Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Apr: A new STEM program, Project Zul, is bringing robotics and coding to students in Jammu and Kashmir, thanks to the vision of 17-year-old Arav Kaul, a Class 11 student from Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai.
Launched this spring, the initiative equips teens in grades 9 and 10 with hands-on skills in microcontroller programming, aiming to spark innovation in a region eager for technological growth. The initiative has also received a commendation from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, highlighting its alignment with the region’s vision for technological transformation and youth empowerment.
Arav, an international robotics champion who has competed for India at global stages like FIRST, Robotex, and MakeX, kicked off Project Zul to share his passion with students in the Union Territory, a place close to his heart due to his father’s roots there.
Over the past few months, he’s trained teachers from 15 government and private schools-both in-person and online-arming them with the know-how to teach robotics. He’s also handed out free Arduino kits, ensuring students have the tools to build real machines. His efforts have reached a cumulative student base of over 1000 students across the region.
The program, now in full swing, runs weekly sessions through March and April, guiding teachers and students through the basics of circuits, sensors, and coding, all the way to designing their own projects. A final showcase later this month will let them display their creations, from functional gadgets to innovative solutions.
“Robotics isn’t just about tech-it’s about solving problems and thinking creatively,” Kaul said, explaining his goal to make STEM accessible and fun. Teachers have embraced the training, calling it engaging and practical, and are now passing those skills on to their classrooms.
The project started taking shape in February when Arav reached out to multiple schools across Jammu and Kashmir and lined up educators eager to join. The schools jumped at the chance, and since then, they’ve received kits, lesson plans, and ongoing support. For students, it’s a rare opportunity to bridge textbook theory with real-world tinkering.
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