India STEM Innovation Challenge - Senior STEM Innovator
Cash Prize + National Recognition
Annual project-based STEM competition for ages 17-22. Projects are evaluated through public voting and expert jury rounds, with finalists presenting at the India STEM Summit.
Mode
Hybrid
Fee
₹1,500 for one student, ₹3,000 for a team, plus 18% GST
Participation format
Individual and team
Teams of 2 or more
Duration
Annual cycle: approximately 6 weeks from nomination to final event
Time needed
Depends on the time taken to make the entry
Eligibility
Senior STEM Innovator category: ages 17-22. Covers Class 11-12 students and early college students. AICRA member institute enrollment enables free participation; individual registration available for non-members at Rs. 1,500 plus GST.
- Grade level
- Grade 11 to 12
- Age range
- 17 to 22 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- Completed STEM project or prototype to submit for evaluation
- Ability to create a 2-5 minute video and 200-300 word written project description
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Cash Prize + Trophy + Certificate
Winners receive a cash prize (exact amount not disclosed on official site), trophies, and certificates at the India STEM Summit and Awards ceremony. All Round 2 finalists receive recognition.
Recognition
India STEM Summit National Stage
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Registration opened
- 30 Oct 2026
- Registration closed
- 30 Oct 2026
- Competition
- 20 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi
How to apply
- 1Complete the nomination form on the India STEM Mission website to receive a unique project ID
- 2Submit a 2-5 minute project video and a 200-300 word written description
- 3Project is published for public voting on the India STEM Innovator page
- 4Top 100 projects advance to Round 2: virtual jury presentation
- 5Top 24 finalists per category advance to the live showcase at the India STEM Summit
Rules and guidelines
- Project video must be 2-5 minutes; written description must be 200-300 words
- AICRA member institute students participate free; individual or group fee applies for non-members
- Projects must be original and based on a real STEM concept or working prototype
- Top 24 finalists must attend the India STEM Summit in person
Fees and financial support
Fee details
Free for students from AICRA member institutions. Individual non-members: Rs. 1,500 plus 18% GST. Group or team non-members: Rs. 3,000 plus 18% GST. Contact nidhi@aicra.co.in to verify member institute status.
About this opportunity
The India STEM Innovation Challenge is an annual project-based competition organized by India STEM Mission, an initiative of AICRA (All India Council for Robotics & Automation). Participants submit real STEM projects for evaluation through a combination of public voting and expert jury assessment, with top projects advancing through successive rounds to a live showcase at the India STEM Summit and Awards, India's largest annual STEM event.
The Senior STEM Innovator category is for participants aged 17 to 22 years. This covers Class 11 and Class 12 students as well as first and second year college students. Participants must be enrolled in an AICRA member institution; students from non-member institutions may participate independently by paying a separate registration fee.
The competition runs in three rounds. In Round 1, projects are published on the India STEM Innovator webpage for public voting. The top 100 projects (evaluated on a blend of votes and expert judgment) advance to Round 2, which involves virtual presentations to a jury panel. The top 24 finalists per category advance to Round 3, the in-person live showcase at the India STEM Summit and Awards. The event brings together 200 or more speakers, 500 or more project nominations, and 30 or more award categories.
Participants submit a 2-5 minute video of their STEM project along with a 200-300 word written description. Projects span all STEM domains. Winners receive cash prizes (exact amount not publicly disclosed), trophies, and certificates, along with access to crowdfunding visibility, investor interest, and technical mentorship to refine their projects further.
Rounds and format
Round 1: Public voting on the India STEM Innovator webpage. Top 100 projects advance. Round 2: Virtual jury presentations. Top 24 finalists per category selected. Round 3: In-person live showcase at India STEM Summit and Awards.
How entries are judged
Combined public voting and expert jury evaluation. Specific scoring rubric not publicly disclosed. Expert judges assess project innovation, technical quality, impact, and presentation quality.
Selection process
Round 1: Top 100 projects by blended public votes and expert evaluation. Round 2: Virtual jury selects top 24 per category for live showcase. Final awards at India STEM Summit judged in-person.
Frequently asked questions
Do participants need to be from an AICRA member school or college to join?
Participation from AICRA member institutions is free. Students from non-member schools, colleges, or universities can still participate by paying an individual fee of Rs. 1,500 plus 18% GST (or Rs. 3,000 plus GST for a group or team). Contact nidhi@aicra.co.in to check if an institution is an AICRA member.
What STEM project types are eligible for the Senior STEM Innovator category?
Any STEM domain is accepted: science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Projects should be based on a real innovation or working prototype. Participants submit a 2-5 minute project video and a 200-300 word description. The judging panel assesses innovation, technical quality, real-world impact, and presentation clarity.
Do all finalists need to travel to New Delhi for the India STEM Summit?
Only the top 24 Senior STEM Innovator finalists need to attend in person at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on July 8-9, 2026. Round 1 (public voting) and Round 2 (virtual jury) are conducted online. Finalists are notified before the event to arrange travel.
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