School Innovation Marathon (SIM) - India's Largest Innovation Challenge
by NITI Aayog, Government of India
Internships & Funding Support
School Innovation Marathon (SIM) - India's Largest Innovation Challenge is a competition by NITI Aayog, Government of India for students in Class 6–12, open to students across India. It is free to take part.
Mode
Online
Eligibility
Class 6–12
Fee
Free
Duration
Approximately 5 months (July to November for project submission)
Format
Team · Teams of 3
Time needed
Regular participation in capacity-building sessions and project development, including weekly online workshops and offline bootcamps.
About This Opportunity
The School Innovation Marathon (SIM) is India's largest school-level innovation challenge, collaboratively organized by the Ministry of Education, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) NITI Aayog, Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell (MIC), UNICEF, and YuWaah.
This program aims to cultivate a strong culture of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship among school students nationwide. Participants are encouraged to identify real-world community problems and develop innovative solutions in the form of working prototypes, aligning with the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047".
Students from all schools across India, including both Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and non-ATL schools, are eligible to participate. Each team must consist of a maximum of three students from classes 6 to 12, along with one ATL in-charge or school teacher as a mentor. Individual entries are not permitted, and teams exceeding the three-member limit will be disqualified.
Top teams receive funding support from the Ministry of Education, internship opportunities through the Student Innovator Program (SIP) with leading corporates and incubation centers, and patenting support. All participating teams receive certificates. The marathon provides hands-on experience in developing prototypes and exposure to professional environments, equipping young people with essential 21st-century skills like design thinking, problem-solving, and computational thinking.
Capacity-building sessions, covering topics such as Design Thinking, Ideation, Electronics, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Intellectual Property Rights, are conducted both online and offline to guide student teams. The evaluation process is two-staged, assessing projects based on novelty, usefulness, feasibility, scalability, and sustainability.
Eligibility
- Grade Level
- Class 6–12
- Age Range
- 11 - 18 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Academic requirement
Students from all schools across India, including ATL and non-ATL schools, are eligible.
Prerequisites
- Basic computer skills
- Interest in identifying and solving community problems
- Completion of pre-survey and student course modules
Additional requirements
- Must participate as part of a team with a teacher mentor.
- Teams must consist of 2-3 students.
Open to students in grades 6-12 (ages 11-18) from all schools across India. Participation is team-based, requiring a maximum of 3 students and one teacher mentor. Special recognition is given to teams from rural areas, government schools, aspirational districts, and those with children with special needs.
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Academic Details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
The program includes comprehensive capacity-building sessions on Design Thinking, Ideation, Electronics, Robotics, Mechanics, 3D Printing, and IPR. Students are guided through the entire innovation process, from identifying problem statements to developing solutions and building working prototypes. Online skilling is provided through the Upshift platform, complemented by offline workshops and Design Thinking Bootcamps organized by Institution Innovation Councils (IICs), Indovation Centres, Incubation Centres, and State Education Departments.
Rewards & Recognition
Award
Project Funding Support
Top teams receive funding support from the Ministry of Education, facilitated by MIC, for activities including IP filing, prototype refinement, mentorship, and commercialization. Detailed guidelines for fund usage will be provided.
Certificate
Certificates from Ministry of Education
Participation certificates are provided to all teams. Special certificates are issued to top teams from each state, rural areas, government schools, aspirational districts, and teams with children with special needs.
Recognized by
Opens doors to
Participation and recognition in SIM can enhance college applications, particularly for STEM and engineering programs. The skills developed and experience gained are highly valued by educational institutions.
Career pathways
Top teams receive internship opportunities through the Student Innovator Program (SIP) with leading corporates and incubation centers, providing valuable real-world experience and industry exposure.
Recognition
National Recognition
Skills your child builds
Highlights
- India's largest school-level innovation challenge.
- Jointly organized by multiple government bodies and international organizations (UNICEF, YuWaah).
- Focus on solving real-world community problems.
- Comprehensive support including funding, internships, and patenting assistance for top teams.
- Capacity-building sessions covering a wide range of technical and soft skills.
Rounds & format
Two rounds. The first round is idea submission, and the second round is research document submission, along with three-minute video submission of the working prototype. The evaluation process is two-staged. Initially, all projects are assessed by multiple jury members based on Novelty, Usefulness, Feasibility, Scalability, and Sustainability. Top-scoring projects then undergo a comprehensive review by a panel of experts in the final stage.
How entries are judged
Novelty, Usefulness, Feasibility, Scalability, and Sustainability.
Selection process
Projects are scored on an online platform based on innovation parameters. Top-scoring projects proceed to a final review by experts for selection.
How to apply
- 1Schools register using their UDISE code on the official School Innovation Marathon website.
- 2Teachers create teams (2-3 students) and submit entries online.
- 3Submission includes a research document and a 3-minute video of their working prototype.
- 4A pre-survey and student course completion are mandatory for all team members.
- 5Teachers also complete a course to guide students throughout the process.
How to prepare
- Capacity-building sessions on Design Thinking, Ideation, Electronics, Robotics, Mechanics, 3D Printing, and IPR.
- Online skilling through the Upshift platform.
- Offline capacity-building workshops and Design Thinking Bootcamps organized at various locations with the help of Institution Innovation Councils (IICs), Indovation Centres, Incubation Centres, State Education Departments, and partners.
Fees & financial support
Fee details
Participation in the School Innovation Marathon is free of charge.
Financial support
While there are no traditional scholarships, top teams receive funding support from the Ministry of Education for their projects.
Refund policy
Not applicable as there is no participation fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is School Innovation Marathon (SIM) - India's Largest Innovation Challenge free?
This opportunity is free to participate in.
Who can participate in School Innovation Marathon (SIM) - India's Largest Innovation Challenge?
Students in Class 6–12. children aged 11-18.
What will my child gain from School Innovation Marathon (SIM) - India's Largest Innovation Challenge?
Funding support from the Ministry of Education for top teams.. Internship opportunities through the Student Innovator Program (SIP) with leading corporates and incubation centers.. Patenting support and guidance facilitated by Innovation Centers.. Participation certificates for all teams.. Special recognition for top teams from various categories including rural areas and government schools.. Development of 21st-century skills such as design thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship.. Exposure to professional environments and mentorship from industry experts.. Opportunity to contribute to real-world community problem-solving.. Enhanced prospects for higher education and career development..
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