Learning becomes unforgettable when children are encouraged to explore, create, and discover on their own. Agastya International Foundation's self-learning resources are designed with this consideration in mind, they transformed learning from boring to an amusing journey of curiosity and innovation. Agastya offers a diverse collection of activity books, workbooks, design-thinking guides, STEM publications, and digital learning resources that encourage children to learn by doing. Publications such as My Media Workbook, Papertronics, Math Miracles, I See, and the Acti-Learn series present concepts through stories, experiments, puzzles, and creative challenges rather than old textbook explanations. These books make learning fun while helping children work on their critical thinking ability and problem-solving mindset. Papertronics is a thrilling mix between art and electronics. Children learn the basics of electricity while building paper circuits using simple materials. Students create greeting cards, artwork, and simple electronic designs, allowing them to discover scientific concepts through experimentation, not by memorizing formulas, making STEM learning fun and memorable. Math Miracles uses an easy, adventurous approach to teach maths through puzzles, games, patterns, and logic challenges. Children learn concepts through problem-solving and practical activities, developing reasoning, observation, and analytical thinking rather than learning math by memorizing formulas.This concept shows them how maths can be exciting and fun. The I See booklet contains over 20 fun activities to do with your child that develop observation skills, emotional awareness, creativity, and connection to the world around them. It encourages children to experiment and learn from their mistakes and supports them to become more confident, curious, and resilient. The program illustrates how experiential learning can teach lifelong skills and change the way children think about learning and everyday challenges. Acti-Learn Series is a series of hands-on STEM activities for independent learning. Every activity leads children through experiments, design challenges, and investigations using simple, readily available materials. This way they understand the way of trial and error, allowing them to learn from their mistakes and think critically while making decisions. Agastya’s philosophy is that children learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process, and Acti-Learn represents this. Aha! Konnect provides an online platform where children can showcase projects, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. The platform encourages collaboration, creativity, and innovation by allowing each other to share their projects and explore others. This platform allows children to learn from others and the ideas they have shared, creating an environment meant for growing and exploring. My Media Workbook is a fun, hands-on approach to introducing children to the world of media. Instead of merely explaining how media works, the workbook asks students to make stories, design posters, analyze adverts, and express their own ideas. The activities enable children to learn by making meaningful projects and develop creativity, communication skills, and critical thinking. Written By: Manya Bhurat, 9th Grade

A New Chapter for Science Learning at Kaffota Eleven Science Centres were inaugurated at Kaffota, Himachal Pradesh, in the presence of senior government officials, education leaders, and representatives from Nestlé India. Established in collaboration with the Government of Himachal Pradesh and supported by Nestlé India, these centres will bring hands-on science learning closer to children in government schools. The Science Centres will provide children with regular access to experiential STEM activities, helping them explore scientific concepts through observation, experimentation, and discovery. The programme also featured innovative science models created by children, along with cultural performances that celebrated their creativity, curiosity, and talent. Celebrating a Recognition for Coaching and Social Impact Agastya has been honored with the ICF India Coaching Excellence Awards 2026 – Social Change Award in the 201–2000 Employees category at the ICF India Coaching Conclave & Awards 2026. The award recognizes organizations that use coaching to address social challenges and create meaningful, measurable impact within communities. This recognition celebrates Agastya's commitment to creating a culture of continuous learning, leadership, and positive social change. It reflects the organization's belief in building people and strengthening communities through thoughtful coaching and development initiatives. Workshop on Creative Learning, Science, and Astronomy As part of the KV Raghavan Changemaker Fellowship Programme, Agastya collaborated with Tare Zameen Par Trust to conduct a three-day experiential learning workshop for 25 employees from 18 to 20 June 2026. The sessions introduced participants to Agastya's hands-on pedagogy, low-cost science models, astronomy, digital learning tools, and immersive learning approaches. The workshop received positive feedback from the participants, who appreciated its practical relevance and shared plans to incorporate these ideas into their educational initiatives. During the visit, Agastya also organized planetarium shows for 120 children at the Aequs Science Center, giving them an engaging opportunity to explore astronomy.

