20th Young Astronomer Talent Search Launched in Odisha | YATS 2026
Bhubaneswar, July 2026: The 20th edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) was launched at Lokseva Bhawan by Shri Krushna Chandra Patra, Odisha’s Minister of Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare and Science & Technology.
Organised by Tata Steel in collaboration with Pathani Samanta Planetarium, the initiative aims to ignite scientific curiosity among students of Classes VI–X across Odisha.
This year’s theme, “India’s Next Gagganaut”, encourages young minds to dream of careers in space science.
Over the past 19 years, YATS has engaged more than 5.4 lakh students, with 260 students visiting ISRO to witness India’s space achievements.
Students can register through schools or online, with district‑level winners advancing to the Grand Finale on December 13, 2026, coinciding with the birth anniversary of legendary astronomer Pathani Samanta.
Senior officials, including Smt. Chithra Arumugam, IAS, and Tata Steel representatives, attended the launch ceremony.
YATS continues to be a flagship science outreach program, bridging classrooms with India’s space program and inspiring Odisha’s budding astronomers.
