IIT Delhi STEM Mentorship Programme 2026: Manasvi's 5th Batch Trains 120 Government School Girls in Hands-On STEM
IIT Delhi ran the 5th edition of the Manasvi: STEM Mentorship Programme for High School Girls in May 2026 , where about 120 students from Classes 9 and 10 of government schools across Delhi-NCR took part, according to an official press release.
IIT Delhi STEM Mentorship Programme 2026 — summer phase highlights
The summer phase combined academic leadership talks, makerspace workshops and lab sessions. Director Rangan Banerjee said the programme “is designed to improve female representation in STEM careers,” adding that the structure mixes alumni talks, faculty lectures and hands-on activities so students can explore engineering and science paths.
Makerspace activities introduced students to basic electronics and renewable energy. Participants learned electric circuits and built their own solar lamps under supervision from the institute’s makerspace team.
IIT Delhi STEM Mentorship Programme 2026 — labs, experiments and resilience talks
The final day of the summer phase took place at the Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology. Girls performed molecular biology experiments described as “fun, and engaging,” which included agarose gel electrophoresis and a simple DNA extraction exercise.
They also ran an emulsion index assay, testing biosurfactants mixed with oil and observing emulsion layers. These hands-on modules were designed to make laboratory methods tangible for young learners.
A special session by Squadron Leader Neha Devi focused on grit and perseverance, offering a role-model perspective from a senior woman in uniform.
Student reactions were positive. Mansi Panherka, a Class 11 student at KV Sector-12, said: “Learned about civil and mechanical engineering, their contribution to society, and the importance of female participation in STEM fields. The session also made STEM subjects feel more interesting and encouraged me to think beyond stereotypes with more confidence.”
Meenakshi Pandey, a Class 9 student from KV Gole Market, described the lab work: “We participated in hands-on activities there (in the lab), which I thoroughly enjoyed. First, we performed agarose gel electrophoresis, where manually loading the samples into the wells was a truly amazing experience. Next, we did another activity to extract DNA from a banana. Finally, we conducted an emulsion index assay, where we mixed biosurfactants into oil and observed the resulting emulsion layer.”
What comes next
IIT Delhi plans year-round engagement through monthly STS-Spins lectures and follow-up activities. The winter phase for the 5th cohort is scheduled for January 2027 . The programme targets girls from government high schools in Delhi-NCR and aims to encourage sustained interest in STEM careers.
The official press release from IIT Delhi lists these initiatives as part of a broader outreach to improve female representation in science and engineering.