Bhubaneswar: The top 30 winners of the 19th edition of the Tata Steel Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2025 were felicitated at a grand finale event in Bhubaneswar. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare and Science and Technology Krushna Chandra Patra, MLA Dusmanta Kumar Swain, and senior officials from the government and Tata Steel.
The YATS programme, organised by Tata Steel in collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium, aims to nurture young talent and inspire school children to explore science, astronomy, and space research. Over 76,700 students participated in the programme this year, with 30 winners selected from 60 finalists across the state.
Minister Patra congratulated the winners, saying, “I congratulate all the winners of the Young Astronomer Talent Search and wish them luck to carry forward the legacy of the great mathematician and astronomer Pathani Samanta.”
Chithra Arumugam, Additional Chief Secretary, Science and Technology, highlighted the collaborative spirit between the government and Tata Steel, saying, “The Young Astronomer Talent Search programme is a vibrant testament to this partnership, celebrating young students with a natural curiosity and interest in science.”
D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said, “YATS is not just a competition—it is a tribute to the legacy of Pathani Samanta and a celebration of Odisha’s scientific spirit.”
The winners will soon visit an ISRO facility, where they will interact with top scientists and explore India’s cutting-edge space research programmes.
