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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Kaleidoscope

A pilgrim kisses a child before departing for a pilgrimage to gurdwaras in Pakistan ahead of Baisakhi festival, at the India-Pakistan Attari-Wagah border in Attari on Friday. Bollywood actor Mrunal Thakur during the special screening of film 'Dacoit Ek Prem Katha' in Mumbai on Thursday. School teachers and students perform 'Bhangra', a traditional folk dance, ahead of the Baisakhi festival in a wheat field near Jammu on Friday. Members of the public arrive to attend Ladies Day, the second day...

Kaleidoscope

A pilgrim kisses a child before departing for a pilgrimage to gurdwaras in Pakistan ahead of Baisakhi festival, at the India-Pakistan Attari-Wagah border in Attari on Friday. Bollywood actor Mrunal Thakur during the special screening of film 'Dacoit Ek Prem Katha' in Mumbai on Thursday. School teachers and students perform 'Bhangra', a traditional folk dance, ahead of the Baisakhi festival in a wheat field near Jammu on Friday. Members of the public arrive to attend Ladies Day, the second day of the Grand National Horse Racing festival, at Aintree racecourse near Liverpool, England, on Friday. A worker unloads sacks of wheat grain at a warehouse in Bhopal on Friday.

Igniting Young Minds for a Scientific India

Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan is a nationwide movement to cultivate a scientific temperament.

India’s progress in science and technology rests upon sparking curiosity and nurturing creativity among its young people. To achieve the ambitious target of becoming a 50-trillion-dollar economy by 2047—marking a century of Independence—the nation is expected to allocate more than 6.5% of its GDP towards Research and Development. Such a transformation will only be possible if strong, inquisitive young minds develop a scientific outlook and demonstrate the willingness to contribute meaningfully through innovation, discovery, and action.


In this context, Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM)—India’s largest app-based science talent search—has emerged as a dynamic platform that identifies promising students, nurtures their abilities, and inspires them to grow into the next generation of scientific leaders.


Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) is a joint initiative of Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), NCERT, and NCSM, supported by the Ministry of Education. Conducted in 14 Indian languages and open to students from Classes 6 to 11, it is much more than an examination – it is a nationwide movement to cultivate scientific temperament and a spirit of inquiry among the youth.


The inspiration

Inspired by the vision of Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and his dream of Ignited Minds, VVM seeks to evaluate not only academic knowledge but also a wider set of skills and awareness, including:

  • India’s rich scientific heritage

  • Awareness of modern research and discoveries

  • Logical reasoning and keen observational ability

  • Creativity, leadership, and teamwork


Building on this vision, VVM follows a carefully structured process to identify and nurture talent at every stage of a student’s journey.


Selection levels

  • School-Level Online Examination – A multiple-choice test of 100 questions designed to assess students’ understanding of India’s scientific contributions alongside fundamental concepts of science.

  • Advanced Online Examination – A more challenging assessment that emphasises analytical reasoning, with negative marking.

  • State-Level Camp – An engaging programme featuring hands-on experiments, group activities, and creativity-based tasks.

  • National Camp – A two-day event where top performers are awarded scholarships and internships at premier institutions such as ISRO, DRDO, CSIR, IITs, and IISERs. Those who excel at this stage are recognised as Himalayan Winners.


Success story

In 2024–25, more than 21,000 students from Maharashtra registered for VVM. Out of these, over 480 advanced to the State Camp, 48 went on to qualify for the National Camp, and 6 distinguished themselves as Himalayan Winners from Mumbai, Pune, Akola, and Buldhana. This outstanding achievement highlights the growing enthusiasm for science among young learners and the effectiveness of VVM in nurturing their potential.


Examination schedule

The Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) has announced the schedule for its 2025 school-level online examinations. The Level I exams will be conducted towards the end of October and the beginning of November, with separate dates allotted for different classes. Students of Classes VI and VII will take the test on 28 or 31 October, while those in Classes VIII and IX will appear on 29 October or 1 November. For Classes X and XI, the exam is slated for 30 October or 2 November. All Level I exams will be held online, with a 90-minute duration, between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. The Level II School-Level Online Examination, open to Classes VI to XI, will follow in November. Scheduled for 19 or 23 November, it will also be conducted within the same time window but will be shorter in duration, lasting 45 minutes.


Unique VVM

The Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) stands apart for several reasons. Its stress-free online examination format, coupled with a curriculum that balances modern science with India’s rich scientific heritage, makes it both engaging and meaningful. For registration and more information, please visit the website: www.vvm.org.in


(The writer is an innovator, environmentalist, freelance Science journalist. Views personal.)

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