Teachers
Teachers as Transformers, by Vijaya Sherry Chand and Shailesh Shukla, Ravi J. Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, was the title of a volume brought out by UNICEF, Gujarat, in 1998 that presented the work of 30 outstanding teachers of Gujarat. This volume was the genesis of a search for outstanding teachers who, using their own intellectual resources, have managed to innovate and improve education in their contexts.
The initial work was supported by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai. Three yearbooks of case studies of innovative teachers were brought out (2005-07). In addition, a number of other accounts were produced. The Hewlett-Packard Sustainability and Social Innovation Award (2013-14) has made the scaling up of the work and its conversion into a web-based resource possible.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
In the memory of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the Honey Bee Network, SRISTI, and GIAN jointly organize an annual competition of student’s innovative and creative ideas to solve societal and grassroots problems.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Award
Competition accepts entries from students up to class 12 and also from school dropouts up-to 19 years of age. This award aims to develop a culture of samvedna amongst the children to find solutions to local problems, thus addressing unmet social needs. The idea is to make children aware of the problems and hardships that have been faced by the common people in their day-to-day lives with which many of us have learned to adjust, adopt, and live with. If children start becoming impatient with social inertia at an early age, it is likely that they will bring about more creative and compassionate changes in the society as they grow up.
"Celebrating children as a source of ideas and not just as a sink of sermons!"
Announcement 2026
Entries for Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Award 2026 are now open!
Eligibility & instructions
- Children up-to standard 12th or if dropped out of school, under 19 years of age.
- A student can send more than one entry.
- One can send a sketch or drawing of his/her idea/innovation while applying (optional).
- Ensure the idea is original to the student and unaided by anyone. Teacher/parent involvement only at application/design/prototype stage.
- Parents/teachers can send their ideas to hbncriia@honeybee.org for HBNCRIIA awards.
- Children from families associated with Honey Bee Network institutions are not eligible, but can submit creative ideas.
Submit your entry
Google form: rb.gy/ouof8v
Email: ignitedmind@honeybee.org
WhatsApp/Phone: (+91) 9313246772
Official posters 2026
Ignited Mind Awards
Celebrating Young Innovation Across India
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Awards
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Awards 2020 received around 9000 entries from 22 states and UTs across the country. Out of these, 9 awards and 6 appreciations were selected. The virtual award ceremony was held on March 11, 2021 and the awards were given away by eminent scholar Padma Vibhushan Dr RA Mashelkar, FRS.
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Awards
This year in 2021, The Honey Bee Network through SRISTI and GIAN received around 4200 innovative ideas from children in 24 states of India through online and offline media. A jury comprising distinguished experts evaluated the shortlisted ideas and selected 20 innovative ideas for awards and appreciation.
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Awards
This year in 2022, The Honey Bee Network through SRISTI and GIAN received around 3702 innovative ideas from children in 27 states of India through online and offline. A jury comprising distinguished experts evaluated the shortlisted ideas and selected 8 innovative ideas from 8 different states for the Awards.
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Awards
This year, the Honey Bee Network received an overwhelming response, with approximately 16,570 innovative ideas submitted by children from 23 states across India, both online and offline. A distinguished jury of experts evaluated these submissions and selected 16 outstanding ideas for the awards, representing the creative brilliance of students from 10 different states.
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Ignited Mind Children Creativity and Innovation Awards
In 2024, the Honey Bee Network, through SRISTI and GIAN, received approximately 11948 innovative submissions from children across 21 states of India, through both online and offline channels. These were carefully evaluated and 10 outstanding ideas were selected for the Awards. These 10 students, representing 7 different states, were recognized for their social sensitivity and identification of the unmet needs in everyday life. The selected ideas were grouped into four broad categories: Safety and Protection Systems, Health and Medical Care, Assistive Technology for the Elderly and Differently-Abled and Smart Home, Transport, and Daily Utilities