects not just my own work but the years of encouragement from my teachers, the constant support of my parents, and the camaraderie of a wonderful class. I am proud to be the first Indian student to receive this scholarship, and I hope it encourages more students in India to look to France as a place to pursue their ambitions, as it is home to some of the world’s finest universities.”
Sharing in the school’s pride, Antara’s father, Mr. Arpit Agarwal, expressed the family’s gratitude for the role LFID played in her journey:
“We are deeply grateful to LFID, its management and its teachers, whose dedication and support shaped Antara over these years and made this scholarship possible. What this school offers is rare, a truly international education that opens not only a young child’s mind but doors to universities across the world. For Indian parents weighing how best to prepare their children for a global future, one built on critical thinking and creativity, this path is well worth considering. Our family’s experience has been proof of its value.”