VESIT Students Secure First Place In Smart Mobility Category
Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Technology (VESIT) has achieved remarkable recognition as two of its fourth-year students from the Department of Automation and Robotics, Harsh Tejwani and Mohammed Ujjainwala, won the prestigious Vishwakarma Awards 2025. This notable event took place at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore and was organized by the Maker Bhavan Foundation.
About the Vishwakarma Awards 2025
The Vishwakarma Awards is an esteemed competition that celebrates innovation and engineering excellence among students. This year, the awards attracted participation from a diverse group of over 3,600 undergraduate and postgraduate STEM students from India and neighboring SAARC nations including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. The competition culminated in a grand finale that showcased the top talents in engineering and innovation.
Project Overview: GPS-Denied Drone
The student team, known as VAYU-SETU, secured first place in the Smart Mobility category with their innovative project focused on a GPS-denied drone. This project addresses critical navigation challenges in environments where GPS signals are either unavailable or unreliable. The implications of such technology are significant, as it can enhance navigation capabilities in various sectors, including disaster management, search and rescue operations, and urban mobility.
Key Features of the GPS-Denied Drone
- Advanced Navigation Solutions: The drone utilizes alternative navigation techniques that do not rely on GPS, making it effective in urban canyons or indoor environments.
- Real-World Applications: The technology has potential applications in areas such as agriculture, surveillance, and logistics.
- Innovative Engineering: The project showcases the students’ ability to tackle real-world engineering problems through innovative solutions.
Recognition and Awards
As a testament to their hard work and ingenuity, Tejwani and Ujjainwala were awarded a cash prize of ₹1,00,000. This recognition not only highlights their individual talents but also reflects the commitment of VESIT to fostering an environment of experiential learning and innovation.
The Journey to the Finals
The path to the finals was rigorous, involving multiple rounds of prototyping, technical evaluation, and expert mentoring. Out of an initial pool of 1,000 teams, only 12 finalist teams made it through to the final stage. This competitive process ensured that only the most innovative and practical projects were showcased at the awards ceremony.
Event Highlights
The grand finale of the Vishwakarma Awards 2025 was attended by several eminent dignitaries, including:
- Dr. Hemant Kanakia: Chief Guest
- Prof. Suhas Joshi: Director, IIT Indore
- Mr. Gautam Khanna: President and CEO, Maker Bhavan Foundation
Their presence underscored the significance of the event and the importance of nurturing young talent in engineering and technology.
Statements from VESIT Leadership
Dr. Jayalekshmi M. Nair, Principal of VESIT, expressed pride in the students’ achievement, stating, “This remarkable achievement by our students is a reflection of VESIT’s strong focus on experiential learning, innovation, and interdisciplinary excellence. Harsh and Mohammed have demonstrated how young engineers can develop solutions with real-world relevance and national impact. We are extremely proud of their success and grateful to Maker Bhavan Foundation and IIT Indore for providing such a powerful platform for student innovators.”
The Role of Maker Bhavan Foundation
The Vishwakarma Awards continue to reinforce the Maker Bhavan Foundation’s commitment to nurturing practice-ready engineers and future entrepreneurs. By providing structured platforms for innovation, collaboration, and cross-border knowledge exchange, the foundation plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of engineers.
Conclusion
The success of Harsh Tejwani and Mohammed Ujjainwala at the Vishwakarma Awards 2025 is a testament to the innovative spirit and technical expertise fostered at VESIT. Their GPS-denied drone project not only represents a significant achievement for the students but also contributes to the broader field of smart mobility solutions. As technology continues to evolve, initiatives like the Vishwakarma Awards are essential in encouraging young engineers to push boundaries and develop solutions that address real-world challenges.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on the achievements of VESIT students and the details of the Vishwakarma Awards 2025 as of January 2026.
