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A SparkX student team in light-blue blazers beside their robot car prototype at the SparkX stand, Techfest 2025, IIT Bombay

National AI Challenge 2026

Bring AI Ideas to Life at Techfest, IIT Bombay

Register your Team

Build functional AI prototypes Solve real-world problems Compete at Techfest, IIT Bombay

India's National AI Challenge for School Students by STEMLearn.AI

Grades
6–12
Categories
Junior · Senior
Tracks
Physical AI · Generative AI
Team size
Up to 4
Budget cap
₹5,000
National Final
16–18 Dec 2026

01About SparkX

What is SparkX – National AI Challenge

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence has fundamentally transformed our approach to global challenges, shifting the focus from theoretical models to the deployment of intelligent, real-world solutions.

SparkX – National AI Challenge by Techfest, IIT Bombay, challenges school participants (Grades 6–12) to master this transition by engineering functional AI prototypes that address critical issues across environmental sustainability, urban mobility, digital wellbeing, and healthcare accessibility.

How a SparkX prototype works

Participants must go beyond basic programming to design smart robotic, IoT, or software systems capable of:

Four real-world challenge areas · tap one to see its problem statement

    Who is SparkX for?

      Bring your ideas to life at Techfest, IIT Bombay, Asia's largest science and technology festival.

      02Competition Structure

      Competition Structure

      SparkX is divided into Junior and Senior categories, with each category offering both Physical AI and Generative AI tracks.

      Eligibility

      Grades 6–12

      • JuniorGrades 6–8
      • SeniorGrades 9–12

      Open strictly to school students. Inter-school teams are permitted.

      Team Size

      Up to 4

      Maximum 4 members per team.

      Prototype Budget

      ₹5,000

      The total cost of the prototype/project must not exceed ₹5,000. Teams must present a Bill of Materials (BOM) during evaluation.

      Prize Pool

      As listed on the official Techfest competition page.

      Find your category

      Pick your grade to see your category and the two tracks open to you.

      03SparkX 2026 · Problem Statements

      Tracks & Themes

      Two tracks, four problem statements. Choose Physical AI or Generative AI, then solve the theme for your category.

      Detailed problem statements are available to registered teams on the official Techfest competition portal.

      04Two pathways to the SparkX Final

      Competition Journey

      Reach IIT Bombay through the zonal qualifiers, or earn a wildcard through the GLF AI Olympiad. Only shortlisted teams and wildcard qualifiers take the final stage.

      A

      Pathway 01

      Round 1 · Zonal Qualifiers

      1. 1
        Register on techfest.orgReceive your official Team ID.
      2. 2
        Build your prototypeWithin ₹5,000, with a Bill of Materials.
      3. 3
        Compete at a zonal venueTeams demonstrate their prototypes and are evaluated on their proposed solution, implementation and working demonstration.

      Shortlisted teams advance

      Register for SparkX Zonalstechfest.org/competitions/sparkx

      Fast track · Skip Round 1

      B

      Pathway 02

      Wildcard Entry

      Top performers from the GLF AI Olympiad earn direct wildcard qualification into the SparkX Final Round at IIT Bombay.

      • Individual studentsOnline · 29 Nov
      • SchoolsOffline · 17, 20, 24 & 27 Nov
      • RewardWildcard to the Final
      1. 1
        Take the GLF AI OlympiadIndependently conducted by SparkX.
      2. 2
        Finish as a top performerHigh-scoring top performers bypass Round 1 zonal evaluations.
      Register for the AI Olympiadglfacademy.org/olympiads/ai-olympiad-2026

      Round 2

      National Final

      16–18 December 2026

      IIT Bombay · Techfest 2026–27

      Shortlisted teams advance to the Final Round at IIT Bombay, where they present their functional prototypes live during Techfest 2026–27.

      05What you can win

      Awards & Recognition

      Every stage of SparkX is a chance to be recognised, with a prize pool at the National Final.

      06Key dates

      Timeline

      07Previous edition

      SparkX 2025 Highlights

      Map of India showing the 17 cities that hosted SparkX 2025 zonal events

      Zonal events across India

      cities hosted SparkX 2025 zonal events

      From Chandigarh to Chennai, students competed close to home. Hover a city to find it on the map.

        SparkX 2025 in photos · tap a photo to enlarge

        08Fair play

        Rules & Guidelines

          Evaluation Criteria

          Hover or tap a criterion to see its weight.

          100%Total score

            Judging decisions and decisions of Techfest organizers are final.

            09Questions

            FAQs

            SparkX – National AI Challenge 2026

            Bring your AI idea to life.

            Choose your pathway to the National Final at IIT Bombay.

            ★ Fast track · Closes 10 Nov Register for the AI Olympiad Top performers get a wildcard to the Final Zonal qualifiers · Closes Oct Register on Techfest Compete in Round 1 at a zonal venue

            Questions about SparkX? Write to