51 students will be sent to NASA every year, under the Vidyarthi Vigyan Vari Yojana (Vidyarthi Vigyan Vari Yojana).

The Maharashtra government is planning to send 51 students to NASA every year under the Vidyarthi Vigyan Vari Yojana. Let us explain this plan in detail.

The Maharashtra government is preparing a remarkable program for students in Maharashtra that will inspire all students studying there to excel in their lives. When this plan is fully finalized, 51 students will be sent to NASA every year. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved it in June 2025, but final approval is still awaited. The program will be operational once the required funding is approved.

51 students will go to NASA every year

According to information provided by Minister of State for School Education, Pankaj Bhoyar, 51 students will be sent to NASA every year. Pankaj Bhoyar said, "The School Education Department organizes science project competitions at the tehsil, district, and state levels."

We give prizes to winners, but students who don't win also work hard. We want to recognize them, and that's why this scheme was created.

Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhoyar also said

Pankaj Bhoyar said that the aim of this scheme is to inspire students to maintain their interest in science. He further said, "We want them to move beyond a single project and pursue scientific research. This will enable students across Maharashtra to visit science centers and think about big ideas for the future."

A School Education Department official provided this information

A School Education Department official stated that tehsil and district-level tours will be conducted with funds from the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC). As for the NASA traveler, it will only be possible after state-level approval, as it costs approximately ₹3 crore. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved it in June 2025, but final approval is still awaited.

What is this Vidyarthi Vigyan Vari Yojana?

This is a new initiative by the Maharashtra government to encourage students towards space research and aeronautical science. We have already mentioned above that the School Education Department organizes science project competitions at the tehsil, district, and state levels. Now, according to this proposal, students with the top 21 projects in the tehsil-level competitions will visit a science center in their department. Students with the top 51 projects in the district-level competitions will be taken on a tour of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru, and the 51 state-level finalists will be taken to NASA under the "Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Vigyan Vaari" scheme.