Parliament Question: Young Scientists Programme (YUVIKA)

O.I.H.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4460 TO BE ANSWERED ON THURSDAY, APRIL 02, 2026 YOUNG SCIENTISTS PROGRAMME (YUVIKA)

4460. SHRI BABURAM NISHAD:

SHRI RAJIB BHATTACHARJEE:

SHRI NARHARI AMIN:

DR. KALPANA SAINI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) the number of students selected and trained under the Young Scientist Programme – YUVIKA during the last three years;

(b) the number of ISRO centres and institutions across the country where the said programme is being implemented;

(c) whether this programme provides hands on experience in space technology, model rocketry, robotics and interaction with space scientists;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Ministry to increase participation of students from rural and remote areas in the programme? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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(a) 350 students per year were selected and trained under the Young Scientist Programme – YUVIKA during the last three years.

(b) YUVIKA programme was conducted in 7 ISRO Centres across the country.(c) & (d) Yes. The students are given hands-on experience like working on basic robotics by providing them programmable robotic kit, sky watching through telescope, making them assemble and launch model rockets and interaction with senior ISRO scientists.

(e) The selection in the YUVIKA programme is based on merit. Special weightage of 15% is given for students belonging to rural and remote areas. ****