Over 13,000 Zilla Parishad Students Appear for Space Science Exam to Qualify for ISRO and NASA Visits

Pune, 8th July 2025: In a pioneering initiative aimed at nurturing scientific curiosity among rural students, the Pune Zilla Parishad has launched a three-stage examination programme to give selected students a chance to visit premier space research organisations like ISRO and NASA.

Through this initiative, the district aims to bridge the gap between rural education and world-class scientific opportunities.

However, the first stage of the examination witnessed an overwhelming response, with 16,121 students from Zilla Parishad schools registering, and 13,671 of them appearing for the offline test conducted on Saturday across 141 centres in the district.

The programme targets students from Standards 6 to 8, aiming to foster a scientific temperament and instill a passion for space science. The curriculum and structure of the examination have been designed under the guidance of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.

“This initiative will enable rural students to gain exposure to national and international scientific institutions and interact directly with the world of space research,” said a Zilla Parishad official.

Students who rank in the top 10% from each taluka in the first stage will qualify for the second phase, which will be held online on Saturday, July 19. Those who clear the second stage will move on to the third and final round, comprising interviews at IUCAA.