Pune, 9 July 2025: In an inspiring move to ignite scientific curiosity among rural students, the Pune Zilla Parishad has launched a three-phase examination initiative that could lead top-performing students to visit premier space agencies like ISRO and NASA. The goal is to foster scientific thinking and interest in space science among students from remote areas.
The first phase of this initiative saw a massive response, with 16,121 students registering for the test. Out of these, an impressive 13,671 students actually appeared for the exam. Students from standards 6 to 8, all studying in Zilla Parishad schools, participated enthusiastically in this first round.
The exam syllabus was developed under the guidance of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. This academic support ensured the content was engaging and aligned with foundational scientific principles, encouraging analytical thinking in young learners.
The second phase of the test is scheduled for next Saturday, July 19, and will be held online. Students who rank in the top 10% from each taluka based on the first exam will qualify for this stage. The initial written test was conducted offline across 141 centres in the district, reflecting the wide-scale reach of the programme.
The third and final phase will consist of interviews to be conducted at IUCAA itself. Through this comprehensive process, selected students will gain the opportunity to interact with experts and visit national and international space research institutions, offering them an invaluable first-hand experience in the field of space science.