The Month That Was A roundup of last month’s news across Agastya programs. Hour of AI Through the Hour of AI summer camp initiative, children explored the basics of Artificial Intelligence through hands-on activities and real-world examples. The sessions encouraged them to observe and think critically about how AI is shaping the world around them. Aha! Katha Aha! Katha is a collection of creative stories developed by children in the Dhwani program. It reflects their thoughts and imagination while exploring the theme “The World Within, The World We See.” Media Mentions A glimpse of where Agastya's work has been featured. Agastya's new financial literacy initiative, highlighting its efforts to help children build practical money management skills through hands-on learning experiences. - OutlookIndia Agastya Story: A Podcast by IIM Ahmedabad

Stories as lessons and their Emotional Impact: When learning is connected with a child’s emotions, it leaves a long lasting impression on their minds, transforming facts into vibrant experiences. Kids love stories. If you teach them something in the form of a story, it is not boring for them. Such emotional investment acts as an anchor, helping children remember not only the information but also the feelings attached to their experiences. When educators connect learning to emotions, they can create lasting memories that fuel curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. This turns education into an engaging journey rather than a series of rote lessons. Importance of having a hands-on learning experience: For a child, understanding is rarely born from just listening; it is embedded through hands-on learning experiences, understanding, and applying concepts to solve real-world problems. Active learning shifts the student from a listener to an applier, transforming monotonous lessons into an immersive learning experience. When children apply what they have learnt, they start to develop analytical skills useful in everyday activities. By encouraging students to experiment, make mistakes, and innovate, we help them develop an understanding of how things work rather than having to recall facts by just listening. A world experienced through our senses: The world is learned through the senses, and learning is unforgettable when it is learned through sight, sound, texture, and even smell. Vibrant classrooms, muddy outdoor gardens, or science labs create immersive experiences that cannot be reached by textbook pages. When a child can hear the crackle of a reaction, feel the texture of a historical artifact, or see a concept through vivid imagery, they are experiencing learning in a way that sitting in a classroom can never reach. This sensory approach stands out in sharp relief against the background noise of everyday life and makes the learning experience memorable. Games + Education = New take on the world: Play is the language of childhood, and combining it with education creates an unknown level of motivation and concentration. Gamification is not about making education trivia-based, but using challenges, immediate feedback, and rewarding milestones to keep children engaged with difficult tasks. Purposeful play replaces the fear of failure with the excitement of another “try,” building academic resilience and a healthy approach to obstacles. When learning is presented as a quest or an exploration, teachers can turn difficult practice into an exciting and memorable adventure that will be thoroughly enjoyed by students. Learning through team work and social interactions: Since people are social creatures by nature and learn best in the presence of other learners, gaining information is not meant to be an isolated activity. Children learn much more in social environments where they must debate problems, share opinions, and cooperate to achieve a shared and imaginative goal. A child's understanding of his or her subject matter grows significantly clearer and more enduring through teaching another student about something, arguing for or against a certain point of view, or working on group projects. Written By: Manya, 9th Grade

Importance of AI literacy: AI literacy is an essential part of the modern day since it is crucial for survival and for navigating through the digital world safely. Knowledge about AI allows people to think creatively while solving problems and, therefore, allows them to expand their knowledge of technology and how AI works in different fields. As time moves forward, AI development will too, and AI literacy will no longer be a want; it will become a need because AI in today’s time is already unlocking career opportunities and building critical thinking. AI also boosts productivity by challenging us to think critically while making informed decisions in a world full of algorithms. AI literacy helps us understand that it is not just a boon but can also be a bane, producing misleading digital content. ⁠Preparing students for an evolving job market: As we all know, AI has taken the world by storm, and it is