IEM-UEM students win first and second prizes at India AI impact summit 2026

Students of the University of Engineering and Management (UEM), part of the IEM-UEM Group, secured both first and second prizes in the YuvAI project competition at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Competing against 20,000 project entries, UEM Kolkata emerged as the only university to win two top awards at what was described as the world’s largest AI summit.

The first prize, carrying a cash award of ₹15 lakh along with Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses, was presented to AGNISENA – Early Forest Fire Detection and Communication System. The AI-enabled solution is designed for real-time forest fire detection and rapid emergency communication, aiming to minimise environmental damage and prevent loss of life through early alerts.

The second prize of ₹10 lakh was awarded for Early Dysarthria Prediction using Explainable AI (XAI). The project focuses on early identification of dysarthria through interpretable machine learning models, offering a healthcare solution that supports improved clinical decision-making and timely intervention.

The awards were presented by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who holds the portfolios of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, along with Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada. The recognition highlighted the innovation and societal impact of the student-led initiatives.

Both projects were developed by third-year undergraduate students and are outcomes of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Center (IEDC) of the IEM-UEM Group. The achievement underscores the institution’s emphasis on research-driven innovation and entrepreneurship at the undergraduate level.