Kerala is set to establish 300 science centres across the state to promote scientific thinking among 15 lakh young people, marking a major initiative to strengthen science awareness and inquiry-based learning. The programme, led by the Kerala State Higher Education Council, aims to encourage scientific temper, humanism and rational thinking among students and the wider public.

Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan is scheduled to inaugurate the first sub-centre of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Scientific Temper at Government Women's College, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, on November 4, 2026. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. Higher Education Minister Roji M. John will preside over the programme.

Kerala's Plan to Promote Scientific Thinking

The initiative aims to reach 15 lakh young people through 300 centres across Kerala. Rather than limiting science awareness to conventional classroom teaching, the programme seeks to develop curiosity, rational thinking and the ability to examine information through evidence.

The initiative will also extend beyond physical centres through online learning resources, educational handbooks and short video reels. These resources are expected to make scientific concepts more accessible to students and the wider community.

An online course on scientific temper, developed in association with the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), will also be launched as part of the programme.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Kerala State Higher Education Council, which is working to strengthen scientific awareness and encourage a culture of inquiry across the state.

A Constitutional Focus on Scientific Temper

The initiative also connects with the fundamental duties outlined in the Indian Constitution. Article 51A(h) calls upon every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism and a spirit of inquiry and reform.

The Constitution states:

"To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform."

This constitutional principle highlights the importance of encouraging people to question information, understand evidence and approach issues through rational thinking. Kerala's proposed science centres aim to bring this approach into wider public and educational engagement.

Siddharth Student Welfare App to Address Campus Safety

Alongside the science awareness programme, the state will introduce the Siddharth Student Welfare App to provide students with a confidential platform to report ragging and other campus-related concerns.

The application will allow students to submit complaints anonymously, including through audio recordings, and alert the concerned authorities about safety-related issues.

The app is named after J. S. Sidharthan, a 20-year-old veterinary student who died in February 2024 following an alleged ragging incident at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad.

The government is also considering a draft of the Siddharth Anti-Ragging Act to strengthen the legal framework for addressing ragging and establish a state-level anti-ragging commission.

Student Aspiration Survey to Understand Learners' Needs

The Kerala State Higher Education Council will also release a Student Aspiration Survey to understand the expectations and aspirations of students in higher education.

Together, the science centres, student welfare application and aspiration survey represent a broader effort to improve the higher education environment in Kerala. While the science centres aim to encourage curiosity and evidence-based thinking, the other initiatives focus on student safety and understanding learners' expectations.

Through these measures, Kerala is seeking to make education more inclusive, progressive and responsive to the needs of young people.