Delhi govt school students selected for US Space and Rocket Center

Five Delhi government school students have earned a place at the US Space and Rocket Center after outperforming hundreds of applicants in a multi-stage STEM competition organized under the Delhi government's Saksham initiative.

The students, selected from a pool of more than 400 applicants from government and government-aided schools across the capital, will attend a Space Science Workshop in the United States during October-November 2026.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta handed over their travel tickets at a ceremony marking their selection.

The week-long workshop is designed to expose students to practical applications of space science through interactive STEM learning, including activities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The selection process began with more than 400 applications. Candidates were first assessed through a STEM aptitude test and an evaluation of their Statement of Purpose (SOP), resulting in the shortlisting of 130 students.

The shortlisted participants later attended a regional workshop, where they developed and showcased science-based projects. After a comprehensive assessment of these projects, five students were selected to represent Delhi at the international workshop.

The program is part of Saksham, a joint initiative of the Delhi government and Honeywell Technologies that seeks to promote STEM education among girls studying in government and government-aided schools.

Currently operating in 12 schools, the initiative is expected to benefit nearly 12,000 students by 2029. While the program primarily covers schools in Delhi, it has also expanded to Pune, Bengaluru, and Gurugram.

At the US Space and Rocket Center, the selected students will participate in hands-on laboratory sessions, space science activities, and STEM workshops intended to strengthen their scientific knowledge while providing international academic exposure.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that Indian students have significant potential to contribute to scientific research and innovation.

She noted that initiatives promoting STEM education can encourage greater participation of girls in science and technology-related fields.