India’s flagship project-based learning competition for school students enters its 7th edition with startup-style problem solving, future-focused themes, and a national innovation platform for Classes 6 to 9
- Rs 12 lakh prize pool with national-level recognition; over Rs 72 lakh awarded to 72 national winners across six editions
- Four future-focused themes: AI & Digital Futures, Climate & Sustainability, Medical Innovation, and Robotics & Automation
- Students take on real-world innovation roles such as Project Lead, Research Analyst, Technical Designer, and Creative Strategist
- Aligned with NEP 2020 and designed to move beyond rote learning toward hands-on problem solving
- Registrations now open; National Grand Finale to be held on November 22, 2026
New Delhi, 15 May, 2026: As India pushes to build a generation equipped for a rapidly evolving economy, HCL Jigsaw is returning with a larger ambition and a sharper focus on real-world innovation. Registrations for the 7th edition of HCL’s flagship student innovation platform officially opening today, bringing together project-based learning, startup-style collaboration, and hands-on problem solving for students from Classes 6 to 9.
With a Rs 12 lakh prize pool and a redesigned format, Edition 7 marks a significant shift from traditional quiz-based competition models. Instead of testing recall, students will work in teams to identify real-world problems, build solutions, develop prototypes, and pitch their ideas at a national finale.
Since its launch, HCL Jigsaw has reached over 5,00,000 students across 8,200 schools spanning 28 states and 8 Union Territories. This year’s edition builds on that scale while placing greater emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and applied innovation. Students will move through a structured five-stage journey covering problem identification, design thinking, prototyping, product development, and pitching. Teams will also assume defined innovation roles such as Project Lead, Research Analyst, Technical Designer, and Creative Strategist, reflecting how modern startups and product teams operate in the real world.
Solving for a Better India: Four Themes That Matter
Student teams will tackle real-world challenges across one of four themes:
- AI & Digital Futures: AI-powered solutions, smart digital systems, responsible AI, and emerging technologies
- Climate & Sustainability: Renewable energy, waste management, water conservation, and climate-tech innovation
- Medical Innovation: Healthcare accessibility, smart diagnostics, wellness technologies, and assistive innovation
- Robotics & Automation: Robotics systems, intelligent automation, manufacturing innovation, and industrial technology
- Teams will be encouraged to create working models, functional prototypes, digital products, AI concepts, or IoT-based demonstrations as part of their submissions.
“At HCL, we believe young minds have the potential to become creators of meaningful change when they are given the right opportunities and exposure. Through HCL Jigsaw, we want students to move beyond textbook learning and experience innovation as a process of curiosity, experimentation, collaboration, and problem solving”.
— Sundar Mahalingam, President – Strategy, HCL Group
A Five-Stage Journey to the National Finale
The competition will unfold through five stages:
- Stage 1 — Outreach & Onboarding (May–July): School registrations, team formation, and theme orientation
- Stage 2 — Foundational Learning: Design thinking modules, future-skills content, and innovation frameworks
- Stage 3 — Role-Based Building: Teams build and test prototypes with expert-led webinars on product building and pitching
- Stage 4 — Pitch Perfect: Submission of pitch videos, jury evaluation, and zonal shortlisting (top 10% teams per grade per zone advance)
- Stage 5 — National Grand Finale (November 22, 2026): Live prototype presentations in front of industry experts and HCL leaders
Registrations will remain open until July 31, 2026, with schools from across India eligible to participate.
Beyond Competition
HCL Jigsaw aims to create an ecosystem that nurtures innovation at an early age. In addition to prizes and national recognition, selected students will gain exposure to HCL Innovation Labs, product-thinking workshops, and emerging technology ecosystems.
By combining structured learning with hands-on experimentation, HCL Jigsaw is positioning itself not simply as a student competition, but as a platform designed to encourage young innovators to think bigger, build earlier, and solve for the future.
