The 20th edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) was launched at Lokseva Bhawan by Shri Krushna Chandra Patra, Hon’ble Minister of Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare and Science & Technology, Government of Odisha.
Organised by Tata Steel in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium under the Science & Technology Department, the initiative aims to nurture scientific curiosity among students of Classes VI to X across Odisha.
This year’s theme, “India’s Next Gagganaut,” celebrates the spirit of exploration and innovation, encouraging young minds to dream of becoming future space scientists.
Speaking at the launch, Shri Patra said, “YATS reflects our vision of inspiring the space explorers of tomorrow. Over 5.4 lakh students have participated so far, with 260 visiting ISRO to witness India’s space achievements firsthand.”
Senior officials including Smt. Chithra Arumugam, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, and representatives from Tata Steel attended the ceremony.
Students can register through their schools or online at bit.ly/YATS2026. District‑level winners will compete in the Grand Finale on December 13, 2026, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Pathani Samanta.
Over the past 19 years, YATS has become a flagship platform for science outreach in Odisha, bridging classrooms with India’s space programme and inspiring thousands of budding astronomers.
