New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today unveiled the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, a nationwide movement that promises to turn India’s school students into the torchbearers of grassroots innovation. Billed as the country’s largest-ever school hackathon, the initiative is set to mobilise thousands of young minds to create solutions that strengthen the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Organised by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the AICTE, the Buildathon is designed to be a launchpad for fresh ideas in four core areas – Vocal for Local, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, and Samriddhi.
Launching the official jingle and logo of the Buildathon, Pradhan said: “Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 will engineer an innovation renaissance, celebrating student creativity and empowering our youth to become key drivers of a self-reliant, developed India.”
A Movement for Grassroots Innovation
Senior dignitaries present included Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSEL; Dhirendra Ojha, Principal Director General, PIB; Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE; Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE; Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, AIM; and Dhiraj Sahu, Additional Secretary, DoSEL. They were joined by officials from the Ministry, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).
In his address, Sanjay Kumar presented a detailed roadmap of the Buildathon, stressing its role in nurturing creative problem-solving across India’s schools. The initiative, he noted, aims not just at innovation for its own sake but as a vehicle for self-reliance, sustainable growth, and positioning India as a global innovation capital.
From Idea to Impact
- The Buildathon is structured as a step-by-step innovation journey:
- September 23 – October 6: Students register on the official portal vbb.mic.gov.in
- October 6 – October 13: Schools prepare, with teachers mentoring teams through registration.
- October 13: The Live Synchronised Innovation Event takes place nationwide.
- October 13 – October 31: Students submit their ideas and prototypes.
- November 1 – December 31: Expert panels evaluate submissions.
- January 2026: Culmination with results and the felicitation of over 1,000 winners.
A special video showcasing the themes and objectives of the Buildathon was screened at the launch, underscoring the vision of nurturing young problem-solvers and innovators who can contribute directly to nation-building.
Building on Past Success
The initiative builds upon the momentum of the School Innovation Marathon 2024, which had sparked the creation of the Student Innovator Programme (SIP) and the Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP), leading to patents and student-led startup ventures incubated in Atal Tinkering Labs.
By scaling up that success, the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 aims to create a ripple effect—transforming India’s classrooms into hubs of innovation, driving local solutions with global impact.