IIT Kharagpur invites Class 8 to 12 students to apply for Young Innovators' Programme 2025-26

KOLKATA: The IIT-Kharagpur on Sunday said applications for the first round of its Young Innovators' Programme (YIP) have begun for the academic year 2025-26.

The competition, aimed at inculcating scientific temper, creativity and problem-solving acumen among students of Classes 8-12, begins with an online first round, from which top teams from India and overseas will be selected.

These teams will then be invited to IIT-Kharagpur for a three-day on-campus event, where they will exhibit and demonstrate working models or prototypes, which will be evaluated by faculty members.

The notable past projects include innovations such as a green water dispenser designed for differently-abled persons, a low-cost herbal breathing mask, the 'pothole warrior' for instant pothole repair, and an AI-based oral cancer monitoring tool.

Over 3,500 entries were received in the previous edition, with participation from schools in the UAE, Singapore, Denmark, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, among others, a statement said.