22 Oct 2026
The Earthshot Prize, in partnership with Brazilian philanthropic organisation Alana and global youth movement Design for Change, is today announcing the 15 finalists of the inaugural I CAN Earthshot Challenge.
The initiative celebrates young changemakers from across India who are creating practical solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing their communities.
15 finalist teams from across 9 Indian states and Delhi will participate in the first-ever Children’s Earthshot, alongside The Earthshot Prize’s 2026 Summit and Awards Night.
Five winners, one from each Earthshot category, will be announced at the Children’s Earthshot Awards Ceremony. Each winning team will receive US$2,000 to further develop and implement its environmental solution.
Keep reading to discover each of the 15 finalists for the I CAN Earthshot Challenge.
Jump to:
Protect and Restore Nature
Revive Our Rivers, Lakes and Oceans
Clean Our Air
Build a Waste-Free World
Fix Our Climate
Jamnalal Kaniram Bajaj Trust, Sikar, Rajasthan
To address rainwater accumulation that left the school playground muddy and unusable, students developed a rainwater recharge system using pipes and a filtration pit layered with sand, gravel and stones. Implemented over more than 30 days, the system redirected rainwater underground and successfully prevented waterlogging on the playground. The project reports benefiting 280 people and has been shared with over 100 community members. The students now plan to demonstrate the system at parent meetings and encourage other schools and communities to adopt similar groundwater recharge solutions.
Kaligi Ranganathan Montford Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tamil Nadu
Students launched a school-wide environmental initiative to address vehicle emissions, water wastage, plastic waste and declining green cover. Over 15–30 days, they established four student-led teams and a Carbon-Neutral School Dashboard to track environmental indicators, alongside initiatives to reuse air-conditioner condensation water, segregate waste, collect plastic for recycling and plant trees. The project reports reaching 23,000 people through school and community activities and plan to maintain daily monitoring, expand student participation and sustain its tree-planting and community outreach programmes.
Brainz Edu World, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
To address groundwater contamination from agricultural runoff, students developed a low-cost, electricity-free filtration system combining bentonite clay settling with gravel, sand, zeolite, ferric oxide and biochar-based filtration. Built and tested over 7–15 days using water samples collected around Village Chhilora, the prototype demonstrated reduced turbidity and improved water clarity. The project reports engaging 20 people, including local farmers and community representatives and the team plans to train farmers and village youth to maintain the system, introduce regular water-quality monitoring and explore deployment across neighbouring agricultural communities.
Espalier The Heritage School, Nashik, Maharashtra
To address potential oil and solid-waste pollution in the Godavari during the upcoming Kumbh Mela, Grade 8 students developed biodegradable, oil-free diyas using natural, food-based materials and camphor. Over 15–30 days, they experimented with different materials and refined their designs, producing approximately 200 diyas. They submitted 100 to the Kumbh authorities, who appreciated the initiative and accepted the proposal for consideration. The project reports reaching 1,000 people, with support from local vendors and priests. Students now plan to work with the school, authorities and community to encourage adoption during Diya Daan.
Purva Madhyamik Vidyalaya Ghosiyar, Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh
Students worked with villagers to restore a disused well affected by rubbish and polluted water, while exploring its potential for rainwater harvesting. Over more than 30 days, they cleaned the surrounding area, repeatedly attempted to drain the well and safely relocated turtles to the nearby river. They also built a low-cost plywood-and-bamboo counterweight lid prototype, successfully demonstrating its opening and closing mechanism using water-filled buckets. The project reports benefiting 100 people, although the permanent well-cover system remains incomplete. Students hope to complete the well’s restoration and develop it into a rainwater collection resource for irrigation.
Sunbeam Suncity School & Hostel, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
To tackle plastic and other waste along the Ganga’s riverbanks and ghats, students established Sunday Mandali, a recurring clean-up movement supported by Kudabazar Foundation. Implemented over more than 30 days, the initiative has mobilised 150+ Sunbeam students and 500+ college student volunteers, who collect, segregate, weigh and map waste. The group reports collecting 800+ plastic waste items and reaching 100,000 people. Activities have included clean-ups on both sides of the river and a Plogathon at Ravidas Ghat. The team plans to continue weekly drives and encourage schools and colleges in other cities to adopt the model.
National Public School, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru, Karnataka
To address indoor air pollution in schools and homes near industrial areas, students developed a low-cost, electricity-free air filter using jute, activated biochar, bamboo silica, zeolite and cotton. Over 15–30 days, they tested different material combinations using a smoke-box setup and particulate sensor. Their recorded readings showed AQI falling from approximately 156–160 to 96–98, while PM2.5 readings decreased from 98 to approximately 12–30. The filter was tested for ten days in a community hall and installed in more than four homes and the school. The project reports 127 people impacted and 50,000 reached online. The team plans further installations in schools, hospitals and community spaces, supported by affordable filter-maintenance materials.
