IIT Roorkee Holds “Design for Bharat – Youth Innovation Challenge”
On December 19, 2025, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee hosted the “Design for Bharat – Youth Innovation Challenge,” a national-level design competition aimed at engaging the youth of India in innovative design solutions. This initiative is part of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026, which seeks to align with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
About the Initiative
The “Design for Bharat” challenge is organized by the Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. The competition is specifically designed for participants aged 18 to 29 years, encouraging them to develop design-driven interventions that address various socio-economic and cultural challenges faced by the country.
Objectives of the Challenge
- Engage youth in innovative design solutions.
- Focus on addressing India’s socio-economic and cultural challenges.
- Emphasize social impact and innovation in design.
- Encourage collaboration among youth from different districts.
Structure of the Competition
The competition is structured across four stages, culminating in a National Showcase and Awards Ceremony in New Delhi. The stages include:
- Registration and Submission of Design Proposals
- Shortlisting of Teams for the Exhibition
- Exhibition and Presentation of Designs
- National-Level Competition and Awards Ceremony
Exhibition at IIT Roorkee
On December 16, 2025, an exhibition was held at the Tinkering Lab of IIT Roorkee, where several teams from various districts of Uttarakhand showcased their innovative designs. The teams were shortlisted through an online portal, and the selected participants presented their creative solutions during the exhibition.
Evaluation and Selection
The exhibition served as a platform for evaluating the design innovations. Based on the presentations, the top three teams were selected to advance to the national-level competition. This selection process aimed to highlight the most impactful and innovative proposals that align with the competition’s objectives.
Key Figures in the Event
The event was coordinated by Prof. Inderdeep Singh, Dean (Infrastructure) and Coordinator of the Design Innovation Centre at IIT Roorkee. He has also been appointed as the Competition Nodal Officer (CNO) for IIT Roorkee. The exhibition was attended by several distinguished guests, including:
- Prof. Naveen Kumar Navani, Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT Roorkee
- Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee
- Prof. Varun Sharma, Coordinator of the Tinkering Lab
- Prof. Sonal Atreya, Faculty Member, Department of Design
- Prof. Bibhuti Ranjan Bhattacharjya, Faculty Member, Department of Design
- Dr. Ajay D Jain, Senior Vice President, SMAU, Haridwar
- Sumitra Pandey, Industrial Research Consultant
- Dr. Neel Mani, Director, CAI&R, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya
Impact of the Challenge
The “Design for Bharat” challenge is a significant step towards fostering innovation among the youth of India. The event not only encourages creativity and problem-solving but also emphasizes the importance of social relevance in design. The dignitaries present at the exhibition interacted with the participating teams and praised their innovative ideas, highlighting the critical role of youth-led design innovation in shaping a developed and inclusive India.
Conclusion
The “Design for Bharat – Youth Innovation Challenge” is a commendable initiative that aims to harness the creative potential of India’s youth. By focusing on socio-economic and cultural challenges, the competition encourages young minds to contribute to the nation’s development through innovative design solutions. As the competition progresses towards its national-level showcase, it is expected to inspire more young innovators to participate and make a difference in their communities.
Note: The information provided in this article is based on the event held at IIT Roorkee and the initiatives taken by the Government of India to promote youth innovation.
