Andhra woman becomes first Indian to complete Nasa program, to go to space in 2029
Dangeti Jahnavi from Palakollu in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district is set to travel to space in 2029. A graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Jahnavi holds the distinction of being the first Indian to successfully complete NASA's prestigious International Air and Space Program.Jahnavi has been selected to travel to the Titan's Orbital Port Space Station, a US-based project slated for inauguration in the next four years.advertisementThe space enthusiast completed her undergraduate studies at Lovely Professional University in Punjab, after finishing her Intermediate education in her hometown of Palakollu. Her parents, Srinivas and Padmasri, currently reside in Kuwait for work.
Jahnavi is known for her active engagement in the field of STEM education and space outreach. She has delivered talks for ISRO's educational programs and addressed students at premier institutions including National Institutes of Technology (NITs) across the country. She also regularly takes part in analog missions, deep-sea diving, and global conferences related to planetary science and sustainability in long-duration space travel.Her contributions to the International Astronomical Search Collaboration led to a provisional asteroid discovery, based on data from the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS). She was also the youngest foreign analog astronaut and the first Indian chosen for Space Iceland's geology training.advertisementOver the years, Jahnavi has been recognised with numerous accolades including the People's Choice Award at the NASA Space Apps Challenge and the ISRO World Space Week Young Achiever Award.- Ends
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By 2017, TTP had recruited over 7,000 high-calibre professionals, including Nobel laureates and faculty from MIT, Stanford and Oxford. Sent out 3,500 offers between 2011 and 2017, targeting PhDs from the top 100 STEM universities. A January 2023 study in Science, 'Has China's Young Thousand Talents program been successful in recruiting and nurturing top-caliber scientists?', found YTT awardees averaged 2.39 publications a year and ranked in the top 15% of Chinese-origin US researchers by May, the EU launched a ₹500 mn ($576 mn) 'Choose Europe for Science' campaign aimed at attracting global scientific talent between 2025 and 2027. The initiative offers super grants with relocation bonuses and longer contracts. France has pledged ₹100 mn ($115 mn) under this framework, alongside a separate 'Choose France for Science' co-funding platform. 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Funding levels - typically ranging between ₹85,000 and ₹1.35 lakh a month - with modest research grants, are insufficient to attract global talent or bring Indian researchers back. Lack of state-of-the-art lab infra, especially outside IISc and IITs, undermines India's competitiveness as a research destination. Returnee scientists often face asymmetric institutional conditions, like outdated equipment, poor administrative support and rigid procurement protocols. Administrative inefficiencies are common deterrents, such as delays in grant disbursal, compliance burdens and lack of autonomy in fund utilisation. Cultural resistance within host institutions, coupled with absence of structured onboarding, inter-institutional mobility or peer networks, has often isolated returnees. Absence of a mission-oriented innovation agenda means returnees are not embedded in coherent national-level grand challenges. But India's scientific ecosystem has begun to witness a quiet revolution, with momentum accelerating. There is a concerted effort by several ministries towards bringing in reforms for the ease of doing research. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) marks a foundational shift in how the country approaches research funding and governance. It's centralising fragmented efforts and introducing coherence across aims to become the backbone of India's R&D architecture. New funding mechanisms, like the Advanced Research Grant (ARG), are being introduced. It's designed to serve as a stable, long-term 'bread-and-butter' grant for Indian scientists. Simultaneously, critical financial reforms are underway to make research more frictionless. These include streamlining fund disbursal, easing utilisation norms and granting greater autonomy to India must seize this rare moment to launch a unified, mission-driven, talent-attraction programme targeting researchers from the world's top 100 STEM institutions. The lure of being back home must be supplemented with state-orchestrated short-term schemes are no longer sufficient. What's needed is a cross-ministerial effort aligned with national innovation priorities and backed by investment in cutting-edge lab infra. To lead globally, India must not just invite excellence - it must be ready to host it. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Second only to L&T, but controversies may weaken this infra powerhouse's growth story Looking for quick buck in unlisted shares? Better think twice! 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