Odisha minister felicitates Tata Steel Young Astronomer Talent Search winners; over 76,700 students participated
By Nalini Sahu
Bhubaneswar, Dec. 14: Odisha science and technology minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Saturday felicitated the top 30 winners of the 19th edition of the Tata Steel Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2025 at its Grand Finale, accentuating the growing emphasis on nurturing scientific temper and space science education among school students.
Organised by Tata Steel in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Bhubaneswar, under the department of science and technology, the programme aims to promote astronomy and scientific inquiry while honouring the legacy of Odisha’s renowned astronomer Pathani Samanta. This year, 30 winners were selected from 60 finalists drawn from across the state. More than 76,700 students participated in the edition, while the programme has reached over 4.7 lakh students since its inception in 2007.
Congratulating the winners, Patra said the initiative was helping inspire young minds to explore space science and innovation. He thanked Tata Steel for supporting the programme and expressed confidence that the winners would contribute to India’s scientific and space research ambitions.
Khandapara MLA Dusmanta Kumar Swain described YATS as a strong example of collaboration between the state government and the corporate sector, noting that the programme encourages curiosity-driven learning and scientific inquiry among students, regardless of their eventual career paths. Additional chief secretary, science and technology, Chithra Arumugam, also praised the initiative to felicitate young astronomers.
Tata Steel vice president (corporate services) D B Sundara Ramam said YATS was not merely a competition but a tribute to Pathani Samanta’s legacy and a platform to foster curiosity, innovation and discovery among young learners.
The event also featured interactions with leading space experts, including ISRO scientist Amitav Mohanty from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, and Antariksh Parichha, co-founder and CEO of Serendipity Space. YATS alumnus and AI developer Ayush Dalai also shared his journey with participants.
The 2025 edition was themed “Stargazer Today, Gagannaut Tomorrow”, aligned with India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. As part of the programme, the 30 winners will visit an ISRO facility, joining over 230 previous YATS winners who have already toured premier space research centres.
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Photograph:
Recognising Young Talents: Odisha science and technology minister Krushna Chandra Patra and Khandapara MLA Dusmanta Kumar Swain (respectively fourth and fifth from left) felicitate young astronomers in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
