presentsAI for Impact 2026
A national stage for school students to use AI on the problems they care about — mentored by experts, judged by a national jury, recognised with credentials that travel.
Innovators Challenge
Use AI to solve a
real-world problem.
A nationwide stage for school students to use AI on the problems they care about — climate, learning, livelihoods, safety, community. Mentored by experts. Recognised by ET Education.
- 10,000+
- Students expected
- 500+
- Partner schools
- 28
- States & UTs
Build an AI solution for the India you live in.
Innovators Challenge
AI for Impact 2026 is the inaugural edition of the Young Bharat Innovators Challenge — a flagship national programme curated by ET Education, the future-skills arm of The Economic Times group, under ET DAKSHA.
- 2,500+
- Partner schools
- 300+
- Mentors & jury
- 7
- Real-world tracks
- ₹25L+
- Awards pool
Mentored by people who actually build AI. Judged by people who actually use it.
Engineers and product leaders from leading AI, fintech, climate-tech and edtech companies.
Faculty from IITs, IIMs, IIITs and design schools across India.
Story-worthy projects are spotlighted in ET Education editorial features and showcases.
You don't just enter. You walk out with skills, mentors and proof.
Not theory. You'll actually use AI to solve a problem you care about.
Verifiable certificates and badges you can put on your portfolio, applications and resume.
Top teams get 1:1 time with industry mentors, educators and AI builders.
Pitch your idea at city, state and national showcases backed by ET Education.
Stand on a stage built for Young Bharat.
City rounds → state showcases → national finale. Pitch to a jury of builders, educators and editors. The story travels with you.
AI is the biggest shift of your lifetime. You don't watch it. You use it.
Built so school students don't just learn about AI — they use it to solve climate, social, financial and community problems, mentored by real builders and backed by the credibility of ET Education.
7 tracks. One you can't ignore.
Waste. Water. Air. Energy. Make Earth smarter.
Learn better. Teach better. Open access.
Inclusion, safety, awareness, accessibility.
Turn an idea into a student-led venture.
Money, savings, fraud, smart habits.
Cyber safety, misinformation, responsible AI.
Solve a real problem from your street, school or city.
A real 8-month journey — not a one-day contest.
- 01Register
You and your team are in.
- 02Assess
Take the AI & future-skills readiness check.
- 03Learn
Bite-sized AI essentials you actually understand.
- 04Build
Pick a track. Build an idea, prototype or pitch.
- 05Submit
Concept deck, video or working prototype.
- 06Get Mentored
Top teams get 1:1 mentor sessions.
- 07Showcase
Present at city, state and national finale.
- 08Get Recognised
Certificates, badges, awards, portfolio.
If you're in school, you're in.
Solo, a team of 2–4 or nominated by your school. You choose how you show up.
Solo, a team of 2–4 or nominated by your school. You choose how you show up.
Solo, a team of 2–4 or nominated by your school. You choose how you show up.
Real recognition. Not a downloadable PDF nobody opens.
One challenge. Built end-to-end.
Built with a national network of institutions, industry & academia.
AI for Impact 2026 is being co-shaped with school boards, universities, innovation missions and industry bodies to ensure what students build actually counts — in classrooms, in admissions, and in the real world.
Finalists, standout stories and school cohorts are eligible for editorial spotlights across ET Education features, ET Edge summits and the ET Now digital network.
What this looks like from the inside.
"For the first time, my students aren't just learning about AI — they're building with it, for a problem they care about in our own city."
"The rubric is real, the mentors are real, and the stage is real. That combination is rare in a school challenge in India."
"I came in thinking AI was for coders. I'm leaving with a working prototype, a mentor, and a certificate my college actually asked about."
Representative voices from pilot conversations; on-record testimonials will be added as the launch cohort forms.