The fourth edition of the Youth Ideathon 2024 at IIT Delhi attracted over 1.8 lakh young innovators from 5,000 schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) across India. The event provided a platform for students to present innovative startup ideas, many focused on aiding underprivileged peers and reducing dropout rates in rural areas. Participants collectively raised around ₹4 lakh in funding to support their projects.
Among the standout innovations was PadhAI, developed by Arnav Garg, Aryav Saigal, and Aarshia Kaushik from Sanskriti School, Delhi. This AI-based virtual tutor aims to simplify complex academic concepts for students in classes VI to XII. By leveraging data from the NCERT syllabus, PadhAI has already answered over 90,000 questions and serves over 1,000 active users. The team won a ₹1 lakh incubation grant and additional funding to enhance the platform’s capabilities, including expanding language options and incorporating audio-visual features.
Biswajit Saha, director of Skill Education and Training at CBSE, noted that the overwhelming response highlights the entrepreneurial spirit among young minds. He expressed pride in supporting initiatives that cultivate creativity and problem-solving skills.
Another notable project, ThinkSphere, created by students from DAV Multipurpose Public School, offers personalized educational content for disabled learners. The platform tailors study materials based on individual learning styles and cognitive patterns, ensuring inclusivity in education.
The Youth Ideathon also emphasized responsible funding practices, releasing funds in instalments contingent on achieving specific milestones. Sanjeeva Shivesh, programme director, highlighted that this approach aims to foster accountability and ensure effective use of resources, with a deadline for utilizing raised funds set for March 31, 2025.