important to shift from rote memorization to teaching critical thinking, adaptability, and human-AI collaboration, especially given the numerous changes in the job market driven by AI. Not just this, but preparing students for the AI-driven workforce is essential because artificial intelligence is not simply replacing workers; it is efficiently automating routine work and performing tasks that were once beyond human capability. AI is redefining jobs, therefore making AI a baseline requirement for most modern-day careers. To succeed in an AI-driven job market, we must integrate AI literacy into education and training. AI and educational inequality in the Indian context: In India, AI in the education industry is like a double agent, because it provides personalized learning to one's understanding, but it also creates a massive digital divide in India’s public education system, which means that despite rapid digitalization, the underprivileged remain cut off from online learning. In the same way, this is the reason why 24% of government schools have access to the internet and online modes of learning, while students in the other 76% of schools without any access to AI or the internet. Even if AI tools are introduced to students in rural areas, it does not do them justice because most AI tools are only equipped in English, making it difficult to be used in different regional settings. AI-based grading systems often have historical biases, which cause them to favour urban-based outcomes, making them unfair towards students who have a rural background. Multilingual and diverse learning environments: Artificial Intelligence is really helpful in schools because it lets people who speak different languages learn together. It can translate things away and make sure everyone gets the information they can understand. This means teachers can make lessons that work for all their students, even if they are all different. Artificial Intelligence is very good at making sure everyone can learn, no matter what language they speak or how they learn best. It helps make sure all students feel included in the classroom. Artificial Intelligence does this by giving teachers the tools they need to make lessons that are just right for each student. Agastya joins hands with Code.org: Agastya has been working to bring AI into schools, enabling students to build skills through engaging learning experiences. In partnership with Code.org, the world’s largest provider of K–12 AI and computer science education, Agastya launched the “Hour of AI” program, which seeks to inspire students to explore artificial intelligence through interactive and creative activities, an awareness camp where students from across the globe are given a hands-on learning experience and introduced to the age of AI through interactive learning simulations, such as waste sorting and applying AI to certain real-world situations, like identifying real images from AI-generated images. Students will also learn how AI improves itself through learning about their surroundings and patterns they come across, allowing AI to make discoveries in the fields of education, health care, and the environment. Agastya International Foundation's philosophy believes in four C’s: curiosity, creativity, confidence, and care. Firstly, curiosity makes us observe the workings of AI. Secondly, creativity, questioning the boon and bane of AI. Next is confidence, students start to believe, and thus they apply AI in their day-to-day lives. This allows students to build awareness about AI while upholding society, ticking off the final factor, care. Written By: Manya, 9th Grade

"Looking at these buildings makes you want to study here." We were honored to welcome the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to Agastya’s Creativity Campus at Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh. During his visit, he inaugurated the state-of-the-art teacher transformation center, Agastya Vidyachal Academy, and laid the foundation for the Oberoi Visitor's Center and a learner's accommodation center. In an inspiring address to children, he emphasized the power of creativity and innovation. He praised the campus for its clean air and imaginative architecture. He remarked, “Looking at these buildings makes you want to study here.” His words resonated deeply, highlighting the unique environment Agastya fosters. He noted that the Agastya campus stands apart as the only hub bringing together so many innovations under one roof. He described it as a glimpse into the future of Andhra Pradesh and India. Watch his visionary speech above. Synquizitive Science Quiz Competition Synquizitive, an annual science quiz supported by Syngene, concluded its Bengaluru edition at the Science Gallery. This event brought together children to showcase their curiosity, teamwork, and scientific thinking. The atmosphere reflected the spirit of exploration. Participants engaged with challenging questions, collaborative problem-solving, and lively discussions that made science feel