The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi launched the Science on Wheels programme in Himachal Pradesh on 17 October 2026. The initiative provides practical science-learning activities for school students, particularly those in rural areas.
Programme Partners and Coverage
IIT Mandi launched the programme in partnership with Plaksha University and the Igniting Dreams of Young Minds (IDYM) Foundation. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, supports the initiative. Professor Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi, inaugurated the Himachal Pradesh segment at IIT Mandi Campus School. The programme plans to visit 50 schools across five districts: Mandi, Kullu, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra. Before reaching Himachal Pradesh, it had reached more than 7,500 students in 70 schools across Chhattisgarh and Punjab.
Learning Activities and Subjects
The programme is intended for students from Classes VI to XII, with approximately six hours of activities at each school. Its four themes are space technology, robotics, sustainability and water filtration. Activities use practical experiments to connect scientific concepts with classroom learning. After the launch, the team began its visits in Mandi district. The first set of government senior secondary schools included those in Badog, Baggi (K), Bari Gumanu, Batheri and Deori.
Science Education and Institutional Context
The Department of Science and Technology is a department of the Government of India responsible for promoting science and technology. IIT Mandi is an institution of national importance located in Himachal Pradesh. Hands-on science activities commonly involve observation, experimentation and the application of scientific concepts. The programme’s school-based sessions bring learning activities to participating schools rather than requiring students to travel to a central facility. Its listed themes cover technology, environmental sustainability and water treatment.
Important Facts for Exams
- IIT Mandi is located in Himachal Pradesh.
- The Science on Wheels programme covers students from Classes VI to XII.
- The programme’s four themes include space technology, robotics, sustainability and water filtration.
- The five districts named for the Himachal Pradesh programme are Mandi, Kullu, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra.
The programme began its Himachal Pradesh school visits in Mandi district. The Department of Science and Technology supports the initiative.
