Bhubaneswar: Two students from Odisha’s Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) have earned recognition at the national level by successfully participating in the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) prestigious YUVIKA 2026 programme, providing them with an opportunity to explore India’s space programme and interact with scientists.
The students—Deba Disari of EMRS Kotpad in Koraput district and Shyam Charan Tudu of EMRS Bahalda—were selected to participate in the national-level programme aimed at encouraging scientific curiosity and nurturing young talent in space science and technology.
YUVIKA, or YUva VIgyani KAryakram, is designed to give school students first-hand exposure to space science, technology and applications. Through the programme, participants get an opportunity to visit ISRO facilities, interact with scientists and gain insights into India’s space missions and the organisation’s diverse activities.
Deba Disari, a Class X student of EMRS Kotpad, participated in the programme at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. During his visit, he gained practical exposure to India’s space programme and learned about various aspects of space science and space technology through interactions and sessions with scientists.
Similarly, Shyam Charan Tudu of EMRS Bahalda successfully participated in and completed the YUVIKA 2026 programme during the same period. His achievement has brought recognition to his institution and the EMRS network in Odisha.
The participation of the two students is expected to encourage them to pursue higher education and explore careers in science, technology, engineering and space research. Their experience at ISRO is also likely to inspire other students from EMRS institutions across the state to take an interest in scientific learning and seek opportunities at the national level.
The achievements underline the growing opportunities available to students from residential schools to access exposure programmes beyond the classroom and develop their interests in emerging fields such as space science and technology.
For Odisha’s EMRS community, the participation of Deba and Shyam in YUVIKA 2026 marks an important achievement and offers an encouraging example for students aspiring to pursue scientific careers.