accessible and exciting. Led by Agastya’s ignators, the initiative has reached over 30,000 children across Karnataka and Telangana. It transforms science into an engaging, hands-on experience that encourages questioning, discovery, and joyful learning. Aha! Kollective Art & Creativity Fair Art, imagination, and emotions came together at the Aha! Kollective Art & Creativity Fair. This five-day celebration took place at Agastya’s Creativity Campus in Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh. This year’s edition included six zones filled with immersive installations, workshops, and galleries. The theme was “The World Within and The World We See.” Over 2,500 children, 40 Young Instructors, and 30 college volunteers participated in the fair, supported by Adobe Systems India Pvt. Ltd. Anveshana Science and Engineering Fair Anveshana Science and Engineering Fairs are bringing together young innovators across India to explore innovation and engineering. Focused on semiconductors, AI, and innovation for rural India, the fairs have sparked immense curiosity and hands-on learning. This year, over 2,500 project ideas were submitted. Additionally, 260 engineering students and 260 children worked alongside Agastya Ignators to build and solve real-world problems. The fairs welcomed over 5,000 visiting children, turning each space into a hub of exploration and imagination. Organized in collaboration with Samsung Semiconductor India Research in Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad, and with Synopsys in Bhopal, Anveshana brings young innovators together in meaningful ways. The Impact of Creativity in Education Creativity plays a crucial role in education. It fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By engaging in creative activities, children learn to express themselves and explore new ideas. This is essential for their personal development and future success. At Agastya, the focus is on STEAM learning. This approach integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. It encourages students to think outside the box. They learn to collaborate and innovate. This is vital for the next generation of leaders and thinkers. Join the Movement You can be part of this transformative journey. By supporting initiatives like Agastya, you contribute to a brighter future for underserved children and teachers across India. Together, we can empower 100 million children and 1 million teachers by 2032 through creativity and innovation.

A New Space to Look Up and Wonder The Akasha Astronomical Observatory was inaugurated at Agastya Campus Creativity Lab, Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh, on 21st March 2026. The inauguration was held in the presence of Dr. M. A. Ramaswamy and his family, along with Phani Tangirala and his team Set under clear, unpolluted skies of the Campus, the observatory is equipped with advanced telescopes and a fully functional dome that allows children to observe planets, nebulae, and distant galaxies in remarkable detail. It opens up space not just as a concept but as something they can see, question, and explore, turning curiosity into a hands-on learning experience that stays with them long after the night sky fades. The endeavor has been made possible through the generous support of the family of Dr. M. A. Ramaswamy and Expleo Solutions Limited. A Shared Win for Sustainability Agastya is honored to receive the Karnataka Excellence Award for Transformational Impact in Plastic Waste Management at the Karnataka Awards 2026. The award recognises ITC Limited and Agastya’s efforts to build a sustainable future through the YiPPee! Better World hosted a Plastic Waste Management Awareness Program, supported by ITC Limited. Dilip Kumar Gowda, Chief Experience Officer, Karnataka, accepted this prestigious award from the National Excellence Council on behalf of Agastya. Exploring the World Through Data: DataVerse Expo 2026 Agastya hosted the DataVerse Expo 2026 at the Campus Creativity Lab in Gudivanka, showcasing innovative projects created by children in the NetApp Data Explorers Lab, supported by NetApp Inc. With 42 teams presenting projects linked to real-world challenges and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Expo became a vibrant space where children shared ideas and learned from one another beyond classrooms. The event saw participation from over 500 children, offering them a glimpse into viewing the world through a data lens, asking questions and building practical solutions. The NetApp Data Explorers Lab at Agastya’s campus is an experiential learning space designed to equip students with hands-on data literacy and real-world problem-solving skills. The lab comprises two fully equipped classrooms, each with 15 high-end computers, and delivers a data science curriculum developed in collaboration with TERC and The Tech Interactive. The learning experience is further enhanced through the use of CODAP, enabling students to explore, analyse, and derive insights from data through inquiry-led learning.

