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Indian Express

Science and Innovation Activity centres to be set up across Maharashtra

The Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC) has set up 'Science and Innovation Activity Centres' (SIAC) in select districts of Maharashtra since 2015. Now, the government aims to establish SIAC centres in the remaining 23 districts along with 28 new technology labs, announced state Information Technology Minister Ashish Shelar in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. These will be built over a period of five years and the project is expected to cost around Rs 192 crore. Promoting scientific temper among citizens is regarded as a fundamental duty by the Indian Constitution. In line with this vision, the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC) has, since 2015, set up Science and Innovation Activity Centres (SIAC) in select districts of Maharashtra to spark scientific curiosity and interest among school-going students. 'Now, this transformative initiative will be relaunched and expanded across the state. The government will pay homage to renowned scientist Jayant Narlikar by naming the programme in his honour for his extraordinary contributions in the field of science,' said Shelar. These centres will be developed in collaboration with capable educational institutions related to school education, and with the support of national science organizations such as the Nehru Science Centre of the National Council of Science Museums, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Muktangan Exploratory Science Centre and Vigyan Ashram, said Shelar. The SIAC initiative is an important step towards instilling scientific temperament among students in Maharashtra and aligns with the goals of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These centres are not just meant for schools but will become hubs of knowledge for the entire community, said the minister. 'Expanding SIACs to all districts will help create a science-friendly Maharashtra in the future. A professional team comprising curators, engineers and retired officials will be formed to oversee implementation and operations. The initiative will involve collaboration with the central government, the National Council of Science Museums, and other institutions,' added Shelar. Through SIACs, students will gain hands-on experience with modern technologies, experiments, models, robotics, 3D printing, coding, and more. These centres help: -Develop scientific understanding and skills -Foster curiosity, creativity, and communication abilities -Provide training and educational resources for teachers -Offer equal opportunities to students in rural areas Till now, SIACs have been established in six districts: Warananagar, Pravaranagar, Amravati, Satara, Baramati, and Devrukh. Work is underway to set up centres in three more districts: Nanded, Akola, and Parbhani.