Announcing Team India – FIRST Global Challenge 2025 Representing the spirit of resilience, innovation, and aspiration, Team India for the FIRST Global Challenge 2025 is a handpicked team of five brilliant students from government schools in Bengaluru. Despite their modest upbringings, these students have broken barriers through the power of hands-on STEM learning. With the nurturing ecosystem of the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) at Government High School(GHS), 18 th Cross, Malleswaram and the advanced support of the Amazon Future Engineer Makerspace Lab—run by The Innovation Story—these young minds are ready to compete on the global stage of robotics and innovation.
Each member carries a powerful story of overcoming odds, seizing opportunities, and reimagining what’s possible when the right support meets the right intent. Team India for the FIRST Global Challenge 2025 is not just a group of students—it’s a story of transformation. It is a team woven together by resilience, curiosity, and the shared belief that innovation should know no economic boundaries. These five students, all from government schools in Bengaluru, Karnataka, represent not only themselves but also thousands of other young dreamers from underserved communities across India.
Each member of the team brings a distinct strength to the table—be it mechanical design, coding, electronics, or strategic thinking—but what binds them is their collaborative spirit. They have learned to think together, build together, and fail together—only to rise again with stronger ideas and greater synergy. Their journey hasn’t been easy. Coming from homes where parents work as housekeeping staff, garment workers, and civil contractors, access to high-end technology or private coaching was never an option. But what they lacked in resources, they made up for in grit, curiosity, and an unrelenting drive to learn.
Their transformation began at the Atal Tinkering Lab in their school, where they were first exposed to the magic of hands-on STEM education. There, they lit their first LEDs, coded their first sensors, and assembled their first robots. But it was at the Amazon Future Engineer Makerspace, operated by The Innovation Story, that their raw potential was sharpened into competition-grade skill. Under guided mentorship, they dived deeper into CAD, system integration, wireless communication, and competitive robotics. From breadboards to Bluetooth, from LEGO kits to precision servo motors—they explored every aspect of engineering with both wonder and purpose.
What makes Team India truly special is their balance of humility and hunger. These are not just students who want to “build a robot”—they are learners who want to understand why it works, how it can be made better, and what problem it can solve for society. Their conversations are filled with debates about gear ratios and sensor calibration, but also with laughter, cultural pride, and big dreams—dreams of becoming engineers, scientists, and change-makers. Together, they have built more than a machine. They have built trust, communication, leadership, and a model of what inclusive innovation looks like. They are not just a team; they are a movement—a reminder that brilliance exists in every corner of our country, waiting for the right spark to ignite.
Team India is ready—not just to compete, but to inspire. Rising Through the Coral Reef Challenge – How Team India Was Formed The road to the FIRST Global Challenge wasn’t handed to these students—it was earned through hard work, teamwork, and an extraordinary display of problem-solving. The selection process for Team India centered around the Coral Reef Challenge, a simulation-based robotics task that required students to conceptualize, design, and build a robot capable of collecting coral samples – Seahorse and deposit into Coral Reef demanding precision, reach, speed, and control. The students began with what they knew: VEX kits-based prototypes. Their initial
plan was to build a telescopic arm using a rack-and-pinion mechanism. However, they quickly discovered that real-world constraints—like bulky motors, inadequate torque, and limited lift range—made their original idea unviable. Rather than giving up, they pivoted. That failure became the foundation for deeper learning. Drawing from the materials around them and their growing Maker skills, they designed a custom robot from scratch. Using Johnson motors, acrylic sheets from their school lab, and metal column bars, they developed a pulley-driven telescopic arm system. The structural parts were fabricated in-house using a 3D printer at the AFE Makerspace.
They then took on a bigger challenge—Arduino Mega integration with BTS7960 motor drivers, allowing for finer control of high-torque motors. The robot, once just an idea, became a fully operational prototype—app-controlled, modular, and competition-ready.