The K. V. Raghavan Changemaker Fellowship Launch Forum Inspired by Founder Trustee Shri K. V. Raghavan’s belief that “people matter most,” this fellowship brings together changemakers to learn, collaborate, and grow together. The journey began with a 5-day launch forum at the Agastya Creativity Campus, Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh, bringing together educators, innovators, and leaders from 21 organizations across India, all rethinking education in their own contexts. More than a gathering, the forum created space for dialogue, reflection, and co-creation through immersive sessions, conversations, and shared experiences. Participants also engaged closely with distinguished guests, gaining insights through talks and one-on-one interactions. National Recognition for Plastic Waste Awareness Initiative Agastya International Foundation has been recognized at the National Excellence Awards 2026 for its work in advancing awareness on plastic waste management through the YiPPee! Better World program, supported by ITC Limited. The initiative has reached over 2 million children across 22 states, bringing practical, easy-to-understand conversations on plastic waste into everyday learning spaces. Through simple, hands-on activities and discussions, children are beginning to look at waste differently and think about their role in reducing it. This recognition highlights a growing movement where awareness is turning into everyday action, with children emerging as igniters of change within their homes and communities. Agastya's Annual Employees' Meet at the Campus Creativity Lab Prerana, Agastya’s Annual Employees meet, brought together teams from across India under one roof to reflect, question, and realign at the Campus Creativity Lab, Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh, from 23 to 25 April 2026. Through open conversations and shared experiences, teams explored how collaboration shapes the way we work and move forward together. Different roles, one purpose returning with clearer direction and stronger connections. Bringing Hands-on Science to Children with Gurukrupa Foundation Over the past year, a Mobile Science Lab (MSL), supported by the Gurukrupa Foundation, has been bringing hands-on science learning to schools across Thiruvallur, Chennai, reaching over 2,000 children. Through simple and interactive experiments, children are exploring scientific concepts in a more engaging and practical way. The sessions have seen enthusiastic participation, with children actively asking questions, experimenting, and learning through direct experience. The initiative has also received encouraging support from schools and local communities, reflecting a growing interest in making science learning more accessible and enjoyable for children.

One day, my wife told me, “Ani, let us remove this digital clock and put an analog clock.” A little puzzled, I asked, “Why?” She replied that numbers are being introduced to Sriranga, our 4-year-old son, in his Montessori school. I felt it was a good idea, as school and home should complement each other in a child's learning. On the same day, we brought a simple analog clock with decimal numerals, removed the digital clock, and hung the ‘new’ one on the wall. Though we thought this would help him familiarize himself with the numbers and their ordering, we were greatly surprised by the benefits it brought. The emergent learning was much more than intended! The clock quietly became his companion. Six months later, he could not only recognize the numbers on the clock but also: Identify the long and short arms, Distinguish which arm moves faster, Think about what number comes after another number, Recognize which number is greater. AI generated image In addition to this, it also brought some sense of discipline and a common ground for agreement. Whenever his mother asks him to come for lunch or go to bed, he looks at the clock and negotiates, saying, “let the big arm come to...” — and he follows it. A great relief for parents! D. V. Gundappa, one of Kannada’s greatest poets, wrote:“ಎಳೆ ಮಕ್ಕಳೊಳು ತಿಳಿವು ಮೊಳೆತು ಬೆಳೆವುದು ನೋಡು, ಇಳೆಯೊಳಗದೊಂದು ಸೊಗ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ”(One of the greatest joys in the world is to watch a young child learn and grow.) This joy is amplified when parents and adults facilitate it — not by constantly instructing, but by creating environments where learning occurs naturally. This highlights that engaging children with some old analog systems gives them more scope to conceptualize and connect ideas. However, we are overwhelmingly surrounded by ‘digital’ visuals. Sometimes, we need to take a step back for the sake of learning. We are now thinking of bringing back the calendar, hanging it on the wall, and referring to it in his presence. We are excited! Based in Mysuru, Karnataka, Ananthnag M works with Agastya’s Teacher Transformation Program.

