PJMT National Green Earth Challenge

PJMT National Green Earth Challenge is now open for entries!

PJMT National Green Earth Challenge : The PJMT National Green Earth Challenge recently opened for entries encouraging students to develop sustainable solutions through the Architecture-Engineering (Arch-Eng) Challenge and Design Challenge, with themes focused on environmentally conscious architecture, engineering, and product design.

➜ Short description

The PJMT National Green Earth Challenge recently opened for entries is organized by the Prem Jain Memorial Trust (PJMT) in collaboration with Young Leaders for Active Citizenship.

The Prem Jain Memorial Trust National Green Earth Challenge invites students of Engineering, Architecture, and Design colleges across India to tackle critical environmental challenges by developing innovative and sustainable design solutions for the built environment. With the mounting pressures of climate change, resource depletion, and urbanization, this challenge emphasizes the importance of a transdisciplinary, integrated approach. Participants will blend insights from various disciplines to create solutions that are not only eco-friendly but also socially inclusive.

The PJMT National Green Earth Challenge this year will focus on two distinct themes:

➜ The Arch-Eng Challenge

The Arch-Eng theme encourages Architecture and Engineering students to create sustainable design solutions that are rooted in evidence and address issues related to the environment & people. The challenge emphasizes a transdisciplinary approach, integrating the environmental, social, and technological aspects while designing the solution. Participants should bring their innovative ideas and subject matter expertise to reinvent conventional practices or provide an alternate solution to enhance efficiency.

While this category is primarily for engineering and architecture students, we encourage them to think beyond their primary discipline and incorporate methodologies from other fields to enrich their submissions. Participants are encouraged to creatively repurpose available resources by utilizing strategies such as advanced product design, spatial reconfiguration, material innovation, and energy-efficient systems. Submissions should not only challenge conventional thinking but also embrace out-of-the-box creativity.

➜ The Design Challenge

The Design category of the PJMT National Green Earth Challenge aims to promote sustainability by transforming available materials into innovative products that benefit humanity, communities, society, and the environment as a whole. Our planet faces escalating environmental challenges, from resource scarcity to mounting waste and pollution. Designers have a unique ability to shape how products are created, used, and discarded. In this challenge, organiser ask you to reimagine design processes through the lens of circularity, creating innovative solutions that keep materials in use for as long as possible, minimize waste, and regenerate natural systems.

Your submission can take the form of a product, textile, or any creative solution that addresses an environmental issue by incorporating circular design strategies.

Both challenges are rooted in the ancient Indian concept of the Panchabhutas — Bhoomi (Earth), Gagan (Space/Sky), Vaayu (Wind), Agni (Fire/Energy), and Neer (Water). Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from the Panchabhutas and incorporate the 5Rs (Repurpose, Recycle, Refuse, Reuse, and Reduce), along with the principle of Reinvent.

The goal is to develop designs that minimize environmental impact and align human activity with nature. This challenge invites students to harmonize modern innovations with sustainable practices, creating future-ready sustainable designs, products, spaces, materials, and technologies.

To ensure a fair evaluation process, entries will be judged anonymously based on a comprehensive set of criteria that reflect the following core values:

➜ Transdisciplinary – Integrates ideas, methods, and approaches from multiple disciplines to create innovative and holistic solutions.
➜ Relevance – Adheres to the principles of the Panchabhutas and the 5Rs (Repurpose, Recycle, Refuse, Reuse, and Reduce).
➜ Innovation – The idea is original, fresh, and not plagiarized.
➜ Circularity – The concept prioritizes the reuse of materials and minimizes waste.
➜ Function – Grounded in the practical use that the design or product is expected to serve.
➜ Aesthetic – Visually appealing and inviting, enhancing the overall experience.
➜ Reliability – Designed to withstand the test of time and endure real-world challenges.
➜ Economy – Practical and affordable, ensuring feasibility.
➜ Efficiency – Optimizes resource use, minimizes waste, and enhances overall performance.
➜ Scalability – Capable of being scaled up and easily replicated.

➜ Who may enter?

It is open to undergraduate students in architecture, engineering, and design programs across India, either individually or in teams of up to three members.

➜ Prize:

There are exciting prizes worth 10 lakhs, with ₹1,50,000 for the national winners in each category.

Participants will gain a platform to compete, receive recognition, and present their innovative ideas at a national level. This challenge invites students to engage in shaping a sustainable future.