From an electricity-free air filter to river-saving diyas: Indian students develop solutions to everyday environmental problems

The Confident Child Masterclass: Public Speaking & Storytelling ExcellenceRegister Now TOI Young Leaders: Junior Journalist MasterclassRegister Now TOI Young Leaders: New Age Careers In the Era of AIRegister Now The Confident Child Masterclass: Public Speaking & Storytelling ExcellenceRegister Now TOI Young Leaders: Junior Journalist MasterclassRegister Now TOI Young Leaders: New Age Careers In the Era of AIRegister Now The Confident Child Masterclass: Public Speaking & Storytelling ExcellenceRegister Now NewsEducation NewsNewsFrom an electricity-free air filter to river-saving diyas: Indian students develop solutions to everyday environmental problems From an electricity-free air filter to river-saving diyas: Indian students develop solutions to everyday environmental problems Indian students build an electricity-free air filter to tackle pollution; nearly one million children take part in nationwide environmental challenge An air filter that works without electricity, a device designed to reduce vehicle emissions around a school and a campaign to prevent waste paper from reaching landfills are among the ideas developed by Indian students shortlisted for a nationwide environmental challenge.The inaugural I CAN Earthshot Challenge has reached close to one million students across more than 15,000 schools in 24 states.

Organised by The Earthshot Prize in partnership with Brazilian organisation Alana and global youth movement Design for Change, the initiative invited children aged 9 to 17 to identify environmental problems in their communities and develop practical solutions.The 15 shortlisted teams, representing nine states and Delhi, will travel to Mumbai in November for a two-day programme at the Museum of Solutions.

Five category winners will be announced at the Children’s Earthshot Awards Ceremony on November 17, 2026. Each winning team will receive US$2,000 to develop its project further.Bengaluru students develop an electricity-free air filter One of the shortlisted projects comes from students at National Public School, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru.

Their team developed a low-cost air filter designed to work without electricity, using materials including jute, activated biochar, bamboo silica and zeolite. The shortlisted ideas extend beyond air pollution. Students have developed initiatives addressing food spoilage, water conservation, waste management and river pollution.Among the examples highlighted by the organisers are biodegradable, oil-free diyas intended to reduce pollution in the Godavari River.

Another student-led initiative has collected nearly six tonnes of waste paper for recycling.The projects were developed through Design for Change's Feel, Imagine, Do and Share framework. Students first identified an environmental challenge in their surroundings, considered possible solutions, built or implemented their ideas and shared the results.The entries were assessed through a two-stage evaluation process involving design professionals, educators, youth advocates and student representatives.

The criteria included understanding of local problems, creativity, practical implementation and demonstrated community impact.What happens next for the 15 finalist teams? The finalists will present their projects in Mumbai and receive feedback through workshops covering The Earthshot Prize's five environmental goals: Protect and Restore Nature, Revive Our Oceans, Clean Our Air, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate.The programme will culminate in the announcement of five winning teams, with one selected for each category.

The US$2,000 grant is intended to help the winners develop their solutions, expand their reach and put them into practice in their communities.The challenge represents the largest youth outreach initiative in The Earthshot Prize's history.

By bringing together children from schools across India, it aims to encourage young people to move beyond learning about environmental problems and take part in addressing them.The finalists' projects also highlight how local challenges can become starting points for practical experimentation, whether through a simple air filter, a waste-recycling drive or an effort to protect a river.

Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Sanjay Sharma is a seasoned journalist with over two decades of experience in the media industry. Currently serving as Assistant Editor - Education at TimesofIndia.com, he specializes in education-related content, including board results, job notifications, and studying abroad.

Since joining TOI in 2006, he has played a pivotal role in expanding the platform’s digital presence and spearheading major education events. Previously, Sanjay held leadership positions in sports journalism, covering high-profile events such as the Cricket World Cup and Olympics.

He holds a PG Diploma in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan and is proficient in various content management systems. He can be reached at - sanjay.sharma@timesinternet.in Parking row turns deadly in Faridabad: Ex-Tech Mahindra business regional head shot dead; neighbour had 'abused' victim's son days before murder, how it all unfolded Bengaluru’s 18-month traffic restriction on KIA Road for a four-lane elevated corridor has left motorists wondering if the deadline will hold, while the suggested alternative routes are already battling traffic snarls, delayed Metro work, utility cuts and resurfacing; with detours threatening to become new bottlenecks, here’s why the road ahead could be challenging for commuters