Guidelines for Registration in Vigyan Jyoti Program in Navodaya

In this article we providing information regarding latest Guidelines for Registration in Vigyan Jyoti Program in Navodaya for the year 2024-25.

General Guidelines and Instructions for Registration in Vigyan Jyoti Program in Navodaya 2024-25

The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has several women centric programs under KIRAN Division which provides various opportunities to women scientists and technologists. Most of the initiatives are related with research & development. To attract women in to STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) field, the DST started Vigyan Jyoti – School Component which added value in STEM education at school level. Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) is implementing partner of DST in Vigyan Jyoti Initiative.

The Vigyan Jyoti Program is aimed at bringing gender parity in STEM. The main objectives of this component are:

1. To motivate girl students towards career in STEM field
2. To enhance girls’ participation in underrepresented areas of STEM and ensure gender parity.
3. To provide enabling environment and add on in STEM education.
4. To give exposure of various scientific careers.
5. To counsel students as well as parents

Based on these objectives first phase of Vigyan Jyoti started in 58 Districts in collaboration with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti in year 2019-20 and at present it is running successfully in Phase IV (2023-24) in 250 JNVs. As the program supports both motivational and competency building activities, students are actively participating and showing a great enthusiasm for this program. Moreover, Principals and teachers are also earnestly conducting the year round activities as planned for Vigyan Jyoti. Looking at the potential of the program the extension and expansion of 50 more JNVs (Annexure A) is under process for this year (2024-25); thereby the program will be implemented in 300 JNVs (Annexure B). It will be an immense advantage to the girl students of Class IX–XII in achieving their goal as envisaged in this program. Higher Educational and Research Institutions of the country are Knowledge Partners (KPs) and are connected with Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) for continuous mentoring.

The broad guidelines of this Program are given below:

Roles and responsibilities of NVS for Vigyan Jyoti Program

1. ICoordinate with DST, JNVs for framing of schedule, implementation of activities, disbursement of funds, receiving UC/SEs and feedback.
2. Provide all administrative, physical, intellectual support to execute the Vigyan Jyoti Program.
3. Formulate a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) to effectively implement the Program.
4. Organize half yearly review meetings with relevant stakeholders to make course corrections.
5. Timely submission of UC&SE (in proper Performa) to DST for further sanction and release of funds.
6. Regular monitoring of implementation of all the activities by selected JNVs.
7. Provide periodic reports to DST about the progress of the Program.
8. Any other activity which helps in achieving objectives of the Program.

Roles and responsibilities of JNVs for Vigyan Jyoti Program

1. JNV will coordinate with Knowledge Partners (KPs), schools nearby and participating students while implementing all the activities defined under the Vigyan Jyoti program.
2. Will prepare a Vigyan Jyoti calendar at the beginning of academic year so as to proactively plan each activity well in advance.
3. Will ensure fair selection of participants as per the selection criteria.
4. Will ensure 90% attendance of all participants in all the activities.
5. Will ensure safety and security of the participants attending the activities.
6. Will ensure timely disbursement of scholarship to participants through digital/online mode only so that participants do not get de-motivated.
7. Provide timely feedback to the headquarters regarding the progress of the scheme.
8. Will submit timely Utilization Certificate & Statement of Expenditure (UC&SE) or other document as used appropriately in JNV system, to headquarters to ensure timely disbursement of funds.
9. Taking other novel initiatives with prior approval from the headquarters to make the scheme more attractive to the students.
10. Utilizing all the platforms available to increase awareness about the scheme in the district.
11. Any other responsibility rendered on them by the headquarters.

Responsibilities of selected students for Vigyan Jyoti Program

1. Proactively participate in all the activities defined under Vigyan Jyoti Program and maintains at least 90% attendance in all the activities.
2. To use the scholarship for augmenting study resources and to actively participate in Vigyan Jyoti activities.
3. To follow the rules and regulations of the JNV and Vigyan Jyoti Program.
4. To make best use of the available resources under Vigyan Jyoti program for a career in STEM.
5. Make aware other students studying in their school about Vigyan Jyoti program.

Eligibility of students in Vigyan Jyoti Program:

1. All the meritorious girl students of Science stream studying in Class XI and meritorious girl students of Class IX of centrally funded schools in a district, such as, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Army Public Schools (APSs), etc.
2. If 50 students are not filled from (I) above, then other government schools such as state government, municipality schools etc. may be considered for making class size of 50 students.

Methodology of Selection:

1. Class size of 50 students will be required for class XI to carry out all the activities proposed under Vigyan Jyoti Program. In case of Class IX number can exceed 50.
2. Selection of students/participants for all the activities defined under the program will be done by the Principal JNV who will also be the Nodal Officer for that district.
3. While selecting the participants preference order will be as follows:
   • a) First preference shall be given to students studying in JNV, implementing/coordinating the program, and shall include all the students studying in class IX and XI(Science Stream) of the said JNV.
   • (b) In case, class size of 50 students is not reached from (a) above, second preference shall be given to students from other centrally funded schools, such as KVs, APSs etc, located near the implementing JNV. In case of more than one such centrally funded schools are located near by the implementing JNV, the selection shall be made based on the merit of the student in Science & Maths and location of these schools from JNV.
   • (c) In case, class size of 50 students is not reached even from (a) and (b) above, third preference shall be given to students from other state government funded schools. In case of more than one such funded schools located near by implementing JNV, the selection shall be made based on the merit of the students in Science & Maths and location of these schools from JNV.
   • (d) Specific selection criteria to be followed by Principal JNV when more than one schools are located near JNV as mentioned in (b) and (c) is enclosed at Annexure-I and format of application from students of Class IX and XI is at Annexure-II and III respectively.

Activities for the Year 2024-25: Vigyan Jyoti Program

The following activities are proposed for Class IX-X and XI-XII:

Class IX-X Activities

1. Orientation Program
2. Student Parent Counselling
3. Interaction with role Model
4. Curriculum-based STEM Classes
5. Sessions towards the preparation of NTSE or other Olympiads
6. Science Festival/ Science Exhibitions/Science Conclave
7. Career Guidance Workshop
8. Visit to KP/Industry
9. Tinkering Activities/ Science Programs/Experiential Learning Classes
10. Coding Sessions
11. Poster Presentation on STEM Topics
12. Science Camps

Class XI & XII Activities

1. Orientation Program
2. Student Parent Counseling
3. Subject Specific Career Counselling
4. Resource Material to VJ Scholars
5. Academic Support Classes
6. ATL workshops / Science Programs
7. Interaction with Role Model
8. Science Camp for 5-7 days
9. Knowledge Partner Visits
10. Visit to KP/ R&D lab/ Industry Experiential Learning Classes /Workshops for Class XI-XII
11. Skill building Program/Training workshop in collaboration with industries and Engineering Colleges and KPs

Thanks to Beloved Readers.