In a landmark moment for India’s education and innovation ecosystem, over three lakh schools across the country participated in the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, the country’s largest-ever synchronized live school innovation challenge. The initiative was inaugurated in New Delhi on Monday by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, marking a significant step toward fostering creativity and problem-solving skills among students.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Pradhan congratulated the students and schools for their overwhelming participation, calling it a “historic and transformative” moment. “A Viksit and Samriddh Bharat will be built on the shoulders of our talented school students,” he said, expressing confidence that the ideas generated through the Buildathon would help address critical domestic and global challenges.
The minister highlighted that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047 and called upon students to play an active role in shaping the nation’s future.
During the event, Pradhan interacted virtually with students of PM SHRI Government High School, Khorda, Odisha, and also visited Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, and PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 in Delhi Cantt., where he viewed student-led innovation projects and encouraged them to stay inquisitive and creative.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, praised the nationwide participation, stating that the Buildathon would strengthen students’ innovative thinking and enhance their learning capabilities. Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, emphasized that the initiative would make innovation a mass movement, bridging the gap between rural and urban schools.
The inaugural session was followed by a two-hour live tinkering challenge, where more than 1 crore students from Classes 6 to 12 worked in teams to develop solutions and prototypes around four key themes: Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local, and Samriddhi. Over 150 schools from remote regions, aspirational districts, hilly states, and frontier areas participated in “School Spotlights,” sharing their ideas and experiences in real time.
Uttar Pradesh topped the registration chart with 78,206 schools, followed by Maharashtra with 41,198 and Gujarat with 20,017. States like Tamil Nadu (16,370), Bihar (15,732), and Odisha (12,344) also recorded strong participation. Even smaller territories such as Ladakh, Sikkim, and Lakshadweep joined the innovation movement, reflecting the pan-India reach of the initiative.
The massive participation in Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025 marks a major milestone in transforming India’s school education landscape, inspiring a generation of young innovators to contribute towards building an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.