New Delhi/Chandigarh, Sept 29: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday reviewed preparations for the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025, announcing a fresh push to make the mega event more people-centric, with students and startups taking the lead.
Chairing a high-level meeting in Delhi, Dr. Singh directed officials to create “science communication hubs” in every district and deploy youth ambassadors to spread the buzz ahead of the festival in Chandigarh.
He said schools and parents must be at the heart of the outreach, with roadshows, mobile exhibits, and teaser installations rolled out well before the event.
Calling startups the “frontline torchbearers” of innovation, Dr. Singh stressed that they must not be sidelined but showcased prominently through booths, pavilions, and conclaves. “Handhold and nurture them, don’t just invite them,” he told the nodal agencies.
The Minister also asked line ministries to coordinate with the Haryana and Chandigarh administrations to ensure smooth execution, from logistics to public engagement tracks.
The festival venue will feature student innovation zones, interactive exhibits, and citizen-science displays, making it a participatory experience rather than just a showcase.
Officials including Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Earth Sciences Secretary Dr. M. Ravichandran, Atomic Energy Secretary Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Biotechnology Secretary Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, CSIR DG Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, and representatives of Vijnana Bharati attended the meeting.
With Chandigarh gearing up to host IISF 2025, the new mantra is clear: startups in the spotlight, schoolchildren as science ambassadors, and communication hubs in every district—all set to turn the City Beautiful into a city of science and innovation.
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