IIT Mandi Launches Science on Wheels for Schools Across Himachal Pradesh

IIT Mandi has launched the Himachal Pradesh phase of its “Science on Wheels” programme, a mobile science education initiative designed to bring practical learning activities to school students, particularly in rural areas. The programme is being run with Plaksha University and the Igniting Dreams of Young Minds (IDYM) Foundation, with support from the Department of Science and Technology through the National Council for Science and Technology Communication.

The Himachal Pradesh segment was launched on October 17, 2026, at IIT Mandi Campus School. The initiative plans to reach 50 schools across five districts. Its activities are intended for students in Classes VI to XII, with about six hours of learning at each school.

Programme details

Detail	Information
Launch date	October 17, 2026
Launch venue	IIT Mandi Campus School
Planned reach	50 schools in Himachal Pradesh
Districts named	Mandi, Kullu, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra
Intended classes	Classes VI to XII
Learning time	About six hours at each school

Four themes bring classroom science to life

Students will take part in learning activities covering space technology, robotics, sustainability and water filtration. The format is designed to connect scientific ideas taught in class with demonstrations and experiments. At the launch, students watched a live hydro-rocket demonstration illustrating force, pressure and motion.

The programme has already begun visiting schools in Mandi district. The Ministry of Education’s announcement names Government Senior Secondary Schools in Badog, Baggi (K), Bari Gumanu, Batheri and Deori among the initial visits. The organisers say the programme will extend to other districts in the coming weeks.

Important dates

Date	Event
October 17, 2026	Himachal Pradesh segment launched at IIT Mandi Campus School
October 26, 2026	Ministry of Education announcement published by the Press Information Bureau
Coming weeks	Programme expected to extend from Mandi to other named districts

What students and schools should know

The announced coverage is a programme plan; the public release does not provide a school-by-school visit calendar, application form, nomination procedure or deadline. Students and parents should check with their school for confirmed visit details. School administrators seeking participation information can contact IIT Mandi or the programme partners through their official channels.

The initiative follows earlier activity in Chhattisgarh and Punjab, where the announcement says it reached more than 7,500 students across 70 schools. For Himachal Pradesh, the stated goal is to make hands-on science experiences more accessible and encourage curiosity, practical thinking and creativity among school students.