Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will interact with the brilliant young minds selected for the 17th ‘Vigyan Manthan’ Yatra organized by the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology. The interaction will take place at the Chief Minister's residence on Monday evening at 7 PM. On this occasion, the Chief Minister will also felicitate the aspiring scientists and flag off their journey. Eminent scientists from various institutions will also be present at the event.
The 17th ‘Vigyan Manthan’ Yatra will be held from April 21 to 27. Selected participants will get an opportunity to visit some of the country’s most prestigious research laboratories and interact with dedicated scientists. After the journey, they will be eligible to appear for a scholarship examination conducted by the Council. The top 20 students from each grade, who qualify, will be awarded scholarships of Rs.12,000 per year for five years.
A total of 375 students from across the state, currently studying science in Classes 10 to 12, have been selected this year. The state was divided into five zones—East, West, North, South, and Central—with 75 students chosen from each zone.
According to Project Coordinator Dr. Vivek Katare, the participants were selected through a transparent state-level competitive process via online applications. Among the selected students, 49 girls & 76 boys are from Class 10, 54 girls & 71 boys from Class 11, and 48 girls & 77 boys from Class 12. To provide guidance to these students, 33 science teachers from across the state have also been selected.
All selected students will report to the Council’s headquarters in Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, at 9 AM on 21 April, Monday. The 375 students have been divided into two groups—one will visit Chandigarh and the other will tour institutions in Delhi.
The Delhi group will visit the National Science Centre, the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and other scientific institutions in Delhi
The Chandigarh group will visit Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), and Government Museum and Art Gallery. The group will also interact with prominent scientists at these institutions.
Dr. Katare informed that the Chandigarh-bound group has been named the "CV Raman Group", which includes Class 11 and 12 students, while the Delhi-bound group is named the "APJ Abdul Kalam Group", consisting of Class 10 students.
Both groups will depart from Bhopal’s Rani Kamlapati Railway Station on the morning of Tuesday, April 22, via the Vande Bharat Express train. Upon arrival in Delhi, the students will be warmly welcomed in a ceremony organized by Vijnana Bharati.
For the past 16 years, the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology has been conducting the Mission Excellence initiative to identify and nurture future scientists from among school students and to promote a scientific temperament. The selected students are exposed to the Applied world of science beyond textbooks, visiting labs and meeting researchers behind today’s scientific advancements—experiences that inspire national pride and instill a commitment to pursuing science as a career.
The Vigyan Manthan Yatra aims to identify and encourage students with a strong interest in science and guide them in their chosen paths. Supported by the Department of Science and Technology, this initiative seeks to nurture scientific talent and promote research and development through specialized training and exposure.