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CBSE Initiates ‘YOUTH IDEATHON 2023’- India’s Premier Festival of Startup Ideas for School Students
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially launched ‘YOUTH IDEATHON 2023’ from its headquarters in New Delhi. YOUTH IDEATHON, the largest festival of startup ideas for school students in India, was originally founded in 2021 by the Management Entrepreneurship Professional Skills Council (MEPSC) and ThinkStartup.
The third edition of YOUTH IDEATHON was inaugurated on October 6, 2023, at the CBSE Headquarters. The ceremony was graced by Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Development), Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Director (Academics), and Dr. (Mrs.) Praggya M Singh, Director (Academics Assessment). They were joined by the top five winners of the Incubation and Fellowship grants from YOUTH IDEATHON 2022, who presented their innovative startup projects and their progress during the past year under the guidance of ThinkStartup.
Addressing the gathering of educators, Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Development) at CBSE, expressed, “YOUTH IDEATHON aims to inspire and cultivate change-makers capable of leading India to global prominence. This multifaceted innovation festival not only seeks to discover, showcase, and highlight some of India’s brightest young entrepreneurial minds but also strives to instill the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship within schools. YOUTH IDEATHON equips young students to navigate the ever-evolving complexities of our world by focusing on the changing needs of society.”
Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Director (Academics) at CBSE, emphasized, “Throughout history, India has been a source of simple and innovative solutions for the world. For any society to become a global leader, it must nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. We aspire to introduce this culture in our schools. YOUTH IDEATHON is a step in that direction. It offers a comprehensive program spanning six weeks, during which MEPSC and ThinkStartup conduct Faculty Development Workshops to teach innovation and entrepreneurship in classrooms. Schools should make the most of this opportunity.”
During the launch event, Dr. (Mrs.) Praggya M Singh, Director (Academics Assessment) at CBSE, remarked, “YOUTH IDEATHON is an ongoing brainstorming of ideas, introducing students, teachers, and schools to the world of innovation and startups. This five-stage festival presents a valuable learning opportunity for all involved.”
Ms. Shivani Singh Kapoor, Founder of ThinkStartup, stated, “Instilling entrepreneurial thinking in young minds is an urgent necessity, achievable primarily within schools. YOUTH IDEATHON is a significant step in that direction. We have been inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for building an Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). This can only happen when we foster the spirit of inquiry and innovation in young students while they are in school. Through YOUTH IDEATHON, we incentivize the efforts of school students and teachers with a Prototyping Award of ₹15,000 each for the top 25 teams and an incubation grant of ₹100,000 each for the top 10 teams.”
Sanjeeva Shivesh, Programme Director of YOUTH IDEATHON, added, “YOUTH IDEATHON is a comprehensive program designed to nurture a startup ecosystem for high-school students. The 2022 edition witnessed the participation of 95,000 school students from over 7,000 schools, along with the training of 12,000 school teachers in teaching innovation, design, and entrepreneurship in classrooms. This year, we observe a heightened interest from schools and students. The entire program is open to all and is made possible with the support of sponsors like Bajaj Allianz Life, CONCOR Limited, Sheatwork, TIDES Business Incubator of IIT Roorkee, Macmillan, Unlock.fit, and various other partners.”
YOUTH IDEATHON 2023 comprises five stages that promote entrepreneurial thinking, offering students, mentor teachers, and schools exciting rewards and recognition opportunities. It is proudly powered by Bajaj Allianz Life and CONCOR, showcasing its commitment to modern education. The climax of YOUTH IDEATHON includes a bonus sixth stage where the top 10 student teams are nurtured into real-life business ventures. Through this initiative, ThinkStartup and MEPSC aim to guide young individuals, helping them identify societal issues, propose solutions, and turn prototypes into real solutions by offering financial support and industry exposure.
YOUTH IDEATHON is a team-based competition open to school students from grades 4 to 12 across India, including CBSE-affiliated schools in foreign countries. Participation is free, and students can submit their ideas through the following link Click Here.