ASM's NextGen Technical Campus won first, second and third prizes in the Undergraduate category at the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026, a complete clean sweep. With 121 students participating, Team NextGen turned up in strength and delivered three winning ideas on women's safety, agriculture and career guidance.

The national-level student innovation and model competition was organised by ASM Group of Institutes on Sunday, 11 October 2026, at ASM's CSIT, Pimpri, Pune. It commemorated the 95th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the scientist and former President of India who inspired generations to dream big.

The rewards match the achievement: cash prizes, STEM Robotics kits and, best of all, a visit to ISRO, Sriharikota, for all three winning teams and their mentors. For NextGen, this is a big milestone and a proud moment.

About the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026

The Kalam Stream Challenge is a national-level platform where students present innovative concepts, working models and research across science and technology. It asks them to pick a real-world problem, design a solution and defend it before expert judges.

For engineering and technology students, it is a chance to move from classroom theory to ideas that could make a difference in society.

Team NextGen's Winners

All three Undergraduate prizes went to NextGen teams, each solving a different real-world problem.

First Prize: Nirbhaya Alert – AI and IoT for Women's Safety

Nirbhaya Alert is an AI- and IoT-based safety system that spots possible emergencies even when a woman cannot make a call for help. It analyses camera visuals, audio signals and predefined silent distress gestures.

When it detects a high-risk situation, the system triggers a local alarm and sends location alerts to authorised responders. The team took on one of society's most urgent problems and answered it with smart, connected technology.

Second Prize: Farmer Assist AI – A Multilingual Farming Assistant

Farmer Assist AI puts expert farming guidance in every farmer's hands, in English, Marathi and Hindi. Farmers can upload a crop photo to detect possible diseases, and get advice based on crop type, growth stage, location and soil-test results.

Voice and text chat, text-to-speech, fertiliser and soil-health guidance, sustainable farming tips and a personal chat history make it simple to use. The goal is better-informed decisions and fewer avoidable crop losses.

Third Prize: SmartCampus – AI-Enabled Career Counselling

SmartCampus helps students choose the right educational and career path based on their interests, skills and qualifications. Its AI recommendations point students towards suitable options.

The platform also brings students, parents and professional counsellors together, because big career decisions are best made as a family, with expert guidance.

Cash Prizes, Robotics Kits and a Trip to ISRO

The three teams won ₹10,000 in total cash prizes, plus STEM Robotics kits sponsored by STEM-Xpert.

The biggest reward is still ahead. All three winning teams, along with their mentors, will visit ISRO, Sriharikota, India's spaceport, for a first-hand look at the country's space research and technology ecosystem. For young engineers, there are few experiences more inspiring.

Distinguished Dignitaries

Leaders from science, research, education and public administration graced the event.

Chief Guests

1. Dr. Arvind A. Natu: Chairman, Board of Governors, IISER Kolkata and MANIT, Bhopal; German Research Ambassador.
2. Shri A. K. Sinha: Former Senior Scientist, ISRO; Former Director (R&D), Bharati Vidyapeeth University College of Engineering, Pune.

Guests of Honour

1. Dr. Heera Lal, IAS: Secretary, National Integration Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
2. Prof. Ananya Mukherjee: Vice-Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR.
3. Dr. Sandeep Pachpande: Chairman, ASM Group of Institutes, Pune.
4. Dr. Dilip Deshmukh: Head of the Science Department, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune.
5. Er. D. Gokul: Senior Scientist and Project Manager, SSLV, ISRO.
6. Mr. Daram Muralidhara Reddy: Dean and Research Coordinator, Ashoka Women's Engineering College, Kurnool.
7. Mr. Rishiraj Singh Parihar: Director, SBITM, Betul, Madhya Pradesh.
8. Mr. Fasalu Rahman: Founder and CEO, STEM-Xpert.
9. Shri APJ M. Sheikh Dawood: Grand-nephew of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Vice-President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation.

A Proud Moment for ASM's NextGen Technical Campus

121 participants, three prizes out of three, and a journey to Sriharikota: the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026 is a landmark day for ASM's NextGen Technical Campus, Talegaon Dabhade.

The winning ideas reach far beyond the campus, to women walking home safely, farmers protecting their crops and students choosing their future. That is innovation with a purpose, exactly as Dr. Kalam envisioned.

ASM's NextGen Technical Campus congratulates all 13 winners and every one of the 121 participants. Sincere thanks to our mentors, faculty and management, and to the organisers and sponsor STEM-Xpert, for making this achievement possible.

Dream. Innovate. Inspire. Transform.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was the Kalam Stream Challenge 2026 held? On Sunday, 11 October 2026, at ASM's CSIT, Pimpri, Pune. ASM Group of Institutes organised it to mark Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's 95th birth anniversary.

How many NextGen students participated? 121 students from ASM's NextGen Technical Campus took part.

Which prizes did NextGen win? All three Undergraduate prizes: first for Nirbhaya Alert, second for Farmer Assist AI and third for SmartCampus.

What did the winners receive? Cash prizes of ₹5,000, ₹3,000 and ₹2,000, STEM Robotics kits sponsored by STEM-Xpert, and a visit to ISRO, Sriharikota, with their mentors.