But it wasn’t just the technology that made them stand out—it was the way they collaborated. Ningaraj and Arjun led mechanical design and CAD modeling; Gouresh handled Arduino programming and app integration; Chandan brought the circuits to life with electronics work; and Parashuram, with an eye for control and intuition, became the team’s official driver and UI tester. Each member played their part, filled gaps for one another, and mentored each other along the way. By solving the Coral Reef Challenge through innovation, grit, and synergy, this team earned more than a place at FGC—they earned each other’s trust, and the honor of representing a billion hopes on the world stage.

Student Introduction
Ningaraj – Grade 11
School: Government PU College, 18th Cross, Malleshwaram
Mother: Ms. Gowri – Housekeeping Staff
Raised by a single mother who works as housekeeping staff, Ningaraj’s story is one of pure perseverance. With his younger brother still in school, the responsibility he carries at home hasn’t dimmed his spirit—only fuelled it. Ever since he could hold a screwdriver, Ningaraj has been fascinated by machines and the way they function. His formal journey in electronics began in the Atal Tinkering Lab of GHS Malleswaram, where he went from lighting his first LED to understanding circuit logic and building basic machines. His learning deepened at the AFE Makerspace Lab, where he moved from curiosity to capability—learning to prototype mechanical systems, work with Arduino boards, and solve real-world problems. He dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer, and with his strong foundation in practical engineering, he’s on the path to make that a reality. Calm, observant, and focused—Ningaraj is the mechanical backbone of the team.

Parashuram M. – Grade 11
School: Government High School, 18th Cross, Malleshwaram
Mother: Shanthamma – Garment Worker
Father: Manjunath – Civil Contractor
Parashuram comes from a home where both parents work long hours to provide for their children’s education. But that hasn’t stopped him from dreaming big. His journey with robotics started in 8th grade when he walked into the ATL Lab and was introduced to Arduino, sensors, and drones. Since then, his hunger for learning has only grown stronger. Known for his patience and analytical mindset, Parashuram quickly picked up how to integrate sensors, write basic code, and build smart devices. His quiet confidence belies a strong technical mind. With continued exposure at the AFE Makerspace, he expanded his skillset to include LEGO robotics, autonomous systems, and IoT concepts. He envisions a future in the robotics or automation sector and is already mastering the tools to get there. For Team India, Parashuram is a trusted engineer and thinker—someone who turns theory into function.

Arjun K Raj – Grade 11
School: Government PU College, 18th Cross, Malleshwaram
Mother: Uma D M – Urban Development Department
Father: Kantharaju C B – Office Manager, Mega Miles Bearing Cups Pvt. Ltd.
Arjun’s journey is a beautiful blend of academic grit and athletic discipline. A consistent performer both in the classroom and on the sports field, Arjun has won accolades in Kabaddi and athletics while simultaneously building robots, circuits, and Arduino-based prototypes. Introduced to STEM through the ATL Lab in 9th grade, Arjun found his true calling in robotics. What sets him apart is his ability to apply lessons from sports—teamwork, discipline, resilience—to the world of innovation. His robots don’t just work—they reflect strategy and clarity. From line-followers to maze-solvers, his builds are known for precision. At the AFE Makerspace, he took a leap into system integration and competition readiness. Arjun is the team’s dynamic executor—agile, sharp, and solution-oriented.

Gouresh K. – Grade 10
School: Government High School, 18th Cross, Malleshwaram
Mother: Ramya K – Homemaker
Father: Ravi K – Stock Trader & Partner, Religare Broking Ltd.
Gouresh’s story is one of early inspiration turning into structured ambition. Ever since 3rd grade, he was captivated by the idea of machines talking to each other—through code, through sensors, through logic. Although the lack of resources initially delayed his journey, things changed when he joined ATL at his government school. There, his passion found structure. At AFE Makerspace, it found wings. He became the team’s lead programmer, quickly mastering Arduino IDE, block coding, and logic structuring. Inspired by films and real-world computing applications, he envisions a future in aerospace engineering or cybersecurity. Today, he handles most of the system code for the Team’s robot, ensuring every servo and sensor is in sync. Gouresh represents the bridge between imagination and implementation.

