Pune: ISRO Visit to Boost Scientific Temper Among Tribal Students, Says Atul Save
Pune, 16th February 2026: A group of 100 meritorious students from ‘Vijabhaj’ Ashram schools across Maharashtra departed from Pune by air for a six-day educational visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at nurturing scientific curiosity among rural youth.
Speaking at Lohegaon Airport before flagging off the students, Maharashtra’s OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save said the visit would help inculcate a scientific temper and deepen students’ understanding of space science. He added that more students would be given similar opportunities in the coming years.
The visit has been organised under the department’s “Vigyan Prerna Abhiyan”, through which 100 students were selected via a competitive merit examination conducted across 980 Vijabhaj Ashram schools in the state. The selected group includes 50 boys and 50 girls from Classes 9 and 11.
During their visit, students will get first-hand exposure to satellite development, launch technologies, and space research projects at ISRO’s Thumba centre in Thiruvananthapuram. They will also participate in science workshops and interact with scientists and experts, enabling experiential learning beyond classroom education.
Minister Save emphasised that connecting rural students with national-level scientific institutions would boost their confidence and raise awareness about higher education opportunities in science and technology. He described the initiative as the first such programme undertaken by the department.
Students have also been encouraged to write essays based on their experiences during the tour, with prizes to be awarded for outstanding submissions.
Highlighting broader efforts, the minister said the department is strengthening residential school infrastructure by providing hostel facilities, 24-hour electricity through solar power, and essential amenities such as washing machines to ensure that students face no hurdles in accessing quality education.
The educational tour, scheduled from February 15 to February 20, includes visits to:
-Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune for hands-on science workshops
-Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum in Bengaluru
-Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Heritage Centre
-ISRO’s Thumba Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram
-Vivekananda Rock Memorial and other landmarks in Kanyakumari
The students will also visit science parks, museums, and national memorials across Pune, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kanyakumari as part of the comprehensive exposure programme.
Dhanashree Kendre, one of the selected students, described the opportunity as an unforgettable moment in her life and thanked the minister for enabling the visit.
Another student, Deepak Pawar, credited the department, teachers, and parents for helping them secure the golden opportunity, saying the experience would have a lasting impact on their future.
