From classrooms to code: Students tackle real-world issues with innovation
Over 37,000 students from 660+ districts across India participated in a national-level innovation challenge, showcasing future-ready solutions under the banner of a transformative education and technology initiative. The event, held on June 15 at The Ashok, New Delhi, celebrated the creativity and impact-driven thinking of students from Grades 8 to 12.The program, organised in partnership with CIET-NCERT, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, and the UN Global Compact Network India, concluded with the felicitation of the top 10 student teams selected through a rigorous three-stage evaluation process. More than 250 guests attended the ceremony, including finalists, school representatives, and families.This year's competition saw over 5,600 tech-based project submissions under the theme 'Tech for Good'. Entries ranged from crime detection and environmental sustainability to public safety and rehabilitation. The top five projects were awarded scholarships ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 6 lakhs each, while finalists ranked 6 to 10 received Rs 25,000 each.The first prize went to Prateek Sethi from Odisha for developing an AI-powered criminal activity detection system using sensor-less Wi-Fi sensing, a non-intrusive surveillance solution aimed at public safety. Other winning innovations included:ArmX, a smart rehabilitation glove-robotic system for individuals with one-hand paralysis.Green Run for Green Souls, a project enabling wind-powered EV charging stations.An Arduino-Based LPG Leak Detector, enhancing domestic safety with automation.Trevive, a real-time tree health monitoring device built for environmental conservation.A special segment also spotlighted women scholars supported under the STEM-focused empowerment initiative for girls from underserved backgrounds, many of whom are now enrolled in top-tier institutes as first-generation graduates.The finale was hosted by tech expert Rajiv Makhni and attended by dignitaries such as Prof Indu Kumar (CIET-NCERT), Mr Ratnesh Jha (UNGCNI), and Mr Rajendra Mootha (IITM Pravartak), among others.The initiative reflects a growing movement to embed innovation, sustainability, and real-world problem-solving in the Indian school system. With each edition, the platform continues to reach deeper into India's academic landscape, cultivating socially conscious change-makers and tomorrow's tech leaders.
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