Srinagar, July 25:In a significant boost to science education and innovation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has approved the establishment of a dedicated Innovation Hub at the upcoming Srinagar Science Centre. The project is being implemented under the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).
According to official documents, the Science Centre project in Srinagar is currently marked as “ongoing” and is expected to become a key platform for enhancing scientific awareness, particularly among school and college students.The Srinagar hub is one of four new Innovation Hubs being established across the country to offer hands-on learning, scientific experimentation, and creativity-driven engagement. Once operational, it will feature laboratory spaces, science kits, interactive workshops, training sessions, and mentoring facilities to nurture young innovators in the region.
With this addition, Jammu and Kashmir will join the existing national network of Innovation Hubs located in major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The move is expected to significantly bridge the gap in access to experiential science education in the Union Territory and promote a culture of scientific inquiry and problem-solving among youth.However, under the Museum Grant Scheme—another initiative by the Ministry of Culture that supports new museums and upgrades existing ones—no projects have been sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir so far. This suggests a potential opportunity for cultural institutions in the UT to propose initiatives in the near future.Likewise, Jammu and Kashmir has not been included under the Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) scheme, which currently funds 29 institutes across various states for tribal research, documentation, and cultural preservation.The upcoming Srinagar Innovation Hub, however, marks a crucial step forward in positioning the region within the national science ecosystem and promises to inspire a new generation of thinkers, innovators and scientific leaders in the heart of Kashmir.
