With a view to increase students’ participation in various science exhibitions and cultivating an interest in science and technology among them, Maharashtra Government has given approval to a unique activity--Chief Minister’s Students Science Tour. Though to selected, but students will get an opportunity to visit Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). A proposal was under the Government’s consideration to provide the opportunities to students like a visit to the Regional Science Centres (Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune) for the top 6-ranking students from each taluka (totalling 2,148 students); a visit to the ISRO centre in Bengaluru for outstanding students selected at the district level; and a visit to the NASA Centre in the USA for the top 51 outstanding students selected at the State level.

 

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 accords immense importance to science education. Significant emphasis has been placed on fostering a scientific temper, logical reasoning, and problem-solving capabilities among students. Efforts are being made to make the understanding of science more accessible to students through experiential and practical-oriented education. To enhance the learning process, the curriculum now incorporates the use of technology—specifically digital laboratories, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and computational thinking.

 

The objective is to empower students for the future by fostering a research-oriented mindset and encouraging innovation. Visits will be organised for a total of 2,148 students—comprising the top 6 winners from each taluka-level science exhibition across the State (358 talukas x 6 students = 2,148)—along with 20 accompanying supervisors/science teachers. These visits shall be directed to whichever science centre is geographically closest to the respective group: the Raman Science Centre (Nagpur), the Pimpri-Chinchwad Science Centre (Pune), or the Nehru Planetarium (Mumbai). Visits will be organised for a total of 180 students and 8 accompanying supervisors/teachers, selected from the State’s district-level competitions across the categories: Primary and Secondary (General Category), (Divyang/Differently-abled Category), and (Tribal Category). These groups will visit the ISRO centre located in Bengaluru. Approval has been granted to organise a visit to the NASA centre in the USA for a total of 55 individuals, comprising the top 51 students who participated in the State-level Science Exhibition.