The fifth edition of the Solar Decathlon India (SDI) concluded with the announcement of winners across six categories at a grand finale hosted by Infosys on its world-renowned sustainable campus in Mysuru. The 2024-25 edition witnessed participation from over 2,100 students representing more than 150 academic institutions, who showcased real-world solutions across 34 building projects and seven product innovations.
Organized jointly by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) under the aegis of the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), SDI aims to build a future-ready workforce equipped to combat climate change in the building sector.
Infosys, serving as the host and sustainability partner, provided accommodation and meals pro bono for the duration of the event and ensured the event was completely carbon neutral. The SDI trophies awarded this year were carbon-negative, reinforcing the theme of climate-positive innovation.
The four-day event opened on May 23 with student presentations evaluated by a panel of industry experts, followed by the Climate Smart Innovation Exhibition, where climate-tech startups and building-sector innovators showcased climate mitigation and adaptation technologies. Lambert Technovation Pvt. Ltd. emerged as the winner of the Climate Smart Innovation Award 2025 for its modular, chemical-free reactor that revolutionizes wastewater treatment.
Jury member Sunita Purushottam, Head of Sustainability and CSR at Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd., remarked, “It’s mind-blowing to see that India is becoming a hub for built environment innovation — not just in technology, but even in brick-and-mortar solutions. That’s where hope lies.”
On May 24, six student teams were awarded as Division Winners, each representing high-potential solutions for urgent building challenges. The divisions included Multi-Family Housing, Educational Buildings, Office Buildings, Community Resilience Shelters, Construction Worker Housing, and Residential Cooling Retrofits.
Team Anvaya, led by BMS College of Architecture, Design and Planning along with B.M.S. College of Engineering, won the Grand Prize for proposing a modular, scalable, and cost-effective housing solution that targets the urgent needs of India’s construction worker community. Their project, developed in partnership with Rohan Builders (India) Pvt. Ltd., was lauded by the grand jury as an investment-worthy and versatile approach supporting India’s net-zero targets.
“This is not just a competition—it’s a movement that cultivates the DNA of a sustainable built environment in the very generation that will shape India’s future,” said independent media strategist Manisha Natarajan.
Ashish Goel, Founder of OctoLife and keynote speaker, emphasized the urgency of innovation in the built environment, urging students to “start anyway – imperfect, urgent, now.”
On May 25, the SDI Career Fair connected finalists with over 50 organizations offering internships and job opportunities in the climate and sustainable building sector.
The full list of Division-wise winners for Solar Decathlon India 2024-25 is as follows:
Multi-Family Housing
- Winner: Team Astitva – BMS College of Architecture, Design and Planning, and B.M.S. College of Engineering
- Runner-Up: Team Paargami – School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada; Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati; and Adani University
Educational Building
- Winner: Team Nirmaan – Manipal School of Architecture & Planning, and Manipal Institute of Technology
- Runner-Up: Team Samavet – SMEF’s Brick School of Architecture, and BRACT’s Vishwakarma Institute of Information Technology
Office Building
- Winner: Team MAA-EARTH – MEASI Academy of Architecture; MEASI Institute of Management; and B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology
- Runner-Up: Team Samarpan – Manipal School of Architecture & Planning, and Manipal Institute of Technology
Community Resilience Shelter
- Winner: Team Centauri – Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Runner-Up: Team Bhumika – College of Engineering Trivandrum
Construction Worker Housing
- Winner: Team Anvaya – BMS College of Architecture, Design and Planning, and B.M.S. College of Engineering
- Runner-Up: Team SRJAN – BMS School of Architecture, and BMS Institute of Technology & Management
Residential Cooling Retrofit
- Winner: Team Kalpana – Manipal School of Architecture & Planning, and Manipal Institute of Technology
- Runner-Up: Team Gaia – Atria University
The Solar Decathlon India program is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and is now recognized as a premier platform nurturing sustainable innovators in India’s building sector.
