Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Japteg Singh Bamrah, a Class 12 student from Dalhousie Public School, has made India proud by winning the prestigious HonorsGradU 2025 Scholarship, bagging the top “Build a Better Future” Award along with a total grant of $15,000 for his innovative Solar Mech Engine project.
As per a statement, Japteg’s project was mentored by Dr Nasir Ul Rasheed, Senior Scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, under the national-level Jigyasa Hackathon initiative.
His solar-powered innovation was selected from thousands of global entries, earning him one of just five scholarships awarded worldwide this year.
Notably, Japteg is the only Indian student since 2012 to top the HonorsGradU list.
The Solar Mech Engine uses solar thermal technology to convert heat into mechanical and electrical energy, working as a standalone system using cyclic air expansion and contraction.
It also functions as a reversible heat pump and includes a low-resistance generator based on electromagnetic induction.
The innovation was previously declared the winner of the CSIR Jigyasa Hackathon 2024.
With support from CSIR-IIIM, Japteg was provided lab access, expert guidance, and incubation facilities to develop his idea further.
Director of CSIR-IIIM, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, personally supported the project, ensuring it received the technical backing needed to compete on the global stage.
Japteg demonstrated the Solar Mech Engine during the National Startup Festival held in Jammu in February 2025, where he explained the working of the model to Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
Apart from the $15,000 scholarship, Japteg has also received offers from over ten leading universities in the USA, Canada, and Australia, along with additional annual scholarships worth $16,000 for higher studies.
Expressing gratitude to his mentors, Japteg said, “CSIR-IIIM gave me everything I needed-labs, guidance, and confidence to think big.”
Dr Zabeer Ahmed said Japteg’s success reflects IIIM’s commitment to promoting student innovation and shows the real impact of the “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India” initiative.
He encouraged more students to come forward and use the institute’s support to turn their ideas into real-world solutions.
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