Guwahati: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati hosted the State Level Exhibition for “Design for Bharat – Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026” at its campus, marking a key milestone in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ efforts to engage young innovators ahead of the national dialogue scheduled for January 2026.
Organised by the Department of Design, the exhibition was part of the national “Design for Bharat” challenge, which aims to encourage youth to develop creative, design-led solutions to social, cultural and economic challenges in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The initiative focuses on nurturing innovation, teamwork and critical thinking, while offering mentorship and a platform for promising ideas to gain national visibility.
This year’s theme, “Duality (Dwividhta),” invited participants to explore transitional and in-between spaces where transformative ideas often emerge. The competition spanned seven thematic areas, including health and wellness, education, agriculture, sustainability, connectivity and transport, sports and hobbies, and safety and protection.
As the nodal institute for Assam, IIT Guwahati received 15 submissions from young designers across the state. Following an initial evaluation, 13 entries were shortlisted, of which 10 teams participated in the state-level exhibition held on December 22.
Participants presented their concepts through detailed posters and product demonstrations, which were evaluated by an internal jury from the Department of Design along with invited dignitaries.
The event was attended by several notable guests, including Rahul Dev Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of Gargya Group of Companies, as chief guest, and Pranabjit Hazarika of TCPL Packaging and Neelkamal Das of the Assam State Space Application Centre as guests of honour.
Welcoming the gathering, Prof. Pratul Chandra Kalita, Head of the Department of Design, outlined the objectives of the initiative, while IIT Guwahati Director Prof. Devendra Jalihal underlined the importance of fostering a culture of innovation for inclusive development.
After deliberations, the jury announced the winners, with Priyam Jyoti Das of Golaghat Engineering College securing first place for his project on converting waste into green energy and organic fertiliser. He will represent Assam at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. The second rank went to a team from North Lakhimpur University for their agricultural rover prototype, while the third rank was jointly awarded to projects from IIT Guwahati and Swahid Peoli Phukan College, Sivasagar.
Organisers said the exhibition provided participants with valuable exposure and confidence to contribute meaningfully to national development through design-driven innovation.
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