IIT-Kharagpur launches Young Innovators’ programme 2025-26

The event is divided into two groups: the Junior Division for Classes 8, 9, and 10, and the Senior Division for Classes 10, 11, and 12. Students in Class 10 can choose which category they want to compete in during registration.

IIT Kharagpur YIP 2026 (Image via official website)

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has begun accepting applications for the first round of its Young Innovators’ Programme (YIP) for the academic year 2025-26. The programme is aimed at nurturing scientific curiosity, creativity, and real-world problem-solving skills among school students, the annual competition is open to learners from Classes 8 to 12 across India and abroad.

According to IIT-Kharagpur, the first round will be held online, from which top-performing teams, both domestic and international, will be shortlisted. These selected teams will then be invited to the institute’s campus for a multi-day event where they will showcase working prototypes and models before panels of IIT faculty members.

Competition timeline

Teams can complete their registration by submitting details on the official YIP website at yip.iitkgp.ac.in.

Round 1: Online submission till November 30, 2025

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Teams must submit an abstract describing their scientific idea based on a chosen theme. Submissions will be uploaded by the coordinating teacher through the portal. Results will be announced on the website and emailed to selected participants.

Round 2: Semifinals at IIT Kharagpur on January 3, 2026

Shortlisted teams will travel to IIT-Kharagpur for a two-day event to display and demonstrate their prototypes, models, or charts. Registration fees for this round will be announced after Round 1 results.

Round 3: Finals at IIT Kharagpur on January 4, 2026

Finalists will present their projects to a jury through a detailed presentation followed by a Q&A session. Winners will be selected based on scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and clarity of communication.

The institute highlighted several standout innovations from previous editions, including a green water dispenser tailored for differently-abled users, a low-cost herbal anti-pollution mask, an instant pothole-repair solution called the ‘Pothole Warrior’, and an AI-enabled tool for early oral cancer monitoring. The last edition saw over 3,500 entries, including participation from schools in the UAE, Singapore, Denmark, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.

Who is eligible to apply?

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The programme is open to students from Classes 8 to 12. Each team must include two or three students along with a mentor from the same school, and a coordinating teacher is mandatory. Schools may send multiple teams if they wish.

The event is divided into two groups: the Junior Division for Classes 8, 9, and 10, and the Senior Division for Classes 10, 11, and 12. Students in Class 10 can choose which category they want to compete in during registration.

The participation fee is Rs 400 per member for Indian schools, while students from SAARC countries (excluding India) must pay $20 per member, and those from non-SAARC countries must pay $30 per member. For the competition to move into the second round, a minimum of ten teams must qualify from Round 1.