Bhubaneswar, Dec, 23: The 19th Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) Grand Finale–2025 was successfully held at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar. On this occasion, 30 young astronomers from across the state were felicitated by the Odisha Government’s Minister for Science and Technology, Shri Krushna Chandra Patra.
The programme was organised by the Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Bhubaneswar, as a tribute to the great astronomer Pathani Samanta. The main objective of YATS is to encourage young talent in the state and to inspire school students to explore science, astronomy, and space research.
Out of 60 students who reached the grand finale, 30 students emerged as winners and were honoured by the Hon’ble Minister. The programme was jointly organised by Tata Steel and the Pathani Samanta Planetarium. This year, more than 76,700 students from all districts of Odisha participated in the competition. Since its inception in 2000, YATS has engaged over 4.7 lakh students.
The event was attended by Khandapada MLA Shri Dushmanta Kumar Swain, Additional Chief Secretary and Chairperson of the Pathani Samanta Planetarium Smt. Chitra Arumugam, Deputy Secretary of the Science & Technology Department and Director of the Planetarium Smt. Urmiprabha Maharana, Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel Shri D. B. Sundaram, along with other senior officials from Tata Steel and the Science & Technology Department.
While felicitating the winners, Minister Shri Patra congratulated the young astronomers and said, “I extend my best wishes to all the students who have emerged victorious in the YATS Grand Finale. I hope they will grow into distinguished space scientists in the future. I thank Tata Steel for organising such programmes and for nurturing interest in space science among school children. These young talents will surely bring pride to the state and the nation.”
Khandapada MLA Shri Dushmanta Kumar Swain spoke about how the achievements of Pathani Samanta, a proud son of Khandapada, continue to inspire young minds in the field of astronomy. Chairperson Smt. Chitra Arumugam stated that YATS is a unique initiative jointly undertaken by the State Government and Tata Steel to promote scientific temperament among students.
Former YATS participant Ayush Dalai also interacted with students and shared his experiences. The theme of this year’s competition was “Stargazers: Tomorrow’s Astronauts.”
The 30 winning young astronomers will soon visit the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where they will interact with scientists, gain insights into space science, and learn about advanced space research. So far, over 230 students from previous editions of YATS have had the opportunity to visit ISRO.
Among other dignitaries present were CEO of Odisha Space Applications Centre Smt. Rashmita Panda, Science & Technology Secretary Smt. Shivani Mahanti, Economic Advisor Smt. Bidyutprabha Raut, Deputy Director Shashikanta Das, Deputy Secretary Chinmayi, and senior officials from Tata Steel.
Tata Steel’s Vice President (Corporate Services) Shri D. B. Sundaram highlighted the company’s long-term commitment to fostering scientific curiosity among young learners. He emphasized that YATS is not just a competition but a tribute to Pathani Samanta’s immense contribution to astronomy and a platform that motivates students to explore space science.
Scientists from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, including Scientist-SG Shri Amitabh Mahanti, and Shri Antariksha Parichha, Co-founder and CEO of Serendipity Space, shared their experiences and insights with the students, inspiring them to pursue careers in space science and innovation.
The YATS Grand Finale–2025 once again proved to be a landmark initiative in nurturing young scientific talent and strengthening Odisha’s role in promoting space science education.