SHINE Programme
Why in News?
- The second edition of ICMR-SHINE 2026 was conducted on 11–12 August 2026, with the programme concluding on 12 August, bringing biomedical and public-health research directly to school students across India.
- The nationwide initiative covered 83 locations across 31 States and Union Territories and was expected to reach around 30,000 students from Classes 9–12.
- SHINE = Science & Health Innovation for NextGen Explorers, an outreach initiative of the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
- It aims to expose young students to biomedical research, public health, laboratory science and innovation, encouraging them to consider scientific research as a career.
- The programme was inspired by the call for students to “spend a day as a scientist”, converting science education from classroom learning into practical exposure.
- Target Group: Students of Classes 9–12 from government, government-aided and private schools.
- Nationwide Reach: ICMR institutes, Model Rural Health Research Units (MRHRUs) and affiliated field units participated across 83 locations.
- Hands-on Learning: Students visited laboratories, witnessed demonstrations, participated in interactive sessions and interacted directly with ICMR scientists.
- Research Exposure: Activities covered themes related to health, nutrition, infectious diseases, viruses, biomedical science and public health.
- Student Research Competition: The 2026 edition also announced a nationwide student research competition to encourage continued scientific engagement beyond the programme.
- Scientific Temper: Promotes curiosity, evidence-based thinking and scientific inquiry among young learners.
- Research Pipeline: Helps create a future pool of health researchers, biomedical scientists and innovators.
- Rural Inclusion: By extending activities to remote and rural locations, SHINE reduces the concentration of research exposure in major cities.
- Public Health Awareness: Connects students with real-world challenges such as infectious diseases, nutrition and health technologies.
- Viksit Bharat 2047: Supports India's objective of developing a knowledge-driven, innovation-oriented economy.
