Press Information Bureau

Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region and Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, virtually interacted with school students from the North Eastern states who visited ISRO HQ under NE-SPARKS program of MDONER in collaboration with NESAC-ISRO and 8 North Eastern state governments. During the interaction, the students shared their experiences of visiting ISRO facilities and learning about India’s advancements in space science and technology. Union Minister Shri Scindia appreciated their enthusiasm and encouraged them to nurture scientific curiosity.

'North East Students' Programme for Awareness, Reach, and Knowledge on Space' (NE-SPARKS), is a flagship initiative supported by MDoNER in collaboration of 8NE States that exposes Northeastern students to ISRO's cutting-edge space technology, with the goal of sparking interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

The programme envisages exposure visits for 800 meritorious science students (100 from each state of NER) to premier ISRO Centres at Bengaluru.

Four batches of students have successfully completed their visits under the NE-SPARKS program, providing an immersive learning experience to 394 students (189 male, 205 female) from the North Eastern region. Each batch comprised students representing all eight states of the North East, accompanied by their state coordinators, coordinators from NEC and NESAC. The Union Minister of DoNER today met with around 100 students who visited premier ISRO centers, gathering their feedback to gain valuable insights into the program's impact.

During the interaction, the Union Minister commended the students for their enthusiasm and curiosity, emphasizing that 'space is the final frontier, and India is moving forward because of the spark that you children carry.' He highlighted India's recent milestones, including Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, reaffirming the government's commitment to empowering youth from every region.

Students from all eight North Eastern states shared heartfelt reflections on their experiences, ranging from witnessing satellite integration to interacting with senior ISRO scientists. Many expressed newfound clarity in their academic aspirations and a deepened resolve to pursue careers in science and technology. The Union Minister's words of encouragement, especially to students from remote areas, underscored the program's inclusive vision. He stated, “Every child carries a spark, a spark of curiosity and intelligence, which can shine from any part of the country and the world.” The event concluded with a vibrant exchange of ideas, reaffirming NE-SPARKS' role in nurturing future scientists and innovators from the Northeast.

Subsequent batches are planned in close coordination with State Governments and educational institutions to ensure wider outreach and greater impact towards the overall target of 800 students.

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Samrat/Allen

(Release ID: 2168192)