India
Three Pune Students Earn Spots in National Science Internship After Clearing SPOT Test
Yaqub Bangi, Yassira Memon and Shubham Pariyar, all from Pune, have secured places in the Sarabhai Younglings Internship 2026 after successfully completing both rounds of the national SPOT science aptitude test run by the Vikram Sarabhai Science Foundation. The internship will give the students exposure to leading scientific institutions, including ISRO’s ISTRAC centre, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the India Meteorological Department and IIM Bangalore. Yaqub and Yassira attend K.C. Thackeray Vidya Niketan, while Shubham is a student at Epiphany High School. All three are Scholars in the Panaah Communities programme, a Pune‑based nonprofit that supports children and young people from low‑income neighbourhoods. Panaah’s Scholars programme focuses on strengthening academic abilities and preparing students for national‑level opportunities. According to Panaah, students in its Scholars group improved their performance on the Ei ASSET diagnostic assessment during the 2025‑26 academic year, moving from better than roughly one in four students nationally at the start of the year to better than about four in ten by the end. The SPOT test, conducted annually by the Vikram Sarabhai Science Foundation, identifies students with an aptitude for science and encourages them to ask questions, gather information, test ideas and apply what they learn. Shortlisted students gain access to science‑learning resources, interact with experts and participate in educational experiences. The Sarabhai Younglings programme offers selected students exposure to scientific work and institutions, with the 2026 batch featuring students from across India. The foundation reports that the programme includes interactions with scientists and learning sessions on topics such as satellite technology and weather forecasting. Panaah’s model, which begins with a Solvers programme for students struggling in foundational subjects and extends to a Scholars programme for high‑potential students, aims to prevent dropout by addressing academic difficulties early. Shoeb Sayed, Panaah’s co‑founder and executive director, describes the approach as a continuous pathway that builds opportunities within communities rather than expecting children to find them on their own. The selection of Yaqub, Yassira and Shubham demonstrates the impact of sustained guidance and access to opportunities, showing that talent can thrive regardless of a student’s neighbourhood or family circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Which institutions will the interns visit?
The internship includes exposure to ISRO’s ISTRAC centre, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the India Meteorological Department and IIM Bangalore.
What is the SPOT test?
The SPOT test, conducted annually by the Vikram Sarabhai Science Foundation, identifies students with an aptitude for science and encourages them to ask questions, gather information, test ideas and apply what they learn.
What improvement did Panaah Scholars achieve?
According to Panaah, students in its Scholars group improved their performance on the Ei ASSET diagnostic assessment during the 2025‑26 academic year, moving from better than roughly one in four students nationally at the start of the year to better than about four in ten by the end.