Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 13th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The Department of Health Research - Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) concluded the second edition of ICMR-SHINE on August 11–12, 2026, to provide school students with hands-on exposure to biomedical research. The initiative spanned 83 locations across 31 States and Union Territories, focusing on fostering scientific curiosity in students from Classes 9 to 12. A nationwide school competition was also launched, with an application deadline of September 11, 2026.
Key Points / Main Content
Program Reach and Scope
The outreach program was conducted in 31 States and Union Territories, reaching remote areas such as Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Andaman Islands.
The initiative aimed to fulfill the Prime Minister’s call for students to “spend a day as a scientist,” opening ICMR laboratories to young learners.
Scientific Exposure and Activities
Students in Nagpur and Gorakhpur accessed state-of-the-art Mobile BSL-3 laboratories to witness high-containment field research.
Practical sessions included live scientific demonstrations, poster walks, and exercises on lab hygiene and body mass index (BMI) calculation.
Young innovators showcased public health solutions through Atal Tinkering Labs (NITI Aayog) in Delhi.
Digital and Competitive Initiatives
ICMR launched the official SHINE website (https://shine.icmr.org.in/) to provide access to research resources and program updates.
A nationwide school competition was announced, inviting students to identify real-world public health challenges and propose innovative solutions.
Applications for the competition are being accepted through the SHINE portal until September 11, 2026.
Impact Analysis
Students (Classes 9 to 12)Impact
Students gained direct experience with the science behind public health, moving from theoretical learning to practical inquiry and innovation.
Action Required
Interested students must identify a public health challenge, frame research questions, and submit their proposals to the SHINE portal by September 11, 2026.
Schools and TeachersImpact
The program provided valuable laboratory exposure beyond the classroom; some institutions have integrated the SHINE competition into their internal project assessments.
Action Required
Teachers are encouraged to facilitate student engagement with the new SHINE website and support the submission of competition entries.
ICMR and Research LaboratoriesImpact
These institutions successfully bridged the gap between complex biomedical research and the public, promoting a scientific outlook to contribute to a "Swasth and Viksit Bharat."
Action Required
Laboratories must continue to manage the SHINE portal and process competition applications submitted by the September deadline.
Key Entities Referenced
ICMR-SHINE (Science & Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers): A nationwide outreach program designed to expose school students in Classes 9 to 12 to biomedical and public health research through direct interaction with scientists and laboratory environments.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): The primary agency in India for the formulation and promotion of biomedical research, serving as the lead organizer of the SHINE initiative under the Department of Health Research.
Atal Tinkering Labs: Innovation workspaces under NITI Aayog where students showcased creative public health solutions as part of the outreach engagement.
Mobile BSL-3 laboratories: State-of-the-art high-containment research facilities located in Nagpur and Gorakhpur that provided students with first-hand exposure to field-based scientific research.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Two-day ICMR-SHINE 2026 concludes, igniting
scientific curiosity across thousands of young
minds
From remote terrains to rural regions, ICMR-SHINE takes
biomedical research closer to young minds across 83
locations in 31 States and Union Territories, contributing to a
Swasth and Viksit Bharat
Students gain first-hand exposure to Mobile BSL-3
laboratories in Nagpur and Gorakhpur, live scientific
demonstrations and hands-on activities nationwide
Young innovators showcase public health solutions through
Atal Tinkering Labs in Delhi
ICMR launched SHINE website and announced nationwide
school competition on real-world public health challenges,
with applications open till 11 September 2026
Schools and teachers welcome research exposure, call for
more frequent engagement with students
प्रव तथ: 13 AUG 2026 5:21PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Health Research - Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) successfully
concluded the second edition of ICMR-SHINE (Science & Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers)
on 11–12 August 2026, bringing the world of biomedical and public health research closer to school
students across the country. Taking forward the Prime Minister’s call to “spend a day as a scientist,” the
nationwide outreach program opened the doors of ICMR laboratories to students of Classes 9 to 12, giving
them an opportunity to see, experience, and interact directly with the science behind public health.
The initiative spanned 31 States and Union Territories across 83 unique locations, stretching far beyond
major metropolitan centers into the quiet valleys and remote terrains of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Andamans and rural regions of Jharkand, Odisha and Madhya
Pradesh. For thousands of students who had never experienced research environment, ICMR-SHINEoffered a welcoming bridge into the world of biomedical inquiry. Guided by Dr Curio, the friendly official
mascot featured across interactive videos, posters, and cut-outs, the atmosphere was designed to make
complex science feel inviting, accessible, and fun.
In Nagpur and Gorakhpur, students stepped near state-of-the-art Mobile BSL-3 laboratories on wheels,
witnessing firsthand how high-containment research travels directly to field situations. In other centers,
young visitors took part in lively poster walks, live scientific demonstrations, and practical exercises on
body mass index calculation and lab hygiene, learning how everyday health decisions connect to the
broader picture of national public health. In Delhi, the spirit of youth innovation was on full display as
students showcased creative solutions developed through Atal Tinkering Labs under NITI Aayog, proving
that great scientific ideas have no age limit.
As a part of this initiative, ICMR launched the official SHINE website (https://shine.icmr.org.in/),
providing students with access to resources, program updates and opportunities related to health research.
ICMR has also announced a nationwide SHINE school competition, inviting students to identify real-
world public health challenges, frame research questions and propose potential solutions. The competition
will take the idea of “spending a day as a scientist” a step further by encouraging students to look at the
health challenges around them through the lens of scientific inquiry and innovation. Applications are open
until 11 September 2026 and can be submitted on the SHINE portal.
The initiative received an encouraging response from participating schools across the country. Teachers
welcomed the program for giving students valuable exposure to scientific research and laboratory work
beyond the classroom, and suggested that it be held more frequently. The school competition also
generated enthusiasm, with one participating school announcing that all its students would take part, with
submissions counting towards their internal project assessment during school examination.
Through ICMR-SHINE, thousands of students have moved from simply learning about science to seeing
it, experiencing it and asking questions about it. By taking research experiences beyond conventional
centers and into schools and field locations across the country, the program is creating opportunities for
young minds, regardless of where they live, to encounter science firsthand. ICMR is helping young
students develop a scientific outlook, encouraging them to explore science, pursue innovation, and play a
role in building a Swasth and Viksit Bharat.***
SR/GS
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