Young Astronomer Talent Search 2025 Concludes; Minister Shri Patra Felicitates Winners

Bhubaneswar, Dec, 22:  The 19th Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) Grand Finale–2025 was successfully held at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Bhubaneswar. On this occasion, 30 young astronomer winners from across the state were felicitated by the Odisha Government’s Minister for Science and Technology, Shri Krushna Chandra Patra.
The prestigious event was organized by the Science and Technology Department of the Government of Odisha in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium as a tribute to the great astronomer Pathani Samanta. The primary objective of the program is to encourage young talent in the state and to inspire school students to explore science, astronomy, and space research.
From around 6,000 students who participated in the grand finale stage, 30 students emerged as winners and were honored by the Hon’ble Minister. The program, jointly organized by Tata Steel and the Pathani Samanta Planetarium, saw participation from over 76,700 students from all districts of Odisha this year. Since its inception in 2007, more than 4.7 lakh students have participated in YATS.
The event was graced by several dignitaries including Khandapada MLA Shri Dusmanta Kumar Swain, Additional Chief Secretary and Chairperson of the Pathani Samanta Planetarium Smt. Chitra Arumugam, Deputy Secretary of the Science and 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.
While congratulating the winners, Minister Shri Krushna Chandra Patra said that he hopes these young achievers will become distinguished space scientists in the future. He thanked Tata Steel for organizing programs like YATS that nurture interest in space science among school students and expressed confidence that these young talents would bring pride to the state and the nation.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Shri Dusmanta Kumar Swain highlighted how the achievements of Odisha’s illustrious son Pathani Samanta continue to inspire children in the field of astronomy. Smt. Chitra Arumugam stated that YATS is a unique initiative jointly undertaken by the State Government and Tata Steel, offering a special platform for students with a keen interest in science.
The 30 winning students will soon get the opportunity to visit ISRO, where they will interact with scientists and gain firsthand exposure to advanced space research. So far, over 230 students from previous editions of YATS have benefited from ISRO visits.
Shri D. B. Sundaram of Tata Steel emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to fostering scientific curiosity among young astronomers. He noted that YATS is not merely a competition but a tribute to Pathani Samanta’s immense contribution to space science.
The program also featured interactions with eminent personalities including ISRO scientist Shri Amitai Mahanti from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, and Shri Antariksha Parichha, Co-founder and CEO of “Serendipity Space,” who shared their experiences with students. Former YATS participant and entrepreneur Ayush Dalai also interacted with the students.
The theme of the current YATS edition was “Star Gazers, Tomorrow’s Astronauts.” The winners will soon visit ISRO facilities to learn about cutting-edge space technologies. Senior officials including Smt. Rashmita Panda, CEO of Odisha Space Applications Centre, Science and Technology Secretary Smt. Shivani Mahanti, and other departmental and Tata Steel officials were present at the event.