G. N. Chandan Raj – Grade 9
School: AVD High School, Karnataka
Mother: Ramya B – Language Teacher (Kannada, Hindi)
Father: G P Nagendra Kumar – Eye Technician
Chandan may be the youngest, but his talent is mature beyond his years. A true electronics enthusiast, he began his journey experimenting with batteries, resistors, and LEDs before mastering Arduino programming—all by the age of 13. He has built LDR-based lights, temperature monitors, and is currently working on an AI-enabled robot using TinkerCAD simulations. For Team India, he is the electronics brain—calm under pressure and always innovating. Atal Tinkering Lab, GHS Malleswaram – Where It All Began The Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) at Government High School, Malleshwaram, was established in October 2017 with the unwavering support of Dr. C. N. Ashwath Narayan, Hon. MLA of Malleswaram and former Deputy CM of Karnataka. It has since become a national model for grassroots innovation.
The lab has:
Been consistently selected in the Top 300, Top 100, Top 50, and Top 6 of the Tinkering Marathon.
Produced state-level winners in the Inspire Awards, Raman Awards, and National Innovation Challenges.
Reached zonal and national levels of the First LEGO League.
Launched student internships with IBM India, Atal Incubation Centre – Anantapur, and Dassault’s Seed the Future Program.
Hosted sessions with legends like Mr. Vasagam (ISRO’s APPLE mission).
Initiated “She Codes” for girl-led tech empowerment.
Built India’s first school-run satellite ground station—the Puneet Ground Station.
It stands today as a beacon of what’s possible when government school students are given a platform to dream, tinker, and lead.

Akhil Arun Menon – Mentor, Team India
Akhil Arun Menon is a passionate educator and technologist and the driving force behind Team India’s preparation for the FIRST Global Challenge. With a background in Electronics, Akhil holds a Master’s degree in Technology specialised in Embedded Systems, and currently pursuing his Doctoral Studies in the field of Computer Science and IoT with applications in Agriculture. He has spent over a decade at the intersection of education, innovation, and hands-on STEM learning, mentoring students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
As a faculty member and content developer, Akhil has designed and delivered curricula in Robotics, IoT, Business Analytics, and Full-Stack Development. His research interests include STEM pedagogy in underserved communities, AI- driven educational tools, robotics education frameworks, and learning outcome modeling through maker-based interventions. He has contributed to national-level education programs, designed innovation labs, and has been a panelist on technology in education forums.
At the AFE Makerspace Lab in Bengaluru, Akhil leads student training in CAD, Arduino systems, electronics prototyping, and competitive robotics. His ability to connect deeply with students, simplify complex concepts, and foster innovation has transformed first-generation learners into confident global competitors. Under his mentorship, Team India has not only built a robot—but cultivated resilience, discipline, and vision.

Amazon Future Engineer Makerspace – Powered by The Innovation Story The Amazon Future Engineer Makerspace Labs, operated by The Innovation Story (TIS) in Bengaluru and Mumbai, serve as advanced innovation labs for government school students. Through this initiative, Amazon supports future-readiness by offering access to emerging technologies, project-based learning, and global platforms.
These Makerspaces are equipped with 3D printers, drones, AI modules, and robotics kits, and are led by mentors like Akhil Menon who blend industry insight with grassroots education. Hundreds of students have built real-world projects, won national awards, and some—like Team India—are now global contenders.
The Innovation Story (TIS) – Engineering a Future for All TIS is a national education innovation organization driving equitable STEM access. Through its tie-up with Amazon, TIS operates India’s flagship Amazon Future Engineer Labs, delivering high-impact learning to thousands of students. With a mission to bridge the opportunity gap, TIS blends community-driven mentoring with tech-enabled infrastructure. From training mentors to launching school-run satellite stations, TIS is rewriting what government school students can achieve—and Team India is living proof of that vision.

Team Media

team@stemeducationtrust.org

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