What happens when curiosity meets creativity, and classrooms turn into innovation hubs? You get a power-packed day like Tinker Fest 2026 at Mirzapur—an electrifying celebration of young innovators, collaboration, and hands-on learning! Held on 18th April at Rajkiya Inter College, Mirzapur, this grand event brought together students from over 30 schools across Uttar Pradesh, many traveling 60–70 kilometers just to be a part of something extraordinary. And trust me—it was worth every mile!
A Powerful Collaboration
This incredible fest was made possible through the joint efforts of:
Scholar Planet – An integrated, ad-free Indian e-learning platform (classes 3–12), founded by Gauri Kumar (IAS Retd.), connecting students, teachers, and schools with CBSE content, AI-powered insights, assignments, and gamified learning experiences.
Wheels Global Foundation – A dynamic organization committed to empowering youth through innovation and skill development, led by its visionary CEO driving impactful educational initiatives.
Uttar Pradesh Government – Continuously working towards strengthening education and fostering innovation among students under its leadership.
Adani Foundation – Dedicated to sustainable development and education, with strong leadership focused on nurturing future-ready learners.
Young Tinker Foundation – A mission-driven organization inspiring students to become problem solvers and innovators through experiential learning.
The Journey Begins: 3 Months of Preparation
Phase 1: Teacher Training (April 6–7)
The journey kicked off with a 2-day online teacher training session, where 45+ teachers from across Uttar Pradesh participated enthusiastically. During this phase, teachers were introduced to the two flagship challenges: Community Problem-Solving and Rover Challenge.
They explored the purpose behind the fest, the rules and structure of each challenge and how these activities promote hands-on learning, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving. The excitement was contagious—teachers became true enablers of innovation!
The Big Day: 18th April – Innovation in Action!
The campus buzzed with energy as students arrived with their teachers, ready to build, explore, and compete.
Challenge 1: Community Problem-Solving
The day began with an engaging orientation, after which students formed teams; one leader is called the “Sarpanch” and remaining members are called “Villagers.”
The task was to design a model village, identify available facilities and challenges, create a 3D village model using paper cutouts, present solutions through a team pitch. All in one hour! The Result! A burst of creativity! Students built thoughtful models, discussed real-life problems, and confidently presented their ideas. Teachers and mentors actively guided them, making it a deeply engaging experience.
Challenge 2: Rover Challenge
After an exciting morning, the energy only doubled!
Students received rover kits from esteemed guests, and the preparation began. Teams worked together to assemble their rovers before heading to the track.
The Highlight:
- Teams competed one by one
- Rovers raced across the track
- Cheers, excitement, and anticipation filled the air!
This was undoubtedly the most thrilling moment of the fest—a perfect blend of engineering, teamwork, and fun.
Esteemed Guests
The event was graced by distinguished personalities whose presence elevated the spirit of the fest: Gauri Kumar (IAS Retd.), Shri Yogesh Andlay, Shri Vishal Mishra, Shri Anil Pradhan and other esteemed guests. Their encouragement and interaction with students added immense value and motivation.
Mentors Who Made It Happen
A special shoutout to the incredible mentors from the Young Tinker team who guided and inspired students throughout the journey; Jayashree Behera,Sankalp Singh Yadav, Updesh Yadav, Abhipsa Pattanaik. Their constant support, energy, and mentorship played a key role in making the experience meaningful and impactful for every participant.
The Grand Finale
As the day came to an end, one thing was clear—the excitement didn’t!
Students wanted to run their rovers again and again. Asked eagerly, “When will you come next?” Showed genuine joy and curiosity in their eyes.
The event concluded with certificate distribution, felicitation of the Scholar Planet team, smiles, stories, and unforgettable memories and final thoughts. Tinker Fest Mirzapur wasn’t just an event—it was an experience that sparked imagination, built confidence, and inspired innovation. From ideating villages to racing rovers, students didn’t just learn—they lived the process of problem-solving. And if this is what the future looks like… It’s in very exciting hands