RiTX2026

Challenge 01 · Investigate & present · no building required

Sustainability

Smarter, Greener, Cleaner

The challenge

Identify a challenge affecting your school, neighbourhood, village, or city, and work out an innovative way to make your community cleaner, greener, safer, or more sustainable. Then investigate it properly and present what you find.

Your focus could be water · waste · energy · pollution · biodiversity · climate resilience · the responsible use of resources.

Sample problems

Use one as-is, adapt it, or bring your own.

Sample problem A — Smarter Travel

Ram's father used to cycle him to school — but his new job is too far away now. What should he do?

  1. 01List the ways he could get Ram to school — cycle, motorbike, car, school bus, auto, EV bike, EV car, and so on.
  2. 02For each option, survey people in your neighbourhood who use it and find all the real costs involved.
  3. 03Compare the options available in the market — their pros and cons.
  4. 04Estimate the emissions of each mode and compare their environmental impact.

→ Then, recommend the best option — the smarter, cleaner way to make the trip.

Sample problem B — Energy Detective

Where does the electricity actually go in your home or school?

  1. 01List the electrical appliances used in your household or school.
  2. 02For each appliance, find its rated power, efficiency, and total usage time per day/month.
  3. 03Compare market competitors on features and cost — and for a pricier but more efficient product, work out its ‘break-even' time.
  4. 04Check each appliance against its recommended usage (e.g. the right light level for a study space) and redesign the space to match.

→ Then, work out your total electricity use, recommend how to save power, and weigh up whether rooftop solar is worth it.

What you'll submit

  • Progress Submission

    Your research and findings so far: the work you've done investigating your problem.

  • Final Submission

    a presentation or pitch of your discoveries and recommendations

What judges look for
  • ◆How real and well-chosen your problem is.
  • ◆The depth and care of your investigation (fit and rigour, not sheer volume of data).
  • ◆How well you understood why the problem happens.
  • ◆How clearly you present your findings and recommendation.

Ready to find your problem?

Grab your team and get started.

Registration is open. Two or three students, one challenge, ₹1,000 for the whole journey.

Register your team Explore the challenges