Education, at its core, is meant to be the nurturing of a human being—the mind, the heart, and the soul. With the evolution of its meaning in today’s time, education seems to have been reduced to a formula for earning a livelihood. It’s more or less basically a linear progression—grades, college, job, salary—one after the other, with no time to pause or sigh. And it is t his perspective that has stripped education of off its deeper purpose. Of course, the obvious fear of survival is natural, and while it is valid, there is also a certain fear that modern society has cultivated and wrapped around itself, that masks any sort of creativity and self-reflection.   What education should really be about is going beyond acquiring skills or knowledge; It should open doors to understanding, curiosity, connection, and help us engage substantially with the world. It is not about preparation for an exam or a career – that’s called mugging up. It is in fact a preparation for life itself, and it begins with understanding ourselves. As kids, in schools, all we did was attend classes from 9 to 3, teachers read out of prescribed textbooks, made us copy notes and answers, appear for exams with a need for good grades, while what we really needed was a holistic environment. Luckily enough, I had the opportunity to experience such type of schooling and receive that kind of education where I grew as a person, and not just as a student. When I was in the 6th grade in Rishi Valley School (KFI), we had an unusual homework in the module of ‘living organisms’ given to us by our science teacher: to choose a tree anywhere around the valley, sit with it every day for an hour or longer if we wished to, and become friends with it. In the vast green campus that we had, I decided to choose the Krishnamurti Banyan Tree, in short, the KBT. Each day, I would sit under its shade, noticing its rough bark, the ants crawling up its trunk, and seeing it sway with the wind. At first, it seemed a bit silly- how does one even become friends with a TREE. Puzzler. But eventually I think I came around to understand it. I gave it a shot by starting to talk to the tree. I would tell it about my day, share my thoughts that I would never share with anyone, and sometimes just sit quietly, listening to it rustle. Overtime, what started as a homework, began feeling like a friendship – a quiet grounded friendship. I felt a connection and an attachment that was as comforting as a warm hug.   It’s been 10 years now, and I still somewhat grapple with the purpose of this assignment. To get some clarity, I called up my teacher to ask what the purpose was. She said that it was to understand that learning does not have to be something technical, academic, and something that merely books can give. It is this spiritual learning that is also required, which helps us connect with nature, and be with another being. It wasn’t just about observing the physical aspects of the tree, rather also about having a relationship with it. A friend of mine had her own profound experience with her tree. Struggling with homesickness at a boarding school, she sought solace beneath her tree. There, she wept for an hour, and in the quiet embrace of the tree, she found a strange kind of comfort—a soothing presence that seemed to heal her in ways words cannot describe. We always see the world very materialistically, as members so used to this urban society. A PhD in Agriculture might be one of the highest degrees, but it’s the farmer who is far more knowledgeable, because he is the one who has lived-connected with the earth.   And this is what I would call holistic growth. This exercise taught me patience, empathy, and how to pay attention. Education like this goes beyond academics. It teaches us how to live fully, to question with curiosity, to care for the world deeply, and it took me nine schools to understand this.   This connection with nature is one of the fundamentals of right education. We are all aware of the ways of the world and the way life becomes so frenetic, that you have no time to pause and think. For this, I think nature has a remarkable ability to clear the mind, allowing us to see things more clearly, and to be more in contact with yourself. Moolikavana, conceptual garden at Agastya Agastya here, has made that possible by building a sustainable space for learning rooted in local biodiversity of Kuppam. Its conceptual garden like the Moolikavana is thoughtfully designed to establish an “umbilical connection with human anatomy” as observed by Dr. Yelappa Reddy. The unique design of Moolikavana intertwines science and spirituality. By aligning each medicinal plant with the corresponding part of the human body it heals, the garden serves the fact of our interdependence with the natural world. It reinforces how the body and nature are intrinsically linked. So, if you ever find yourself disconnected and frenetic, take a walk and talk to a tree.

