Science Safar 2026 Brings Hands-On Learning to Gandhinagar
Science Safar 2026: 4,100 Students from 82 Gandhinagar Schools Visit Gujarat Science City
Around 4,100 school students from 82 schools across Gandhinagar district are visiting Gujarat Science City as part of Science Safar 2026, a programme designed to give children practical experience of science and technology outside their classrooms.
Organised by Gujarat Science City in collaboration with the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), the programme began its first phase with a focus on students from rural and remote areas. The initiative is scheduled to run throughout the 2026–27 academic year, with visits planned until February 2027.
The programme gives students a chance to see how scientific ideas work in real life. Through interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and educational activities, children can explore subjects they usually study through textbooks.
For students from villages and remote parts of Gandhinagar district, the visits also offer access to science facilities that may not be available in their schools.
The Hall of Space takes visitors through space exploration, India’s space programme and missions such as Chandrayaan-3. Its exhibits include a simulated journey through the solar system and a ride that recreates a trip to Mars. The Robotics Gallery introduces visitors to developments in robotics, while the Aquatic Gallery gives them a closer look at marine life through large aquarium displays.
These facilities give children different ways to learn about subjects they may find difficult in a classroom. A student studying electricity, for example, can see how movement produces electrical energy through an interactive exhibit. Similarly, a visit to the space gallery can help explain topics related to planets, space travel and India’s scientific work.
Gujarat Science City was established by the Gujarat Government through the Gujarat Council of Science City, which was registered on 10 August 1999. The centre operates under the state’s Department of Science and Technology and covers more than 107 hectares. Its purpose includes making science accessible to the public through exhibitions, working models, laboratories, demonstrations and interactive activities.
A major expansion took place on 16 July 2021, when Gujarat Science City 2.0 was inaugurated. New attractions, including the Robotics Gallery, Aquatic Gallery and Nature Park, added to the centre’s existing facilities. The expansion brought more opportunities for visitors to explore scientific and natural subjects.
Science Safar 2026 also reflects a wider effort to take science education beyond school buildings. The Gujarat Council on Science and Technology supports science education and public awareness through programmes such as district science centres, exhibitions, seminars, science lectures and activities outside regular school hours.
Such activities can help students connect what they read in textbooks with things they can observe and test. They also give children opportunities to ask questions, examine evidence and understand how scientific ideas relate to everyday life. The value of these visits will depend partly on how well schools connect the experience with their regular lessons and encourage students to continue exploring after they return.
The programme has placed particular attention on students from rural and remote areas. Access to museums, laboratories and other learning facilities can vary between schools. Organised educational visits can give children who have fewer opportunities to use such facilities a chance to experience them directly.
Transport is an important part of the plan. The organisers have arranged travel through the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC), making it easier for participating schools to bring groups of students to the centre. Without transport support, the cost and planning involved in taking large groups on educational visits could limit participation.
The first phase covers approximately 4,100 students from 82 schools in Gandhinagar district. The programme is planned to continue until February 2027, with organisers seeking participation from schools in all districts of Gujarat. The total number of students expected to take part across the state has not been specified.
The wider reach of the programme will depend on how many schools join in the coming months, the availability of transport and the arrangements made for visits. Its district-based approach could also help schools that are located far from Ahmedabad gain access to facilities that offer practical science learning.
For the students visiting Gujarat Science City, the day offers a chance to see science in action. Their experience may also shape the questions they bring back to their classrooms, giving teachers fresh examples to use when explaining subjects such as physics, biology, engineering and technology.
The programme’s progress through February 2027 will provide a clearer picture of how many schools across Gujarat take part and how widely the visits reach students outside major urban centres. For now, the first phase has brought thousands of Gandhinagar students into direct contact with science exhibits and activities that extend their learning beyond school lessons.
