From Indiatimes · TOI Lifestyle Desk · · 2m
Pune Students Qualify for Sarabhai Younglings Internship
Three Pune schoolchildren earn national science internship through SPOT test success.
In brief
Three Pune schoolchildren earn national science internship through SPOT test success. Yaqub Bangi, Yassira Memon and Shubham Pariyar from Pune's low-income areas qualified for the Sarabhai Younglings Internship after clearing the national SPOT science aptitude test. Originally reported by Indiatimes.
Three Pune students qualify for Sarabhai Younglings Internship
Yaqub Bangi, Yassira Memon and Shubham Pariyar earned places in the Sarabhai Younglings Internship 2026 after clearing both rounds of the national SPOT science aptitude test.
SPOT test identifies science aptitude
The Vikram Sarabhai Science Foundation's annual SPOT assessment identifies students with science aptitude and encourages deeper understanding through practical learning.
Internship includes top institutions
Selected students gain exposure to ISRO, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Indian Meteorological Department and IIM Bangalore through the Sarabhai Younglings programme.
Students attend specific schools
Yaqub and Yassira study at K.C. Thackeray Vidya Niketan while Shubham attends Epiphany High School in Pune.
Panaah Communities support
All three students are Scholars at Panaah Communities, a Pune-based nonprofit working with children from low-income neighbourhoods.
Scholars programme details
Panaah's Scholars programme helps students strengthen academic abilities and prepare for national-level science and mathematics competitions.
SPOT test results improve
Students in Panaah's Scholars group improved their performance on the Ei ASSET diagnostic assessment from better than one in four nationally to better than four in ten during 2025-26.
Early intervention model
Panaah starts working with children as early as Grade 4 through its Solvers programme to address foundational academic gaps before they become serious issues.
Scholars programme impact
The Scholars programme provides additional guidance for students interested in academics and helps them prepare for science and mathematics competitions.
Panaah's three-stage approach
Panaah organises its work around three stages: Solvers for foundational support, Scholars for academic preparation, and Professionals for career transition.
Why early support matters
Panaah's model addresses school dropout risks by intervening early when children struggle with reading or mathematics in middle grades.
Co-founder explains approach
Panaah co-founder Shoeb Sayed describes the organisation's approach as a continuous pathway from academic support to career opportunities.
Students' achievement significance
Three students from Pune's underserved neighbourhoods cleared a national science assessment and earned a place in a programme connecting classroom learning with real-world science.
Talent beyond circumstances
With sustained guidance and access to opportunities, curiosity can become the starting point for bigger possibilities despite neighborhood or family circumstances.
The big picture
Yaqub Bangi, Yassira Memon and Shubham Pariyar from Pune's low-income areas qualified for the Sarabhai Younglings Internship after clearing the national SPOT science aptitude test.
