The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), conducted a two-day space science outreach programme on October 6-7, 2026, at the Tagore College Seminar Hall in Srivijayapuram (Port Blair), Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The programme brought together more than 200 participants, including 180 undergraduate and postgraduate students from science, technology and engineering disciplines and around 20 faculty members from local academic institutions, including DBRAIT College, JNRM, the Centre for Pondicherry University and Tagore Government College of Education.

The inaugural session was attended by Shri A S Kiran Kumar, former Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, and Member, Space Commission, as chief guest. Shri M R Raghavendra, Director, ISTRAC/ISRO; Prof. A P Dimri, Director, IIG; Dr. Tirtha Pratim Das, Director, Science Programme Office, ISRO Headquarters; and Shri Aditya Sangotra, DANICS, Director (Education/Sports/HE/S&T), A&N Administration, were also present.

Kiran Kumar highlighted the importance of India’s supremacy in space, while Raghavendra stressed the significance of scientific observations from both space and ground systems. Dimri explained planetary magnetism and the Earth-Sun connection through interactions between the geomagnetic and interplanetary magnetic fields. Das highlighted the broader purpose of space exploration—understanding the universe and exploring life and intelligence. Sangotra underlined the programme’s importance for students in the islands and encouraged local institutions to contribute to India’s space exploration journey.

The programme featured lectures on India’s space science programme, solar physics, space weather, comparative planetology, exoplanets and astrobiology, along with student-interaction sessions and a space exhibition. Dr. Praveen Kumar, Deputy Director, Science Programme Office, thanked faculty members for their role in nurturing students’ interest in space science and technology.

The programme was held under the ISRO-IIG MoU signed in September 2024, aimed at expanding space science outreach across India. It follows ISRO’s 2025 outreach programmes across all North-Eastern states and supports the development of trained human resources for the space science goals of the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.