India STEM Innovation Challenge 2026
India STEM Mission
📌About the Event
The India STEM Innovation Challenge 2026 is a national-level innovation competition organised by India STEM Mission and the All India Council for Robotics & Automation (AICRA). It provides students aged 7–22 with a platform to showcase original projects and practical solutions across science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Participants can present innovations related to robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, healthcare, biotechnology, agriculture, renewable energy, IoT, aerospace, sustainability and other emerging technologies.
The challenge aims to encourage scientific thinking, creativity, teamwork and real-world problem-solving among school, college, university and vocational students. Selected innovators will receive national exposure and an opportunity to present their projects before experts, investors, educators and industry representatives.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Organised by: India STEM Mission and AICRA
- Competition level: National-level STEM innovation challenge
- Mode of conduct: Hybrid
- Online nomination and project submission
- Online public voting and expert review
- Virtual presentation before the jury
- Offline project demonstration during the India STEM Summit & Awards 6.0 in New Delhi
- Participation categories:
- Junior STEM Innovator: 7–12 years
- Medior STEM Innovator: 13–16 years
- Senior STEM Innovator: 17–22 years
- Project domains: Participants may submit innovations in areas such as robotics, AI, electronics, coding, automation, IoT, aerospace, healthcare, biotechnology, agriculture, renewable energy, environmental sustainability and emerging technologies.
📅 Important Dates
- Nomination deadline: 31 July 2026, as currently displayed on the official India STEM Mission competition page.
- Final project showcase: During the India STEM Summit & Awards 6.0
- India International STEM Education Fest: 17–18 September 2026 in New Delhi.
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Who can participate:
- Students must fall within one of the following age categories:
- Junior: 7–12 years
- Medior: 13–16 years
- Senior: 17–22 years
- The participant’s age will be calculated as of 30 July 2026.
- The official eligibility information states that teams from AICRA-member schools, colleges, universities and vocational institutions can be nominated for the challenge.
- Participants may submit entries individually or as a group.
- AICRA members can participate without paying the nomination fee.
- The innovation should use concepts from science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
- Projects should preferably solve a practical, social, environmental or industrial problem.
- Students must fall within one of the following age categories:
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Total reported cash-prize pool: ₹5 lakh.
- Winners will receive cash prizes, trophies and certificates.
- Selected innovations will receive national-level recognition through AICRA and India STEM Mission platforms.
- Participants may receive technical mentoring and expert guidance to improve their projects.
- Promising projects may gain exposure to:
- Investors
- Industry professionals
- Crowdfunding opportunities
- Technology-support networks
- Educational institutions and innovation communities
- Finalists will get an opportunity to exhibit their projects before delegates and experts at the India STEM Summit.
- Participation can help students strengthen their academic portfolios and demonstrate practical STEM, research and problem-solving skills.