Young minds from Nagpur stole the spotlight at the ‘Sambhav 2025’ National Youth Festival held in New Delhi this week. The event, organized by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), brought together thousands of school and college students from across India to present innovative ideas that merge creativity with entrepreneurship.
Representing Maharashtra, students from Centre Point School, Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, and St. Xavier’s High School stood out for their confidence, clarity, and compassion. Their presentations combined art, technology, and social awareness — a true reflection of India’s new generation of thinkers and problem solvers.
The three-day event focused on the theme “Empowering Young India through Innovation and Inclusivity.” Participants were challenged to design practical projects that support sustainable growth and community welfare. From solar-powered school benches to biodegradable food packaging, ideas flowed freely — and many of the best came from the Nagpur contingent.
One of the highlights was the project “GreenGlow,” designed by students Aditi Sharma and Krish Mehta from Bhavan’s. The pair created a low-cost streetlight powered by solar panels and bioluminescent algae. Their working model, which glowed softly even without electricity, drew admiration from both judges and visitors. “We wanted to combine science and sustainability,” said Aditi. “It’s light that cares for the planet.”
Another team from Centre Point School showcased “Waste2Wonder,” a student-led startup idea that turns discarded classroom materials into art supplies. The group displayed colorful paper made from shredded exam sheets and reusable chalk holders made from recycled plastic bottles. “We’ve turned our waste bin into an art box,” joked team leader Rohan Agarwal, drawing applause from the crowd.
Students from St. Xavier’s High School, Nagpur, received special recognition for their short film “Voice of the Village,” which documents how children in rural Maharashtra are helping their communities adopt eco-friendly farming techniques. Shot entirely on smartphones, the film combined storytelling with research, proving that technology can amplify even the smallest voices.
Over 5,000 students from 400 schools and colleges participated in Sambhav 2025, which was inaugurated by Union Minister of MSME, Narayan Rane. In his address, he urged young innovators to “build with purpose and dream without fear.” He praised the growing role of schools in nurturing creativity alongside academics. “Innovation is not about age; it’s about attitude,” he told the students.
The event also featured cultural performances celebrating India’s linguistic and artistic diversity. Nagpur’s group performed a lavani-inspired dance-drama depicting the journey of small women entrepreneurs from Maharashtra villages. Their energetic performance earned a standing ovation and a special mention from the cultural jury.
Teachers accompanying the students said the trip was as educational as it was inspiring. “Events like Sambhav make students believe their ideas matter,” said Ms. Shalini Iyer, mentor teacher from Centre Point School. “They see that innovation isn’t only about machines—it’s about people and possibilities.”
Workshops during the event covered topics such as “AI for Entrepreneurs,” “Women in Innovation,” and “Design Thinking for Students.” Many young attendees signed up for mentorship programs that will help them refine their ideas into working prototypes over the coming months.
Nagpur’s delegation also met young innovators from Kerala, Gujarat, and Assam. “We exchanged ideas, learned about each other’s cultures, and made new friends,” said student participant Sanika Deshpande. “Now I want to start a sustainability club at our school.”
Judges at the event included experts from IIT Delhi, NIFT, and the National Innovation Foundation. They emphasized that the creativity shown by school students this year surpassed expectations. “The entries from Nagpur stood out for their local context and simplicity,” said jury member Dr. Sameer Nair. “These students didn’t just imagine—they implemented.”
Nagpur’s projects received certificates of excellence and an invitation to join the National Innovation Fellowship for Students 2026, where selected teams will receive funding to scale their prototypes. The recognition marks a major milestone for city schools that have been promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning for years.
Back home, the students were greeted with applause and flowers by their principals and peers. Local media highlighted their achievements, calling them “Nagpur’s young innovators making Maharashtra proud.” Parents expressed pride at how their children represented the region with confidence and maturity. “They didn’t just win awards,” said Mrs. Meena Sharma, Aditi’s mother. “They learned that even a small idea can have a big impact.”
The Sambhav festival has become a national platform where creativity meets purpose. For many students, it was their first exposure to pitching ideas before experts, managing time, and working in teams under real-world pressure. “This was not just an event—it was an experience in leadership,” said Krish Mehta, whose team is now planning to register their idea as a student startup under the MSME’s Innovation Seed Fund Scheme.
Organizers say the event’s success proves that India’s next wave of entrepreneurs is already in classrooms. “When schools combine curiosity with compassion, innovation follows,” said NSIC Chairman P. Udayakumar during the closing ceremony. “The students of Nagpur showed that beautifully.”
As the lights dimmed at Pragati Maidan on the final day, one could feel a quiet pride among the participants. They weren’t just returning home with trophies—they carried stories, dreams, and a sense of purpose that education often struggles to teach within four walls.
If there was one message from Sambhav 2025, it was this: India’s future isn’t waiting in labs or boardrooms—it’s already alive in classrooms, where ideas are born, nurtured, and shared with the world.
