YUVIKA Empowering Young Minds, Inspiring Future Careers in Space Science: Dr. Jitendra Singh in Written Reply in Lok Sabha

1. At a Glance

YUVIKA = Yuva Vigyani Karyakram — ISRO's flagship outreach scheme to expose Class 9 schoolchildren to space science, technology and applications via a two-week residential programme [S1][S2].
Implementing body: Department of Space / ISRO; minister-in-charge: MoS (IC) S&T, Atomic Energy, Space — Dr. Jitendra Singh [S1].
UPSC relevance: a recurring "schemes-by-ministry" Prelims hook and a Mains GS-III example of scientific temper cultivation and early STEM talent identification.

On 01 April 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha, stated that 1,320 students have benefited from YUVIKA since inception, calling it a vehicle for early talent identification and merit-based, transparent selection [S1].

Launched 2019 by ISRO under tagline "Catch them young" to inspire school students towards space careers [S2].
Inaugural edition (YUVIKA-2019) opened by then ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Sivan on 13 May 2019 via video link from ISRO HQ Bengaluru; conducted across 4 ISRO centres, concluded 25 May 2019 [S2].
Subsequent editions run annually (paused/modified during COVID years); 2026 cycle registration ran 27 Feb – 31 March 2026, residential phase 11–22 May 2026 [S3].

Full form: Yuva Vigyani Karyakram (Young Scientist Programme) [S2].
Nodal ministry/agency: Department of Space → ISRO [S1].
Target group: students of Class 9 (as on Jan 01 of programme year) in recognised Indian schools [S3].
Mode: ~2-week residential programme at ISRO centres; free boarding, lodging, course material; II-AC train/equivalent bus fare reimbursed [S3].
Selection weightage (merit-based) [S3]:
50% — Class 8 academic marks
10% — online quiz
2–10% — science fair / co-curricular participation (last 3 yrs)
15% extra — students from village/rural Panchayat-area schools
Registration portal: jigyasa.iirs.gov.in/yuvika (hosted by IIRS Dehradun) [S3].
Cumulative beneficiaries (as of Apr 2026): 1,320 students [S1].

Scientific / Technological — Hands-on exposure to launch vehicles, satellites, remote sensing, space applications at working ISRO centres; aims to build a pipeline for space sector R&D in line with Indian Space Policy 2023 [S1][S2].
Social / Equity — Built-in 15% weightage for rural/Panchayat-area schools addresses urban-rural STEM gap; quota-free, transparent merit selection [S3][S1].
Administrative / Governance — Centrally administered by ISRO with online portal; minister emphasised transparency through merit-based selection [S1].
Strategic — Feeds into India's larger space ambitions (Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Station 2035, Chandrayaan-4, opening of sector to NGEs) requiring expanded human-capital base [S1].

01 Apr 2026 — Lok Sabha written reply: 1,320 cumulative beneficiaries; YUVIKA flagged as flagship for fostering scientific temper [S1].
Feb–May 2026 — YUVIKA 2026 cycle: registration 27 Feb–31 Mar; residential programme 11–22 May 2026 [S3].

YUVIKA stands for Yuva Vigyani Karyakram — Young Scientist Programme [S2].
Launched by ISRO in 2019 under the Department of Space [S2].
Inaugurated by ISRO Chairman K. Sivan on 13 May 2019 [S2].
Eligibility class: Class 9 students of recognised Indian schools [S3].
Duration: two-week residential course at ISRO centres [S3].
15% extra weightage is given to students from rural Panchayat-area schools in selection [S3].
Online portal hosted by IIRS, Dehradun (jigyasa.iirs.gov.in) [S3].
1,320 students have benefited from YUVIKA till the Lok Sabha reply of 01 April 2026 [S1].
Tagline: "Catch them young" [S2].
Programme announced in Lok Sabha by Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS (IC) S&T and Space [S1].

GS-III — Science & Technology: Awareness in space; achievements of Indians in S&T; indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.
GS-II — Government policies and interventions for development in education/skilling sector.
Possible question stems: 1. "Programmes like YUVIKA reflect a shift from technology missions to talent missions in India's space sector. Discuss." (GS-III, 150 words) 2. "Examine the role of early-stage scientific outreach programmes in building India's space self-reliance under the Indian Space Policy 2023." (GS-III, 250 words) 3. "How do affirmative-action features in merit-based S&T outreach (e.g., rural weightage in YUVIKA) reconcile excellence with equity?" (GS-II, 150 words)

Indian Space Policy 2023 — overarching framework legitimising private + outreach activity.
IN-SPACe & NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) — institutional reform allowing private participation.
Gaganyaan & Bharatiya Antariksh Station (2035) — downstream human-capital demand drivers.
JIGYASA (CSIR) — analogous student–scientist connect programme; do not confuse with ISRO's Jigyasa portal.
INSPIRE Scheme (DST) — broader STEM talent scheme for ages 10–32.
Atal Innovation Mission / Atal Tinkering Labs (NITI Aayog) — schoolchildren innovation ecosystem.
Chandrayaan-3 / Aditya-L1 / Mars Orbiter — flagship missions students learn about at YUVIKA centres.
IIRS Dehradun outreach — hosts the YUVIKA portal; remote-sensing capacity-building wing.

YUVIKA vs JIGYASA (CSIR): YUVIKA is ISRO's Class-9 residential programme; JIGYASA is CSIR's student–scientist connect (don't swap).
YUVIKA vs YUVA / YUVA PM Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors (Ministry of Education): different ministries, different objectives.
Nodal body: It is ISRO / Department of Space, not DST or Ministry of Education.
Eligibility class is Class 9 only, not Classes 8–10 or "school students" generally.
Launch year is 2019, not 2020/2022; first inaugurated by K. Sivan, not S. Somanath.
Portal is hosted by IIRS Dehradun, often misattributed to ISRO HQ Bengaluru.

[S1] YUVIKA Empowering Young Minds… Dr. Jitendra Singh in Written Reply in Lok Sabha — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2247868 — (tier: 1) [user-supplied PIB excerpt; live fetch returned 403]
[S2] YUVIKA-2019 / Young Scientist Programme Inaugurated — https://www.isro.gov.in/update/11-may-2019/yuvika-2019 ; https://www.isro.gov.in/YUVIKA.html ; https://www.isro.gov.in/Press%20Release12.html — (tier: 1)
[S3] Antriksh Jigyasa – YUVIKA portal (IIRS, Department of Space) — https://jigyasa.iirs.gov.in/yuvika — (tier: 1)