Ranipool's Bhawana Lohagan clears NET-JRF in Nepali, brings pride to Sikkim
Speaking to local sources, well-wishers have described Bhawana as a bright, sincere, and soft-spoken young woman who has always shown a deep interest in Nepali literature and academics.
LOCAL
In a proud moment for Sikkim, Ms. Bhawana Lohagan, a resident of Ranipool near Gangtok, has successfully cleared the prestigious National Eligibility Test (NET) with Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Nepali, conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) through the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Bhawana, daughter of Mr. Tula Singh Lohagan and Mrs. Shanti Kumari Lohagan, completed her Master of Arts (MA) in Nepali from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), one of the leading universities in India. She cleared the exam in her second attempt, proving that determination and hard work always pay off.
Born on July 23, 2002, Bhawana secured a percentile score of 93.28 in the June 2025 cycle of the UGC-NET exam under the subject code 034 for Nepali. Out of 328 registered candidates in this subject, 268 appeared for the exam. Bhawana not only qualified for the post of Assistant Professor but also earned the JRF, which is awarded to top-performing candidates for research fellowships and PhD studies.
Bhawana belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category and has not claimed any disability benefit (PwBD). She applied for the NET-JRF exam based on her master's degree and was eligible for all three options: Assistant Professor, Junior Research Fellowship, and Ph.D.
Her achievement is being celebrated not only by her family and friends but also by the entire academic and cultural community in Sikkim. Clearing JRF in a regional language subject like Nepali is considered a significant milestone, especially for young scholars from the northeast region of India.
Speaking to local sources, well-wishers have described Bhawana as a bright, sincere, and soft-spoken young woman who has always shown a deep interest in Nepali literature and academics. Her success has now opened doors to future research opportunities, scholarships, and potential university teaching roles.
The Lohagan family has received warm wishes and blessings from across the state. Educators in Gangtok and Ranipool praised Bhawana's commitment and encouraged other students to follow her example by aiming high in their academic goals.
The UGC-NET is one of the toughest exams in India for those aspiring to become university lecturers and researchers. The scorecard issued by the National Testing Agency confirmed Bhawana’s qualification for both JRF and Assistant Professorship, further adding value to her academic profile.