India, March 8 -- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's presentation of the state budget on March 6 highlighted two initiatives launched by the Pune Zilla Parishad with plans to replicate them across all districts.

Visits to national and international space research institutions for zilla parishad school students and the project to empower single women have benefitted many in Pune.

Under the space exposure programme, meritorious school students are given the opportunity to visit leading space research organisations such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

"Following its success in Pune district, the state government has decided to scale up the initiative so that st...