A team from the University of Jammu has secured a position among the Top 15 finalists at the India Innovates 2026 competition, a significant national-level event held in New Delhi. The team, known as Team Dupahar and part of the Design Your Degree (DYD) program, was the sole representative from Jammu and Kashmir to achieve this distinction.
AI-Powered Infrastructure Solution Developed
The competition, described as one of the world’s largest hackathons, saw participation from over 1.26 crore applicants nationwide. Team Dupahar, comprising Adil Mahajan, Tavishi Amla, Gourav Sharma, and Narayan Choudhary, developed an advanced artificial intelligence-powered infrastructure planning solution. This system focuses on digital terrain modeling, waterlogging prediction, carbon mapping, and drainage optimization.
The developed solution is designed to address real-world governance and civic challenges by integrating geo-spatial intelligence, predictive simulation, and scalable planning capabilities. It is intended for application in climate-resilient infrastructure and large-scale public deployment.
Rigorous Selection Process
The selection process involved multiple stages, beginning with an initial evaluation of over 28,000 teams. In the second round, more than 5,000 teams advanced after detailed technical screening. The final offline round at Bharat Mandapam saw only 15 teams nationally recognized as top innovators, placing Team Dupahar among them.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the team had the opportunity to present their innovation to senior policymakers and government leaders, including the Chief Minister of Delhi, a Cabinet Minister from the Bihar Legislative Assembly, and a Member of Parliament for North East Delhi. Dignitaries from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India were also present.
Advancement to Ministry-Level Presentation
Having been selected among the Top 15, the DYD students will now proceed to the final stage, the Ministry-Level Presentation. Here, they will present their solution directly to various government ministries. The most promising innovations at this stage will be assessed for potential national implementation, with the possibility of institutional and ministerial support for country-wide deployment.
University of Jammu Vice Chancellor, Professor Umesh Rai, commended the team’s achievement, stating that their work exemplifies how student innovation can contribute significantly to nation-building. He highlighted the importance of merging technical expertise with societal impact.
The Chenab Times News Desk