In a push to inspire the next generation of space explorers, the government will set up 100 space laboratories in Eklavya Model Residential Schools across India. First established in 1997-98 to provide quality education to tribal communities in remote areas, these fully residential schools will now aim to spark children’s ambition to reach for the stars.
The initiative will be fully funded by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) donors and is set to benefit as many as 477 schools. The states expected to see the highest rollout include Chhattisgarh (75), Madhya Pradesh (63), Jharkhand (53), Odisha (47), Gujarat (38), Maharashtra (37), and Rajasthan (30).
The laboratories will be equipped with a star-tracker telescope, demonstrative models of ISRO’s launch vehicles, including LVM Mk3, PSLV, as well as static models of earth observation satellites, GSAT, IRNSS, and space science books for students keen to read. The aim is to provide an interactive, hands-on learning environment to inspire students to explore careers in space and STEM fields.
The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs issued the tender on June 20, inviting agencies to submit their bids by July 10 to implement the project across India. Importantly, the laboratories will be established only through ISRO-recognised ‘space-tutor’ organisations to ensure quality and accuracy.
“The target is to enhance the quality of education by bridging the educational gaps and open new avenues for tribal youth in the fields of space science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), through these Space Labs in Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) run by National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), a society under Ministry of Tribal Affairs across 26 states and UTs," said the ministry.
The implementing agencies, which must be at least five years old, will handle the procurement in line with the norms and also support NSTFDC in mobilising additional CSR support to expand the initiative. They will also be responsible for donor branding and outreach, including short videos, coffee table books and other promotional content.
This comes as India prepares to launch some of its ambitious space missions, with ISRO’s first-ever human spaceflight Gaganyaan scheduled to take off in 2027. After successfully landing near the South Pole of the Moon in 2023, the space agency is now working towards another Chandrayaan mission to collect and bring back lunar samples. Also in the pipeline is Bharatiya Antariksh Station to be set up by 2035.
Gaganyaan astronaut designate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who has been selected to fly to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission-4, will also be interacting with students from various schools from space once the spacecraft docks with the ISS. The mission spearheaded by NASA, SpaceX and Axiom Space is currently without a launch date after being postponed multiple times.
