New Delhi: Bhagwan Birsa Munda Cell (BBMC) at IIT Delhi successfully organized an Exposure Visit for tribal school students from across the country on April 5^th, 2025 (Saturday), as part of Startup Mahakumbh 2025. The initiative brought together 99 high school tribal students registered under the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in India. As a part of this, the students were taken on guided tours of IIT Delhi’s advanced laboratories and research facilities, offering them firsthand exposure to the institute’s cutting-edge innovations and vibrant research ecosystem.

Mr. Robin Rathore, Research Scholar at Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Delhi under the guidance of Prof. Vivek Kumar, Head, CRDT & Coordinator, BBMC, IIT Delhi, welcomed the participants.

                                                      Lab visits by the students (EMRS) on 5^th April, 2025

1. Makerspace –  Under the guidance of Prof. Jay Dhariwal, Department of Design, IIT Delhi, the students witnessed the live demonstrations of 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC routing, gaining insight into how each tool support rapid prototyping as well as innovation. Additionally, lab coordinator Mr. Narendra Sharma (Project Scientist, Makerspace, IIT Delhi) and his team introduced the students to electronics, PCB fabrication, as well as various hand and power tools.
2. Novel Materials and Interface Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics –Under the guidance of Prof. Rajendra S. Dhaka, Department of Physics and lab coordinator Mr. Madhav (Research Scholar, Department of Physics) with his team, the students were introduced to advanced scientific concepts like superconductors, particle accelerators and sodium-ion batteries. The sessions were interactive, featuring quizzes and hands-on activities to engage the students actively. They also gained insight into cutting-edge material synthesis techniques such as pulsed laser deposition, ball milling and arc melting, offering them a glimpse into the real-world applications of physics and materials science.
3. Mahatma Gandhi Gramodaya Parisar (Micro Model Complex), CRDT: In Biogas Lab, under guidance of Prof. Virendra Kumar Vijay, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, IIT Delhi and Dr. M. J. Sukhesh, BDTC Project Manager, the students were demonstrated about the technologies that function through renewable energy sources like cow dung. They were shown the biogas upgradation plant and learned about the application of biogas technology for making sustainable use of resources in their own regions/tribal areas.
4. Axlr8r, Central Workshop – Under the guidance of Prof. Jayanta Kumar Dutt, Department of Mechanical Engineering and the lab coordinators Ms. Manasi (Project Manager and Manufacturing Coordinator, Axlr8r) and Mr. Vedant (Senior Engineer, Axlr8r), the students were introduced to the latest FS vehicle XLR-25, and were showcased the chief features of a car, its speed, weight and its maximum acceleration.

The 3-day exposure visit was concluded with an interactive session between EMRS and IIT Delhi students that facilitated a meaningful exchange of ideas and aspirations. The session featured a presentation on the Janjaati Nayaks (heroes). It also included insights from the IIT student-led groups like AINA, SAVERA and ENACTUS.

1. AINA - A student group at IIT Delhi that organizes social activities on and off the campus, including teaching the underprivileged students. Each semester, they also travel across India to explore different cultures and grassroots challenges.
2. SAVERA - A student group at IIT Delhi that promotes rural entrepreneurship to tackle the root causes of rural-to-urban migration by addressing social, economic, and environmental issues in Madhya Pradesh villages.
3. ENACTUS - A student-led chapter creating impact through Project Jhabua, which promotes clean fuel and income generation for Bhil farmers, and Project Biolite, which promotes coconut waste for industrial applications.

The exposure visit was successfully coordinated by student volunteers from National Service Scheme (NSS), IIT Delhi and BBMC staff, Ms. Sonika Gupta, Project Scientist, BBMC, IIT Delhi and Ms. Ahana Choudhury, Research Associate, BBMC, IIT Delhi.