In a major step towards igniting young minds and promoting scientific curiosity, at least 100 science students from each of the eight northeastern states will be given the chance to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru under the North East Student Program for Awareness, Reach and Knowledge on Space (NE-SPARKS) initiative.
The initiative, aimed at fostering interest in space science and technology among school students, is being rolled out by the North East Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) as part of an outreach programme of the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
The student visits will be organised in batches and continue until December 2025.
The first group of students under this programme began their educational journey on Monday. A team of 13 science students from Manipur, accompanied by a coordinator, was officially flagged off by Bisheshwar Khumukcham, the additional director of education, Manipur, at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal.
NE-SAC, headquartered near Shillong in Meghalaya, is a joint initiative of the Department of Space and the North Eastern Council (NEC). It plays a vital role in bringing space-based technology to support development in the northeastern region.
The centre has significantly contributed to several critical sectors in the region, including natural resource management, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, disaster management and atmospheric science.
It has completed numerous application-based projects supported by regional user agencies and has undertaken cutting-edge research under key national programmes such as the Earth Observation Applications Mission, ISRO’s Geo-sphere Biosphere Programme, Satellite Communications, Disaster Management Support and Space Science Programmes.
The NE-SAC Society is chaired by Union Home minister Amit Shah, while the ISRO Chairman leads the Governing Council, underlining the importance of high-level guidance in advancing space applications for regional development.
The NE-SPARKS initiative represents a significant opportunity for the youth of the Northeast to gain exposure to India’s advancements in space technology and could serve as a stepping stone for future scientists and innovators from the region.
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