School Innovation Marathon (SIM) - India's Largest Innovation Challenge
by NITI Aayog, Government of India
Internships & Funding Support
6,70,000 participants
India's largest school innovation challenge by NITI Aayog and Ministry of Education. Students in grades 6-12 develop prototypes to solve community problems, gaining skills, funding, and internships.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Team
Teams of 2 to 3
Duration
Approximately 5 months (July to November for project submission)
Eligibility
Open to students in grades 6-12 (ages 11-18) from all schools across India. Participation is team-based, requiring a maximum of 3 students and one teacher mentor. Special recognition is given to teams from rural areas, government schools, aspirational districts, and those with children with special needs.
- Grade level
- Grade 6 to 12
- Age range
- 11 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Students from all schools across India, including ATL and non-ATL schools, are eligible.
- Prerequisites
- Basic computer skills
- Interest in identifying and solving community problems
- Completion of pre-survey and student course modules
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
Project Funding Support
Top teams receive funding support from the Ministry of Education, facilitated by MIC, for activities including IP filing, prototype refinement, mentorship, and commercialization. Detailed guidelines for fund usage will be provided.
Certificate
Certificates from Ministry of Education
Participation certificates are provided to all teams. Special certificates are issued to top teams from each state, rural areas, government schools, aspirational districts, and teams with children with special needs.
Recognized by
Opens doors to
Participation and recognition in SIM can enhance college applications, particularly for STEM and engineering programs. The skills developed and experience gained are highly valued by educational institutions.
Career pathways
Top teams receive internship opportunities through the Student Innovator Program (SIP) with leading corporates and incubation centers, providing valuable real-world experience and industry exposure.
Recognition
National Recognition
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration opened
- 29 Jul 2025
- Registration closed
- 30 Sept 2025
- Competition
- 15 Oct 2025 to 30 Nov 2025
- Results
- 2 Jan 2026
How to apply
- 1Schools register using their UDISE code on the official School Innovation Marathon website.
- 2Teachers create teams (2-3 students) and submit entries online.
- 3Submission includes a research document and a 3-minute video of their working prototype.
- 4A pre-survey and student course completion are mandatory for all team members.
- 5Teachers also complete a course to guide students throughout the process.
Rules and guidelines
- Each team must consist of a maximum of 3 students from classes 6 to 12 and one ATL in-charge or school teacher.
- Individual entries are not allowed; teams exceeding the 3-member limit will be disqualified.
- Innovations must align with one of the competition themes.
- Each team must select one problem statement and develop an innovative solution in the form of a working prototype.
- Late submissions will not be accepted.
Technology requirements
- Internet access for online platform and capacity-building sessions
- Device for recording and submitting a 3-minute video of the prototype
- Equipment for building prototypes (e.g., electronics, robotics kits, 3D printing materials, software tools)
About this opportunity
The School Innovation Marathon (SIM) is India's largest school-level innovation challenge, collaboratively organized by the Ministry of Education, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) NITI Aayog, Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell (MIC), UNICEF, and YuWaah.
This program aims to cultivate a strong culture of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship among school students nationwide. Participants are encouraged to identify real-world community problems and develop innovative solutions in the form of working prototypes, aligning with the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047".
Students from all schools across India, including both Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and non-ATL schools, are eligible to participate. Each team must consist of a maximum of three students from classes 6 to 12, along with one ATL in-charge or school teacher as a mentor. Individual entries are not permitted, and teams exceeding the three-member limit will be disqualified.
Top teams receive funding support from the Ministry of Education, internship opportunities through the Student Innovator Program (SIP) with leading corporates and incubation centers, and patenting support. All participating teams receive certificates. The marathon provides hands-on experience in developing prototypes and exposure to professional environments, equipping young people with essential 21st-century skills like design thinking, problem-solving, and computational thinking.
Capacity-building sessions, covering topics such as Design Thinking, Ideation, Electronics, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Intellectual Property Rights, are conducted both online and offline to guide student teams. The evaluation process is two-staged, assessing projects based on novelty, usefulness, feasibility, scalability, and sustainability.
Rounds and format
Two rounds. The first round is idea submission, and the second round is research document submission, along with three-minute video submission of the working prototype. The evaluation process is two-staged. Initially, all projects are assessed by multiple jury members based on Novelty, Usefulness, Feasibility, Scalability, and Sustainability. Top-scoring projects then undergo a comprehensive review by a panel of experts in the final stage.
How entries are judged
Novelty, Usefulness, Feasibility, Scalability, and Sustainability.
Selection process
Projects are scored on an online platform based on innovation parameters. Top-scoring projects proceed to a final review by experts for selection.
How to prepare
- Capacity-building sessions on Design Thinking, Ideation, Electronics, Robotics, Mechanics, 3D Printing, and IPR.
- Online skilling through the Upshift platform.
- Offline capacity-building workshops and Design Thinking Bootcamps organized at various locations with the help of Institution Innovation Councils (IICs), Indovation Centres, Incubation Centres, State Education Departments, and partners.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
The program includes comprehensive capacity-building sessions on Design Thinking, Ideation, Electronics, Robotics, Mechanics, 3D Printing, and IPR. Students are guided through the entire innovation process, from identifying problem statements to developing solutions and building working prototypes. Online skilling is provided through the Upshift platform, complemented by offline workshops and Design Thinking Bootcamps organized by Institution Innovation Councils (IICs), Indovation Centres, Incubation Centres, and State Education Departments.
Frequently asked questions
How do students effectively manage competitive pressure during the School Innovation Marathon?
Students can manage competitive pressure by focusing on their project's unique value proposition and the learning journey, rather than solely on winning. Collaborating effectively within the team, seeking mentor feedback, and celebrating small milestones can also help maintain motivation and reduce stress.
What are common mistakes participants make during the prototype development phase, and how can they be avoided?
Common mistakes include overcomplicating the prototype, neglecting user feedback, and insufficient testing. To avoid these, students should start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), regularly solicit input from potential users, and conduct thorough testing to identify and rectify flaws early in the development process.
How do students ensure their innovative solution addresses a real community problem effectively?
To ensure relevance, students should conduct thorough research to identify genuine community needs, engage with community members to understand their perspectives, and validate their problem statement. The solution should offer a practical and sustainable impact on the identified issue.
What strategies can teams employ to enhance their project's novelty and scalability for the competition?
Teams can enhance novelty by exploring interdisciplinary approaches and unconventional solutions. Scalability can be improved by designing the prototype with modularity, considering cost-effective production methods, and planning for wider adoption and impact beyond the initial community.
How does participation in the School Innovation Marathon contribute to a student's long-term skill development?
Participation fosters critical 21st-century skills such as design thinking, problem-solving, computational thinking, and teamwork. These experiences provide a strong foundation for future academic pursuits in STEM fields and careers in innovation and entrepreneurship, offering a significant advantage.
What support is available for teams from rural areas or government schools?
The School Innovation Marathon actively encourages participation from all regions. Special recognition is given to top teams from rural areas, government schools, aspirational districts, and those with children with special needs. Capacity-building sessions are designed to be accessible to all participants.
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