New Delhi: Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Establish 75 Space Labs in Eklavya Model Residential Schools Across India New Delhi: In a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening scientific education among tribal students, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), has successfully established 75 Space Labs in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across 18 States.
The initiative has been implemented through BPCL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support, with an investment of nearly ₹12 crore, reinforcing the shared commitment of both institutions towards advancing quality education and fostering scientific temper among tribal youth.The Ministry of Tribal Affairs operates EMRS to provide quality residential education to Scheduled Tribe students, enabling them to pursue higher education and build meaningful careers across diverse sectors.
Alongside academics, these schools focus on holistic development, including health, nutrition and personality enhancement. At present, 499 EMRS are functional across the country, serving as centres of excellence for tribal education.The newly established Space Labs are designed to provide students with experiential learning opportunities in space science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). By introducing advanced scientific infrastructure and interactive learning tools, the initiative seeks to nurture curiosity, innovation and scientific inquiry among young learners from tribal communities.
The project has been executed through agencies recognised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Each laboratory is equipped with advanced educational and demonstration facilities, including LVM3 launch vehicle and Earth Observation satellite models, static models of PSLV, HRLV, IRNSS and GSAT missions, astronomy exhibits, tabletop scientific demonstration models, star-tracker telescopes, CanSat working models, STEM learning kits, and curated educational resources on India’s space programme.
More than 50,000 tribal students are expected to benefit from the initiative, gaining access to resources that were previously limited to specialised educational institutions.The Space Labs will play a pivotal role in promoting hands-on learning through experiments, simulations, model-based demonstrations and observational activities. The initiative is expected to strengthen analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities and innovation-driven learning among students while fostering a deeper understanding of scientific concepts through practical exposure.
The programme is expected to ignite scientific curiosity among students by introducing them to subjects such as astronomy, satellite technology, planetary sciences and space exploration. Early exposure to STEM disciplines will encourage inquiry-based learning and help build a strong foundation for future academic and professional pursuits.By bringing advanced STEM infrastructure to remote and tribalregions, the programme helps reduce educational disparities and ensures that students receive opportunities comparable to those available in urban educational ecosystems. It also creates awareness about emerging career pathways in fields such as aerospace, astronomy, geospatial sciences, meteorology, artificial intelligence, satellite technology and scientific research, thereby expanding students’ aspirations and access to future opportunities.
The initiative is also expected to boost students’ confidence and participation in science exhibitions, innovation challenges, astronomy camps and other national-level scientific engagements, encouraging greater representation of tribal youth in India’s scientific and technological ecosystem.Aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the initiative promotes experiential learning, critical thinking and equitable access to quality education. It represents a significant step towards empowering tribal students to actively participate in India’s scientific advancement while contributing to the nation’s
future innovation and knowledge-driven economy.
