YUVIKA: ISRO’s Young Scientist Programme

 YUVIKA: ISRO’s Young Scientist Programme

Context:

• The Highlight: During a Lok Sabha session, the Union Minister emphasized that YUVIKA has successfully benefited 1,320 students to date.
• The Goal: The programme is effectively fostering a “scientific temper” and early interest in space exploration among India’s youth.

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

1. What is YUVIKA?

YUVIKA stands for Yuva Vigyani Karyakram (Young Scientist Programme). Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), it is a residential training initiative that brings school students into ISRO centers to learn directly from scientists.

2. Why Class 9?

Educators and scientists believe that Class 9 is a “threshold” year where students begin to form concrete career aspirations. By catching talent at this stage, ISRO aims to build a steady pipeline of future engineers and researchers for India’s growing space economy.

3. Scientific Temper

This term (enshrined in the Indian Constitution) refers to a way of life that uses the scientific method—observation, questioning, testing, and logical analysis—to understand the world. YUVIKA uses hands-on models and laboratory visits to move beyond “rote learning.”

KEY FEATURES & SELECTION PROCESS

The programme is designed to be highly competitive yet inclusive:

• Eligibility: Specifically targeted at students who have finished Class 8 and are currently in Class 9.
• Merit-Based Selection: * Academic Performance: Shortlisting based on Class 8 marks.
  • Digital Quiz: Performance in an online space science quiz.
  • Extracurriculars: Participation in science fairs and Olympiads is also weighted.
• The Rural Push: To ensure the programme isn’t limited to urban elites, 15% of seats are reserved for students from rural and remote areas.
• Hands-on Learning: Students visit ISRO facilities (like SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota) to see launch pads, satellites, and mission control centers.