**Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Appointed Brand Ambassador of ‘Viksit Bharat Buildathon’**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 5, 2025, 6:41 PM*
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the **Viksit Bharat Buildathon**. This nationwide innovation movement is aimed at students from classes 6 to 12 and is being organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission.
### Massive Student Participation Expected
The Viksit Bharat Buildathon is touted as the largest school hackathon in India. Over one crore students from approximately 1.5 lakh schools are expected to participate in this exciting initiative. The hackathon encourages young minds to ideate, design, and develop prototypes focusing on four key themes:
– **Aatmanirbhar Bharat** (Self-Reliant India)
– **Swadeshi** (Indigenous)
– **Vocal for Local** (Promoting Local Products)
– **Samriddhi** (Prosperity)
### Shubhanshu Shukla’s Vision and Role
Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, recently completed his maiden space voyage on the Axiom-4 mission. He is the second Indian ever to venture into space after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.
On Saturday, Shukla met with School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar to discuss the vision and future direction of the Viksit Bharat Buildathon, reinforcing the initiative’s aim to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
### Important Dates and How to Participate
The Viksit Bharat Buildathon was launched on September 23, 2025. Registrations for the hackathon are open until October 6, so students from classes 6 to 12 are encouraged to form teams and register promptly.
The live event is scheduled for October 13, 2025, and winners will be announced in December. Participants will have the opportunity to create innovative ideas and prototypes addressing real-life challenges aligned with the national themes emphasized by the event.
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Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting journey toward building a self-reliant and prosperous India through student innovation.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/space-traveler-becomes-viksit-bharat-buildathon-brand-ambassador/story