Mother’s Pet Kindergarten, Sadar Chhaoni, Nagpur, Maharashtra
Concerned about dust and vehicle emissions from 800+ vehicles entering the school premises during pick-up and drop-off hours, young students introduced two initiatives: encouraging slower driving and promoting FriendPool, a car-sharing arrangement among parents. Over more than 30 days, they used placards and daily interactions to encourage participation. They also developed a prototype exhaust-pipe filter called Smoffler to explore ways of reducing vehicle smoke. The school reports fewer vehicles, reduced visible dust and promising initial prototype results. The initiative reports benefiting 1,000 people. Students now hope to refine Smoffler with automotive engineers and present the concept to transport authorities.
Jasudben M.L. School, Mumbai, Maharashtra
To address stuffy air and lingering odours in enclosed classrooms and other small spaces, Grade 5 students developed a manually operated air-filtering device using a bicycle pump and a cartridge containing coconut-shell activated carbon, cotton wool and gauze. Following several unsuccessful prototype designs, they tested the device inside a sealed box using incense smoke. After 100 pump strokes, their air-quality monitor recorded an AQI reduction from 500 to 100, alongside a reported reduction in smoke and odour. Developed over 15–30 days, the project reports impacting 30 people, although classroom trials have not yet taken place. Students plan to conduct workshops in schools, refine the device and explore a sensor-enabled version.
SSATN Panchayat Union Middle School, Ammaiyappan (West), Tamil Nadu
To address mixed waste disposal, plastic pollution and the difficulties faced by sanitation workers, students developed an alternative to polythene waste bags using old newspapers, jute handles and a moisture-resistant coating made from discarded crayons. Over more than 30 days, they conducted household visits, distributed the bags and established a school composting pit measuring 8 × 2 × 3 feet, where segregated organic waste was converted into manure within a month. The initiative reports benefiting 502 people and helped revive a previously inactive community composting centre within two weeks. Following the initiative, the local panchayat announced that separately segregated waste would be required for collection from 1 October. Students plan to sustain the practice through household composting and encourage adoption by neighbouring schools and panchayats.
Pokamura Higher Secondary School, Jorhat, Assam
Responding to the twin challenges of plastic waste and flood preparedness in Assam, a team of eight students developed a floating platform designed to hold essential emergency supplies during floods. Over 7–15 days, they collected and reused more than 300 discarded plastic bottles, experimenting with bottle arrangements and testing the prototype in water to improve its buoyancy and stability. The project reports reaching 261 people, including approximately 250 community members, eight teachers and three School Management and Development Committee members. Encouraged by community interest in creating similar platforms, the students plan to continue testing and refining the prototype and work with local families to develop affordable models using reused materials.
Vidya School, Gurugram, Haryana
To prevent usable paper from being discarded, students launched a notebook and paper collection initiative supported by a developing online platform for swapping, donating and selling unused items. Over more than 30 days, they surveyed 563 students, raised awareness among 1,200 students and mobilised more than 700 participants. Through seven collection drives involving the school and corporate contributors, the project reports collecting approximately 5,990 kg of paper, of which 690 kg had been recycled at the time of submission, with the remainder undergoing processing. The team plans to continue collection drives, strengthen recycler partnerships, introduce participation rewards and expand the GreenSwap platform to additional schools and NGOs.
Satya Elementary School, Dhulka, Punjab
To help roadside vegetable vendors protect produce from extreme heat, students developed a low-cost cooling crate using wood-wool pads and a small water pump. Over 15–30 days, they tested and refined the water flow, pipe openings and pad arrangement to improve evaporative cooling. The working prototype reduced direct heat exposure around vegetables. The project has reached over 100 people, with positive feedback from local vendors. The team now plans to conduct further trials with vendors, improve portability and water reuse, and explore wider adoption to reduce food spoilage.
Bluebells School International, New Delhi
Responding to uncomfortable classroom temperatures affecting approximately 300 students in Classes 3–5, students developed Clay Ka AC, a low-cost cooling prototype using clay pots and natural evaporative cooling. Over 15–30 days, they raised funds, built the model at school and worked beyond regular school hours to complete it. The project reports 301 people impacted, and the team plans to replicate the model in more classrooms, demonstrate it through school exhibitions and parent meetings, and promote lower-energy cooling solutions.
The High Range School, Munnar, Kerala
Plants at home and school are often forgotten when people are busy or away, or given more water than they need. These students designed the Solar Smart Pot to fix both problems. A soil moisture sensor detects when the soil is dry and switches on a small water pump, powered by two leaf-shaped solar panels, so plants get only the water they need. The team designed and tested the circuit through computer simulation, refining it until it responded reliably. Office workers and frequent travellers who saw the design said it would make caring for their plants much easier.
