CBSE Launches "Youth Ideathon 2024" for School Students

Dec. 30, 2024, 11:19 a.m.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in collaboration with the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), has introduced the Youth Ideathon (YI24), an innovation and entrepreneurship competition for school students. This year's theme, "iStartup a Good Thing for India," aims to ignite creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in young minds. Open to all school students across India, the competition is divided into junior (Class 4-8) and senior (Class 9-12) categories. Teams of 3 to 5 members from the same school will participate, with the competition culminating in a grand finale on October 6, 2024.

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The event expects participation from over 2 lakh students from ten thousand schools. Dr. Biswajit Saha, CBSE's Director of Skill Education & Training, emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship in the New Education Policy 2020, stating that the Youth Ideathon platform encourages students to showcase their talents. Mamta Kumari, Deputy General Manager of SIDBI, highlighted the initiative's role in nurturing young entrepreneurial minds, noting the creation of over 200 internships in various fields.

Shivani Singh-Kapoor, Co-founder of ThinkStartup, stressed the importance of moulding young innovators to build future job creators. The event is supported by industry partners such as Esri India, MediaTek, and SheAtWork. Anku Jain, Managing Director of MediaTek India, and Ruby Sinha, Founder of SheAtWork, also expressed their support, highlighting the initiative's potential to nurture groundbreaking ideas and future growth. Participants will receive certificates, and top teams will compete for incubation grants up to Rs. 100,000. Special recognition will be given to teachers, mentors, and schools with high participation rates, making Youth Ideathon India's largest program to promote startup ideas among school students.