Over 300,000 Schools Participate in the Largest Innovation Hackathon in India
NEW DELHI: On Monday, more than 300,000 schools across India engaged simultaneously in the Viksit Bharat Buildathon (VBB) 2025, which officials termed the largest synchronized innovation hackathon in the country’s history. This nationwide initiative, launched by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission, seeks to transform school classrooms into centers of creativity and problem-solving.
The Buildathon invited students from Classes VI to XII to ideate, design, and develop prototypes under four broad themes. Over one crore students from 250,000 schools participated in a day-long event that included a 120-minute live innovation challenge, where teams of 3 to 5 students brainstormed and created working models.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, during the inauguration, remarked that the initiative represents “not just a competition but a movement to encourage innovation.” Addressing students who connected virtually from across the country, he stated, “The innovative ideas germinated here will pave the way for global models and solutions to domestic challenges.”
Additionally, more than 150 schools from remote and aspirational districts showcased their ideas through live “School Spotlights,” bridging frontier regions with India’s innovation ecosystem. Pradhan visited the Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, and PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Delhi Cantt, to interact with students and educators while observing projects ranging from eco-friendly agricultural systems to AI-driven traffic management solutions. He encouraged the young innovators, saying, “Your curiosity and creativity are the true engines of an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” urging them to “stay inquisitive and fearless.”
Sanjay Kumar, secretary of the Department of School Education, characterized the initiative as “a learning revolution” intended to “strengthen the innovative mindset of students.” The Buildathon was initiated on September 23 and is scheduled to culminate with the announcement of winners in December 2025. Officials indicated that top teams would receive mentorship to refine their ideas into scalable solutions contributing to India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
