National Space Day Sparks STEM Curiosity in Students
- A Rising Space Power’ to teach students about India’s space achievements.
- National Space Day marks India’s historic Moon South Pole landing and inspires STEM learning.
- Schools organize exhibitions, expert sessions, and digital content to foster scientific curiosity and pride.
As India marks its second National Space Day, schools across Uttar Pradesh (UP) are celebrating the country’s achievements in space science and inspiring students to explore STEM careers. This year, the NCERT has introduced a new educational module titled ‘India - A Rising Space Power’ in classrooms across the state.
National Space Day commemorates the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved a successful soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023. With this feat, India became the first nation to land on the lunar South Pole and the fourth country in the world to successfully land on the Moon.
The NCERT module highlights India’s journey in space science, from early innovations to modern-day missions, including Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. Schools, including government primary, upper primary, composite schools, and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), are organising special events such as science exhibitions, classroom discussions, interactive sessions with space experts, and educational assemblies. The aim is to foster scientific curiosity and pride in India’s space achievements among students.
Digital platforms like DIKSHA, NISHTHA, and the India on the Moon portal are being used to provide accessible and high-quality content related to space science and innovation.
The theme for National Space Day 2025, ‘Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities’, celebrates India’s scientific heritage while showcasing modern advancements. It connects the contributions of ancient scholars like Aryabhatta with cutting-edge achievements of India’s space missions, emphasising the continuity of knowledge and innovation.
Instituted in 2024 following Chandrayaan-3’s success, National Space Day aims to motivate the younger generation to take pride in India’s scientific progress and encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
