The Maharashtra government will expand its Science and Innovation Activity Centres (SIACs) across the state and name the initiative after renowned astrophysicist Dr Jayant Narlikar, Minister Ashish Shelar said on Thursday.
The initiative aims to position Maharashtra as a science-forward state in the country, the IT and cultural affairs minister said in the legislative assembly.
The centres, launched by the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC) in 2015, are currently operational at six places in the state.
Under the new plan, 23 other districts will get SIACs along with 28 new technology labs over the next five years. The state is expected to incur an expenditure of approximately Rs 192 crore for the initiative, Shelar informed the House.
"The government will expand the SIACs across the state and name the initiative after Dr Jayant Narlikar," he said.
Eminent astrophysicist Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, who attained international fame for the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity, died in Pune on May 20 at the age of 86.
A towering figure in Indian science, Dr Narlikar was widely known for his pioneering contributions to cosmology, his efforts to popularise science, and for setting up premier research institutions in the country.
"Promoting scientific temper is a fundamental duty under the Indian Constitution. These centres aim to ignite curiosity and innovation among school students and society at large," Shelar said.
The programme is designed to support the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by focusing on STEM education, hands-on learning, robotics, 3D printing, coding, and scientific skill development.
Rural students will also benefit through equal access to modern scientific tools and mentorship, the minister said.
The existing centres have already seen significant participation, with 2.76 lakh visitors, 2,728 teachers trained, and nearly 61,000 students involved in activity-based programmes, he said.
The centres are currently functional in Warananagar, Pravaranagar, Amravati, Satara, Baramati and Devrukh, with work underway in Nanded, Akola, and Parbhani, the minister said.
The centres are being developed in collaboration with institutions such as the Nehru Science Centre, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Muktangan Exploratory, and Vigyan Ashram, and will be operated in partnership with capable educational institutions, he said.
A dedicated professional team, including curators, engineers and retired officials, will be appointed for the effective implementation and oversight, Shelar added.
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