Kota (Raj) (PTI): Models of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, replicas of rockets and rovers, along with ISRO’s signature Space Science Bus, are drawing students in large numbers to a three-day space exhibition at the Rajasthan Technical University (RTU) here, officials said on Tuesday.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Exhibition from December 1-3 is being organised in collaboration with ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad. Visitors can get insights into India's technological capabilities, with film screenings, mission displays and direct interactions with ISRO scientists making the event an immersive learning experience, they said.

The exhibition is drawing school students in large numbers, officials said, adding that 688 students from 14 schools visited on the opening day.

According to officials, ISRO’s Space Science Bus, models of Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, launch pads, radar systems and various satellite technologies are some of the key attractions.

Additionally, multiple halls are showcasing replicas of rockets, rovers and mission components, while screening rooms are showing documentaries on India’s space capabilities. Students are also getting an opportunity to interact directly with ISRO scientists.

Kota South MLA Sandeep Sharma inaugurated the event on Monday. RTU Vice Chancellor Prof. Nimit Chaudhary presided over the ceremony, with ISRO scientists Neha Gaur Mishra and Dr S P Vyas, Prof. Dinesh Birla and Registrar Bhavna Sharma present as Guests of Honour.

Sharma highlighted India's growing global stature in space research and said that space remains one of the most intriguing frontiers of science. "India's recent lunar landing has positioned the country prominently on the world stage," he said.

Vyas outlined ISRO's journey -- from the early days of carrying rocket parts on a bicycle to Chandrayaan-3 and the ongoing preparations for Chandrayaan-4 and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission scheduled for 2028.

Highlighting India's cost-effective scientific progress, he noted that ISRO's 10-year budget equals NASA's single-year budget, yet India continues to achieve landmark successes.

Vyas emphasised that ISRO's contributions extend far beyond its lunar and Mars missions and pointed out that the organisation's satellites support critical applications in agriculture, mineral discovery, disaster management, water resource mapping, and environmental monitoring -- all of which were showcased at the exhibition.

RTU Vice Chancellor Chaudhary said the university aims to inspire young students and expose them to India’s expanding space research landscape

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Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.

Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.

He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.

Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.

He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.

Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.

He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.