New Delhi: In a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening scientific education among tribal students, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), has successfully established 75 Space Labs in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across 18 States.
The initiative has been implemented through BPCL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support, with an investment of nearly ₹12 crore, reinforcing the shared commitment of both institutions towards advancing quality education and fostering scientific temper among tribal youth.The Ministry of Tribal Affairs operates EMRS to provide quality residential education to Scheduled Tribe students, enabling them to pursue higher education and build meaningful careers across diverse sectors. Alongside academics, these schools focus on holistic development, including health, nutrition and personality enhancement. At present, 499 EMRS are functional across the country, serving as centres of excellence for tribal education.The newly established Space Labs are designed to provide students with experiential learning opportunities in space science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). By introducing advanced scientific infrastructure and interactive learning tools, the initiative seeks to nurture curiosity, innovation and scientific inquiry among young learners from tribal communities.
The project has been executed through agencies recognised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Each laboratory is equipped with advanced educational and demonstration facilities, including LVM3 launch vehicle and Earth Observation satellite models, static models of PSLV, HRLV, IRNSS and GSAT missions, astronomy exhibits, tabletop scientific demonstration models, star-tracker telescopes, CanSat working models, STEM learning kits, and curated educat
