India Calling: Industry Edition 2026
Hackathon 2026 · Student Led · Inter-School

Manav Rachna International School · Sector 46, Gurugram

India Calling

Industry Edition

Where student creativity meets industry knowledge. From problem discovery to industry pitch — experience real innovation.

📅 27–28 October 2026
🕗 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 MRIS Sector 46, Gurugram
🎓 Grades III – XII
Register Your Team Explore Tracks
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✦ INSPIRE · INNOVATE · IMPACT ✦ Creating Better Humans Since 1997

What is India Calling?

Where Ideas
Meet Industry

India Calling: Industry Edition connects student creativity with real-world problem-solving. Guided by industry professionals, teams move from discovery and research through prototyping, testing, and an authentic industry pitch — a genuine two-day innovation sprint.

Students don't just showcase work to industry; they work with industry to understand problems, test assumptions, and shape purposeful solutions for India.

"The best way to predict the future is to build it."

— The spirit of India Calling 2026

🏫
2-Day
Student-led inter-school hackathon and industry challenge
👥
4–6
Students per team · teacher mentor accompanies each team
🎯
3 Tracks
TinkerShala · MediaShala · MakerShala for Grades III–XII
🏆
₹1,200
Per student · includes refreshments, lunch and industry certificate

Challenge Studios

Three Tracks.
One Mission.

Every track responds to a shared bank of real-world problem statements. Tools and expected outputs are age-differentiated — but the ambition is the same.

🤖
TinkerShala
Grades III – V

Young innovators use hands-on robotics to build working models. Students explore programming, sensors, and robotics through age-appropriate ROBBO kits — then demonstrate their solution with a design story.

🔧 ROBBO World ⚙️ Robotics 💡 Sensors

Expected Output

Working model + design story + 2-minute explanation

ROBBO World Knowledge Partner
🎬
MediaShala
Grades VI – VIII

Creative storytellers build awareness campaigns and digital solutions. Students design public communication prototypes that tackle real challenges using professional-grade media tools.

🎨 Adobe Suite 📢 Digital Media 🌐 Campaign Design

Expected Output

Awareness campaign, digital solution or public communication prototype

⚡
MakerShala
Grades IX – XII

Advanced makers build functional prototypes and technology solutions. Using Arduino's open-source electronics platform, students connect sensors, write code, and test how their prototype responds to real-world conditions.

💻 Arduino 🔌 Electronics 📊 Data Systems

Expected Output

Functional prototype, dashboard, application or system model

Arduino Technology Partner

The Innovation Process

Your 6-Stage
Challenge Journey

Every team follows the same rigorous innovation process — from discovering the problem to pitching the solution to an industry jury.

01
Discover

Understand the challenge through expert input, observation, and evidence

→ Defined problem and user need

02
Research

Collect relevant information and examine existing responses

→ Research brief and insights

03
Ideate

Generate options and select a feasible solution with your team

→ Concept sketch or solution map

04
Build

Create a model, campaign, media product or technology prototype

→ Minimum viable prototype

05
Test

Seek feedback, identify limitations, and improve the solution

→ Refined solution with evidence

06
Pitch

Present the solution, impact, feasibility, and next steps

→ Industry jury evaluation

✦ "India's greatest strength is its young minds. Every idea they carry is a solution the world is waiting for." — Build for Bharat ✦

Event Timeline

Two Days of
Intense Innovation

Tuesday, 27 October 2026 · 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Opening
Registration & Ceremony
Orient participants to the theme, outcomes and challenge format. Welcome address and keynote from industry leaders.
Break
Breakfast
Networking breakfast — connect with participants from other schools.
Industry
Industry Conversations
Experts introduce sector realities, users, constraints and emerging opportunities across all three challenge domains.
Briefing
Challenge Briefing
Problem statements, deliverables, rules, assessment criteria and safety expectations are explained to all teams.
Break
Lunch
Provided for all participants and accompanying teachers.
Core
Research & Ideation
Teams define the problem, identify users, examine evidence and generate possible solutions in their challenge studios.
Mentor
Mentor Clinic
Industry and faculty mentors question assumptions and guide teams towards feasible, impactful solutions.
Milestone
Concept Submission
Each team submits a one-page concept canvas before dispersal — your solution blueprint for Day 2.

Wednesday, 28 October 2026 · 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Start
Team Check-in & Breakfast
Teams reconvene, review their concept canvases and prepare for the build sprint.
Core
Build Sprint
Teams convert their approved concepts into prototypes, campaigns or technology solutions using track-specific tools.
Mentor
Mentor Review
Experts conduct a structured midpoint review and provide final technical guidance before testing.
Core
Testing & Refinement
Teams test usability, functionality, communication and impact — then incorporate feedback into the final solution.
Break
Lunch
Provided for all participants and accompanying teachers.
Judging
Preliminary Judging
Industry jury members evaluate all entries within the three challenge studios. Shortlists are announced.
Grand Finale
Grand Pitch
Shortlisted teams present their solutions before the central industry jury. Your moment to shine.
Ceremony
Awards & Closing
Winning teams, special recognitions and next-step opportunities — including incubation pathways — are announced.

How You'll Be Judged

Evaluation Framework

Six criteria. Every point earned through evidence, not just enthusiasm.

15%
Problem Understanding
Clarity, relevance, evidence and user insight — do you truly understand who you're solving for?
20%
Innovation
Originality and quality of the proposed response — is this a fresh angle on the problem?
25%
Prototype & Application
Functionality, design, appropriate use of tools and testing — does it actually work?
15%
Feasibility & Scalability
Practicality, resources, affordability and potential for expansion beyond the prototype.
15%
Impact & Responsibility
Measurable benefit, inclusion, sustainability and ethical use of technology.
10%
Pitch & Teamwork
Clarity, confidence, role balance and response to questions from the industry jury.

Recognition

Win Recognition
Beyond Trophies

Outstanding solutions aren't just celebrated — the most promising ones are flagged for incubation, implementation, or further development with industry partners.

🥇
Winner & Runner-Up
Each Grade Category
💡
Most Innovative Solution
🌍
Best Social Impact
♻️
Best Sustainable Solution
🔬
Best Research & Design Process
🎤
Best Industry Pitch
🏅

Industry Certificate

Every participating learner receives an official industry-recognised certificate upon successful completion.

🤝

Expert Mentorship

Direct, hands-on guidance from seasoned industry leaders and domain experts throughout both days.

Join the Movement

Register Your
Team Today

₹ 1,200

per student · teams of 4–6

✅ Industry Certificate ✅ Expert Mentorship ✅ Refreshments & Lunch ✅ Both Days Included
⏰ Registration deadline: Friday, 23 October 2026
Register at forms.gle/m4PPKurRhprauG229

Individual participants are welcome — you'll be assigned a team. School team registrations also open.

Technology & Knowledge Partners