Young innovators

From solar-powered flour mills to pocket-sized insulin carriers, these five young changemakers are proving that innovation has no age — and that the future is being built today.

From forests to boardrooms, they’ve built change that touched millions. Now, these 10 impact leaders will select the heroes of The Better India Showcase 2025.

The Better India Showcase 2025 honours changemakers who build, teach, heal, and uplift, far from the spotlight. Join us this September as their stories of courage, care, and relentless action finally get the recognition they deserve.

Meet Mannat Kaur, the 18-year-old who became the first Indian to compete at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize with her eco-friendly greywater recycling system. Her innovation can save up to 50% of household water and reduce carbon emissions by 85%.

Krrish's cost-effective solution helps improve air quality, promoting better respiratory health and overall well-being.

The thingQbator programme — a Cisco and nasscom foundation initiative — nurtures young innovators by providing mentorship, funding, and resources to solve societal issues using technology. Since 2018, it has incubated over 58 startups, addressing challenges in education, agriculture, mental health, and accessibility, empowering students to become job creators and future-ready entrepreneurs.

From a magnetic shirt for the disabled, an upcycled wash basin to a solar-powered cooling helmet, school children aged between 10-14 tap their creative side and design unique inventions in Hyderabad

Some of the noteworthy innovations included a pen that notified kids about pending homework and an app that provided farmers with real-time data on the nature of soil and water.