The Prem Jain Memorial Trust (PJMT) is proud to announce the winners of the National Green Earth Challenge (NGEC) 2025, a national competition aimed at inspiring undergraduate students in Design, Engineering, and Architecture to create innovative, sustainable solutions to address global climate challenges of today. The event was held in collaboration with Daikin India, Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC), the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the Association of Designers of India, UNICEF YuWaah, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs.

The Prem Jain Memorial Trust (PJMT), founded in December 2018, continues to honour the legacy of Dr. Prem Jain, a visionary engineer, teacher, leader and ‘Father of the Green Building movement in India’. Dr. Jain’s pioneering efforts helped India achieve an impressive 5.7 billion square feet of green building footprint by 2018. His dream of a Green Bharat lives on through the work of young leaders and sustainability advocates across the country.

The National Green Earth Challenge serves as a platform to identify and nurture India’s brightest minds, engaging students from over 500 partnering technical and design institutions across 19 states of India. This year, 1130 applications were received from passionate students eager to contribute their innovative ideas for climate resilience and energy efficiency. After a highly competitive zonal round across four regions—North, South, East, and West—where 72 teams battled it out, and reached the final stage. The top 16 teams have made it to the national round, marking the exciting culmination of this year’s challenge.

The competition encourages a trans-disciplinary approach to sustainability, with a particular focus on repurposing resources, fostering climate resilience, and enhancing energy efficiency. Students were tasked with creating projects and designs rooted in Dr. Prem Jain’s philosophy of Panchbhutas (five elements), emphasizing harmony between nature and human development.

The National Jury for the NGEC 2025 took place on March 21st and comprised a distinguished panel of experts and leaders from diverse platforms in the fields of sustainability, architecture, design, and engineering. Their collective expertise provided invaluable insights into the innovative solutions presented by the students. Our eminent jury comprised of Ar. K T Ravindran, Mr. V Suresh, Dr. Hariharan Chandra, Ms. Ina Puri, Mr. Rajesh Pratap Singh, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Dr. Satyaki Roy, Dr. Shatarupa Thakurta Roy , Ms. Anshu Khanna, Ar. Murlidhar Reddy, Mr Sandeep Narang, Mr. Debasish Mukherjee and Ms. Payal Jain.

We are incredibly proud of the ground-breaking ideas presented by the finalists, including the Model for Self-Sustaining Communities, the Engine Health & Smoke Analyzer for Vehicles, HydroSoleil, the Integrated Photocatalytic-Self-Fenton-PS System for Sustainable Water Treatment, and the Eco-Friendly e-Scooter. These innovations reflect Dr. Jain’s vision of a green and sustainable future, where education, innovation, and action converge to drive positive change. The energy and creativity shown by these students highlight the bright future of sustainability in India.

The winners of NGEC 2025 will receive mentorship from industry leaders, alongside the opportunity to showcase their sustainable designs to global audiences. The projects submitted span a range of solutions, from energy-efficient buildings and waste management systems to innovative water conservation techniques and climate-responsive urban designs.

Dr. Prem Jain’s vision continues to resonate across the country, with a growing community of young professionals and students driving forward the movement for a sustainable India. As the PJMT works to honour his legacy, it is clear that the next generation is ready to carry the torch toward a greener, more sustainable future.