In the Inspirational Indians series of Agastya, Arvind Gupta, a renowned educator and a toy inventor, has spent decades demonstrating how simple, low-cost toys made from discarded materials can be powerful tools for learning. One of the most striking examples he shares is his spinning top. The spinning top is a perfect instance of how sustainability and education can go hand in hand. Instead of relying on mass-produced plastic toys, Arvind Gupta repurposes everyday waste like bottle caps, cycle spokes, and old CDs—into engaging learning tools. Everything has a life—objects, materials, even the things we discard without a thought. An ink cartridge could have been refilled, a bottle cap could have spun a little longer, a chips packet could have been woven into something. But so often, we cut their stories short, treating them as disposable rather than unfinished. The question is why do we not wonder more about where things could go instead of where they came from? Why is waste always an ending, and never a possibility? Education, in its truest sense, should not just fill minds but open them, to the idea that creation doesn’t always require something new, that making and remaking are part of the same cycle. A child who learns to build a spinning top from a discarded CD is discovering, and seeing, maybe for the first time, that an object’s purpose is not rigid, that imagination can stretch the lifespan of things. And isn’t that a kind of intelligence too? To look at what others throw away and see not loss, but potential? Perhaps waste is not about what is no longer useful. Perhaps it is about what we fail to see. Here Arving Gupta's philosophy extends far beyond a single toy. He has designed hundreds of science experiments and toys using upcycled materials, from balloon-powered cars made from used pens to matchstick bridges and paper circuits. This approach not only reduces environmental waste but also makes science more accessible to children everywhere. It teaches more than just physics or engineering; it nurtures a mindset of resourcefulness and sustainability. In a world struggling with excessive waste, Arvind Gupta’s work is a reminder that innovation doesn’t always require high five techniques and materials because sometimes, the best solutions are hidden in the bin. Just like Geppetto, who turned a block of wood - something perished - into Pinocchio - something so real and alive, Arvind Gupta breathes new life into the forgotten.

InnoFest, Vidya Vahini, National Science Fair InnoFest 2026, the National Science Fair at the National Science Centre, New Delhi, brought together young innovators from 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for two lively days of exploration and hands-on learning. Organized under the Vidya Vahini Program in collaboration with Hyundai Motor India Foundation, the event saw 42 children present 29 science models. Each project reflected curiosity and a strong connection to real-world challenges, shaped through hands-on learning with Agastya Ignators. Curated tours of the National Science Centre added to the experience, while over 1500 participants turned InnoFest 2026 into a vibrant space for ideas and innovation. Jignyasa: National Level Science Model Making Competition The National Level Jignyasa Event 2026 took place in Pune on February 17–18, in partnership with Samsung Semiconductor India Research. What began as a nationwide wave of ideas with over 4,300 student projects and 300+ Teaching Learning Material (TLM) submissions from 24 states, came together on one stage. From 40+ regional events, 77 student projects and 22 teacher innovations made it to the national showcase. With more than 2,000 people in attendance, event buzzed with curiosity and innovation, alongside panel sessions featuring scientists and educators who brought fresh perspectives on learning. The 4Cs - Curiosity, Creativity, Confidence, and Caring formed the heart of Ramji Raghavan’s public lecture at Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag. Drawing from his journey as the Founder and Chairperson of Agastya, he spoke about how curiosity leads to deeper exploration and growth. The session left the audience with a simple yet powerful thought: a small spark of curiosity can become the ignitor for lifelong discovery. Young Innovators from Kuppam Win Gold at IRIS National Fair Children from Agastya’s Innovation Hub in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, have won the Gold Medal at the IRIS National Fair 2025–26 , held in Ahmedabad, for their project, “Innovative Wheelchair for Limb-Impaired Users.” Their idea stood out for its thoughtful design and real-world relevance, showing how young minds can turn empathy into innovation. Competing alongside 60 other projects, the team of young innovators presented a solution that addressed the problem of inclusivity in manner that reflected caring and empathy. Gomia Welcomes Indradhanush: A Celebration of Science, Creativity, and Discovery The Indradhanush STEM science exhibition was held at PITTS Modern School in Gomia, Jharkhand, on 2 February 2026. The event saw the participation of 450 children and welcomed over 5,000 visitors, turning the day into a vibrant celebration of science and imagination. From Pinpricks to Oceans | Adhirath Sethi | TEDxKristu Jayanti University A young Einstein captivated by a compass, and a child in rural India discovering science through a simple experiment - these were some of the stories that set the tone at TEDx Kristu Jayanti University. Adhirath Sethi, Board of Trustees member at Agastya International Foundation, connected these moments through reflections on how curiosity, when nurtured through hands-on learning, can reshape how children engage with science and the world around them. His talk drew from Agastya’s 25-year journey, chronicled by him in The Moving of Mountains .