5,700+Talented School Students NationwideJoin the Quest for Problem Solving Excellence
Continuing with its mission to evaluate 21st-century skills among young minds, HCL Jigsaw announced India’s top 12 young problem solvers today, as part of its fourth edition.
Over 5500 students from 735 schools across 213 cities of 27 states and Union Territories registered for the multi-stage virtual championship.The girl students’ participation increased from 35% to 41% in this year’s competition as compared to the previous years.Crowned as ‘India’s Top Young Problem Solvers’, the top three students from each grade (Grade 6 to 9) were selected as winners along with 6 runners-up from each grade. A total prize purse worth Rs. 12 Lakhs for 12 winners and 24 finalists was disbursed during the award ceremony.All the winners received prizes along with a learning opportunity at the prestigious HCL innovation lab.
Congratulating the winners, Rajat Chandolia, Associate Vice President and Headof Brand, HCLsaid,
“HCL Jigsawis a testament to the incredible potential of India’s young talent. It plays a key role in recognizing the importance of 21st-century skills, blending life and academic competencies to equip students for success in both their careers and school. Aligned with our brand’s core philosophy of multiplying human potential, HCL Jigsaw provides an opportunity to students to engage in critical problem analysis. This includes research, effective communication, collaborative teamwork and the cultivation of innovative solutions.These skills are not just essential for an individual’s success but also for the greater good of our society.”
The top students of this year’s HCL Jigsaw are:
Grade 6 participants were assessed to design a solution around the theme of‘Waste Management’ where students were asked to create a superhero who has the power to manage waste. The winning team is:
• Jheel Himanshu Trivedi, One World International School, Sarjapur
• K. Govinda, Lalaji Memorial Omega International School, Chennai
• Kabir Chandra, Euro Group of Schools, Bengaluru
Grade 7participants were assessed to design a solution around the theme of‘Making museums more engaging’. The studentshad to demonstrate effective utilization of technology to elevate the learning and interactivity ofmuseums. The winning team is:
• TrishikaSekar, Podar International School, Mumbai
• Simran Khindria, JBCN International School, Mumbai
• Shivansh Sehgal, Bal Bharati Public School, Ganga Ram Hospital Marg, Delhi
Grade 8participants were assessed to design an innovative solution aimed at addressing the critical issue ofclimate change. The winning team is:
• Saanvi Singla, Inventure Academy, Bengaluru
• Sharanya Varshney, The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet
• Aarav Singh, Shiv Nadar School, Gurgaon
Grade 9participants were assessed to design a solution around the theme of‘Traffic Management’. The students had to design a solution to address the challenges and needs of efficient traffic flow. The winning team is:
• Grishma Sharma, ST Kabir Public School, Chandigarh
• Hamza Anzar, Delhi Public School, Bengaluru
• Karthik Sivakumar, SAN Academy, Chennai
Assessment Process
• Qualification Stage (Round 1): The winners were selected through a pan-India Critical Reasoning Olympiad held earlier this month. This round featured an adaptive multiple-choice question format.
• Semi-Finals Stage (Round 2): The Participants that were shortlisted for the semi-finals were grouped into teams of three. They were tasked with solving real-world project-based challenges, each centered around different themes. This stage assessed students on their creativity, collaborative skills, problem identification, and solution design abilities.
• Final Stage: The top five teams from each grade, totalling 60 finalists, were selected to compete in the final stage. During this phase, they presented their comprehensive plans to address a real-world case scenario to a panel of esteemed jury members.
The four editions of HCL Jigsaw have witnessed registration from over55,000students across the country.The winners of previous editions got anopportunity to visit HCL innovation labs like the Mechanical and Medical labs in Chennai and the STRIDE and Tear Down labs in Bengaluru. During these visits, the students learned about a diverse range of topics, including concept introduction to design, the industrial design process, and career opportunities in design. Through interactive demonstrations and hands-on experience, the students gained valuable insights into emerging technologies such as Smart Helmet, AR/VR/XR, real-time logistic tracking, and IoT in manufacturing setups.