CBSE launches School Youth Ideathon 2025, Inspire Young Entrepreneurs for ‘Nayi Soch Naya Bharat’

Students from Classes 4–12 invited to submit entrepreneurial ideas; Grand Finale at IIT Delhi in December 2025

The 2025 edition of School Youth Ideathon (SYI) has begun for school going students. SYI is jointly organised by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council (MEPSC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the ThinkStartup Foundation.

The Ideathon is open to students from Classes 4 to 12 across India and Indian schools abroad. This year’s theme is “Nayi Soch Naya Bharat”, inviting students to develop ideas that reflect a bold, self-reliant, and innovative India.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Education), CBSE, said: “The essence of Youth Ideathon is to encourage entrepreneurial action rooted in real life, which is quite different from typical science projects. In this 5th edition, we have introduced a novel Studio Pitch after the Grand Finale, bringing the entrepreneurial journey of school students closer to real-world and inspiring them to transform their ideas into scalable ventures.”

Idea submissions are open at www.YouthIdeathon.in until 20th November 2025, culminating in a Grand Finale at IIT Delhi on 19th–20th December 2025, where the top 125 teams will showcase their innovations.

New features this year include the CBSE Studio Pitch, where select student teams will pitch live to angel investors in a televised format, and the Entrepreneurial Quotient (EQ) Test. “The EQ Test is being introduced at the school level to assess the current state of entrepreneurial dynamism among students,” explained Col. Anil Pokhriyal, CEO, MEPSC. “The insights gathered will help policymakers identify gaps and implement strategies to strengthen entrepreneurial education, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of an AI-driven society.”

Additionally, the Top 500 Teams will receive structured mentoring from IIT alumni, coordinated through PanIIT Alumni India. “Youth Ideathon is about nation-building through innovation,” said Shivani Singh Kapoor, Founder of ThinkStartup Foundation. “We want every child to feel inspired to innovate for India’s future.”

“Faculty Development Programs are an integral part of School Youth Ideathon. They equip teachers to become entrepreneurial mentors, creating school ecosystems where innovation and creativity thrive every day,” said Sanjeeva Shivesh, Program Director of SYI 2025.

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