- IIT Kharagpur has opened applications for the 2025-26 Young Innovators Programme, inviting Class 8-12 students from India and abroad to participate in one of the country’s largest school-level innovation competitions.
- Round 1 submissions close on 30 November 2025, with shortlisted teams advancing to semifinals and finals on campus in January 2026, presenting prototypes and innovations judged on scientific merit and creativity.
- The competition maintains accessible international fees and has previously produced impactful student innovations, reinforcing IIT KGP’s mission to nurture scientific thinking and real-world problem-solving among young learners.
IIT Kharagpur has started accepting applications for the first round of its Young Innovators Programme for the 2025-26 academic year, and it invites students from Classes 8 to 12 in India and abroad to compete in one of the country's largest school-level innovation competitions.
Meant to inculcate scientific curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving in real life, the annual programme has grown steadily in its global reach, with over 3,500 entries received in the previous edition alone, including those from the UAE, Singapore, Denmark, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, underlining its growing international appeal.
Teams should consist of two or three students for the first round of the 2025-26 cycle, assisted by a mentor from school along with a coordinating teacher who oversees the submissions. Schools can send more than one team. The competition will be divided into two groups: Junior Division, comprising Classes 8 to 10, and Senior Division, Classes 10 to 12. Class 10 students can choose either division depending upon their interest and ability.
Round 1 will be held online, wherein teams have to submit an abstract pertaining to their scientific idea and select a theme in which they will present. The abstracts are to be uploaded on the official portal for YIP by the coordinating teacher. Submissions close on 30 November 2025. Results will be published on the website of the programme, and an email will be sent to the selected teams who go into the semifinal round.
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The semifinal, or Round 2, will be held on January 3, 2026, at the IIT Kharagpur campus, where the shortlisted teams will present their prototype, model, or conceptual charts over two days. The exact registration fees for this round will be communicated along with the results of the first round. This round shall happen only if at least ten teams qualify in Round 1. The final round will be held on January 4, 2026.
Teams presenting complete innovations before a panel of judges through a detailed presentation followed by a question-and-answer session comprise this round. Entries shall be judged on scientific merit, feasibility, creativity, and clarity of communication. The participation fee is ₹400 per student for Indian teams. For schools in SAARC countries other than India, the registration fee per participant is 20 USD, and for all other non-SAARC countries, the registration fees are 30 USD. The fees are standardized to keep the competition within the reach of a large international audience.
IIT Kharagpur underlined the fact that previous editions of YIP have thrown up a number of path-breaking innovations like a green water dispenser for differently-abled users, a low-cost herbal anti-pollution mask, a rapid road-repair tool christened the “Pothole Warrior,” and an AI-driven system for early detection of oral cancer. The institute said that the program offers a great opportunity to young minds to associate themselves with scientific thinking and develop meaningful solutions on one of the leading research campuses in India.
