Odisha student Soumyashree Thanapati wins National Science Seminar 2026

Soumyashree Thanapati of Odisha won the National Science Seminar 2026 at the National Science Centre in Delhi. She competed against 34 participants from Indian states and Union Territories. The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Ministry of Culture, organised the competition.

Seminar and Awards

The 2026 seminar’s theme was “India’s Energy Reserves 2047: Opportunities and Challenges”. Thanapati studies at Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya in Jharsuguda. She received a trophy, a certificate and a scholarship of ₹48,000 as the winner. The NCSM has organised the annual seminar since 1965.

Important Facts for Exams

• Science communication remit: NCSM is an autonomous scientific organisation under the Culture Ministry, communicating science through a network of museums and science centres across India.
• Network structure: NCSM's network comprises 24 science centres or museums, alongside a separate research-and-development laboratory and training centre.
• CSIR separation: NCSM took shape when Kolkata and Bangalore's existing science museums, together with Mumbai's planned museum, were separated from CSIR and placed under a new society.