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Updated May 5, 2025 · 19:22
Jammu And Kashmir News Updated May 5, 2025

Jammu student wins US scholarship, award for novel solar thermal system

A remarkable 12th-grade student from Jammu has achieved international recognition by winning a prestigious US scholarship for his innovative solar thermal system. Japteg Singh Bamrah's Solar Mech Engine, developed under CSIR mentorship, converts heat energy into mechanical energy through a unique electromagnetic induction process. His groundbreaking work has earned him not just a $10,000 scholarship, but also additional grants and university offers from top global institutions. This achievement highlights India's potential in sustainable technology and youth innovation.

New Delhi, May 5

A Class 12 student in Jammu has won the US HonorsGradU 2025 Scholarship, securing the coveted “Build a Better Future” award for his groundbreaking invention of a solar thermal system.

Organised by Honors Graduation, a US-based non-profit supporting student-led sustainability and innovation projects, the HonorsGradU Scholarship is highly competitive, offering only five awards annually across the globe.

Japteg Singh Bamrah, a Class 12 student from Dalhousie Public School emerged as one of five global winners out of thousands of entries from around the world, according to a statement from the Ministry of Science & Technology.

Bamrah has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship for his undergraduate education in the US, along with an additional $5,000 grant for further development and scaling of his innovation. Notably, his project was recognised as the top technology among this year’s winners.

He is the first and only student from India since the programme’s inception in 2012 to top the list, marking a moment of pride for the nation.

Bamrah’s project the Solar Mech Engine, which earlier won the CSIR Jigyasa Hackathon 2024, is a standalone solar thermal system that operates on Concentrated Heat and Power (CHP) technology. It was developed under the mentorship of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM).

It utilises the principles of cyclic air expansion and contraction due to temperature differences to convert heat energy into mechanical energy.

A key feature is its low-resistance generator, which employs electromagnetic induction for direct mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion. Its unique selling proposition lies in its ability to function as a reversible heat pump, making it a highly efficient and sustainable energy solution.

Bamrah has also received offers from over 10 top universities across the US, Australia, and Canada, with additional scholarships amounting to $16,000 annually for his undergraduate studies, the Ministry said.

With a total grant of $31,000, Bamrah plans to refine his Solar Mech Engine further and pursue his higher education at a leading global university.

— IANS

Reader Comments

Priya K.

What an inspiring achievement! 👏 Japteg Singh has made India proud with his innovative thinking. This shows how our youth can lead in sustainable technology if given proper mentorship. Hope more students get such opportunities through CSIR and other institutions.

Rahul S.

Fantastic news! But I wonder - will this technology stay in India or move abroad with his education? We need to create systems where such innovations can be commercialized here. Still, kudos to the young genius!

Ananya M.

From Jammu to global recognition - what a journey! 🌞 This proves talent exists everywhere in India, not just metros. His solar thermal system could be revolutionary for rural electrification. Hope the government supports scaling this properly.

Vikram J.

While this is great, I'm concerned about brain drain. With offers from 10 foreign universities, will he return to India after studies? We need to improve our research ecosystem to retain such bright minds.

Sunita R.

Proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir! His success shows that with proper guidance (like from CSIR-IIIM), our students can compete globally. More focus needed on STEM education in border regions. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

Karan P.

The Solar Mech Engine sounds revolutionary! If it works as described, this could be a game-changer for renewable energy in India. Hope some Indian companies partner with him for commercial production before foreign firms grab the tech.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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