PARLIAMENT QUESTION: YUVIKA (YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAMME)

The YUVIKA 2026 programme was conducted from 11‑22 May 2026 at nine ISRO centres – VSSC, SDSC‑SHAR, NRSC, URSC, SAC, IIRS, NESAC, IPRC and RRSC‑West. A total of 456 meritorious students from 28 states and 8 union territories participated, an increase from 350 students at seven centres in the previous edition. Activities included interaction with senior scientists, lectures on ISRO achievements, live RH200 rocket launch, interaction with the Bharati Station team in Antarctica, water‑rocket demonstration, and hands‑on projects such as programmable robotics, Chandrayaan‑3 DIY kit, model‑rocket assembly and telescope sky‑gazing. Selection is merit‑based with a 15 % weightage for students from rural and remote areas. The information was provided by Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha reply.