What do you get while you put a gaggle of prodigies collectively on stage, together with a badminton sensation making headlines, a musical genius who bagged a nationwide award on the age of 10, and a science innovator redefining most cancers detection? Not a group of superheroes from the world of comedian books, however not removed from it both.The second version of The Occasions of India’s #Unstopabble21 — introduced by Reliance Basis, and with the Uttarakhand govt as state accomplice — an initiative to recognise and award 21 younger abilities throughout the nation, noticed the approaching collectively of winners aged from 5 to 21. Every identify — traversing the various worlds of science, sports activities, and music — was chosen from a whole bunch of nominations acquired by a panel of eminent jury, together with writer Chetan Bhagat, eminent scientist Govindan Rangarajan, Carnatic vocalist Sudha Ragunathan, and entrepreneur Rohan Verma.Union minister of communications Jyotiraditya Scindia, the chief visitor for the occasion, lauded the younger weapons. “You’re consultant of the massive expertise board of a 35 crore GenZ inhabitants throughout the size and breadth of our nation… and the aptitude of our amrit peedhi . You’re dwelling in a interval the place, in some ways, you all are driving the wave, setting the tempo and rewriting the playbook… for the Bharat that’s to return,” Scindia mentioned. Drawing upon the exhilarating story of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the primary Indian on the ISS, Scindia additionally underscored how small nudges in life can take the desires of younger minds into a brand new orbit.The minister, who didn’t let a chilly stop him from attending the occasion, additionally emphasised the significance of constructing a robust thoughts and physique, and being rooted in spirituality. He underlined the necessity for transferring away from “FaceTime to actual time”, stating that “too many amongst this younger technology are utilizing the dabbas (cellphones) as an alternative choice to sustaining relationships. There’s nothing that may change urgent a hand, hugging somebody, or talking eye to eye to somebody.”
Such awards usually are not only a recognition of the laborious work put in by the winners from a really younger age, but additionally the sacrifices made by their dad and mom,’ mentioned Saurabh Bahuguna (R), minister of talent improvement and employment, Uttara- khand, who was visitor of honour on the occasion. ‘The ability of youth right this moment is such that they are often our conscience keepers and remind us about our values,’ mentioned Nupur Bahl, the top of skilling at Reliance Basis
Saurabh Bahuguna, Uttarakhand animal husbandry minister and a former skilled golfer, identified how “fortunate” right this moment’s youth have been to have a sea of alternatives earlier than them. “After I was taking part in golf and representing the nation, I didn’t have these many alternatives like you could have right this moment,” he mentioned. “I had a coach who used to inform me that the longer term doesn’t belong to the one who’s proficient, or fortunate. It belongs to the one who is able to put in laborious work and is able to be constant.”Because the winners have been felicitated on stage, the message was loud and clear: the longer term is right here, younger, and now. Singer Sooryagayathri mesmerised the viewers together with her voice. Uthara Unnikrishnan carried out a fusion of her track ‘Azhage’ with the Michael Jackson hit ‘Bille Jean’. For the ultimate act, flautist Anirban Roy and drummer Steven Samuel Devassy teamed up for a jugalbandi , the final strains of which lingered lengthy after the curtains closed.
Sports activities
Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 14, Tajpur
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
His efficiency for Rajasthan Royals made him the youngest sensation in IPL historical past. Through the 2025 IPL mega public sale, Vaibhav, 13 then, turned the youngest cricketer ever shortlisted. He debuted in opposition to Lucknow Tremendous Giants, smashing a six off the very first supply he confronted. Over seven matches, Vaibhav racked up 252 runs at a median of 36 and a strike charge of 206.5. On April 28, the cricketer from Bihar turned the youngest to attain a century in males’s T20 cricket and likewise registered the quickest hundred by an Indian in IPL historical past.Anmol Kharb | 18, Faridabad
Anmol kharb
Anmol performed a pivotal position in India’s historic gold medal on the 2024 Badminton Asia Staff Championships. Coupled together with her latest worldwide title wins, she has firmly been positioned on the game’s radar as a rising ace.Born in 2007, in Haryana, she started coaching on the Dawn Shuttlers Academy below coach Kusumm Singh, a former nationwide participant. By 12, she had claimed the U17 All-India Rating title and was chosen for the Khelo India scheme. She went on to win the singles and doubles U17 nationwide titles in 2020. Her actual breakthrough got here in 2023, when she received the senior nationwide championship in Guwahati. Final yr, she received consecutive girls’s singles titles on the Belgian Worldwide and the Polish Worldwide.Tanvi Patri | 14, Bengaluru
Tanvi Patri
When Tanvi first picked up a badminton racquet eight years in the past, she was a hesitant sixyear-old in China. Right this moment, at 14, she is considered one of India’s brightest junior prospects — having clinched the Asian U15 singles title in Chengdu final yr. Born in 2010, Tanvi’s introduction to badminton got here after the household relocated to China in 2016. Tanvi received her first U8 title in 2018. The following yr, she claimed eight titles throughout U9, U10, and U11 classes. After her household returned to India, she joined Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru. “I need to carry laurels to my nation within the Olympics,” she mentioned.
My dream is to win anOlympics gold medal for thecountry. This award will motivateme to work tougher in the direction of that purpose
Tanvi Patri
Esha Singh | 20, Hyderabad
Esha singh
Esha picked up a pistol at 9 in 2014. By 13, she turned the nationwide champion. Specialising within the 10m and 25m air pistol occasions, she has received medals on the Worldwide Capturing Sport Federation Junior World Cup, Asian junior and airgun championships, and the 2019 Asian Championship in Doha. In 2022, she received 4 medals on the Hangzhou Asian Video games within the senior class. Esha bagged gold within the 25m pistol group occasion and silver within the 25m particular person, 10m particular person, and 10m group occasions. On the Paris Olympics, Esha completed in 18th. And in April 2025, she received silver within the 25m air pistol occasion on the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires — her first.Dhinidhi Desinghu | 15, Bengaluru
Dhinidhi Desinghu
Final yr, she turned the youngest member of the Indian contingent on the Paris Olympics, competing within the girls’s 200m freestyle. Her Olympic debut might have lasted 4 heats, however for Dhinidhi, it was a second years within the making. She was additionally the youngest within the Indian swimming squad within the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Video games. In 2023, she turned the youngest swimmer to win seven gold medals in a single version of the Nationwide Video games, held in Goa. On the 2025 Nationwide Video games, she bagged 11 medals — 9 gold, one silver, and one bronze — and was declared “Finest Athlete” of the match.
To be chosen for thisrecognition from such alarge pool of kids feelsincredible, and makes me proud ofall the laborious work I’ve put in
Dhinidhi Desinghu
Performing arts
Sooryagayathri 19, Vatakara
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All of it started practically a decade in the past when a video surfaced on YouTube, directed and produced by musician Kuldeep M Pai, that includes a rendition of ‘Ganesha Pancharatnam’— a devotional piece, with an surprising twist. The voice rendering it wasn’t that of an skilled vocalist, however belonged to a nine-year-old woman.Now 19, Sooryagayathri has carried out at a whole bunch of venues worldwide — together with the US, UK, Australia, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and South Africa. She held 29 concert events within the US alone over the previous two months.She lives a quiet, lowprofile life in Purameri, a village close to Vatakara. She is usually referred to as ‘Junior MS’— in a nod to classical music nice M S Subbalakshmi. As an alternative of actuality exhibits and competitions, it’s stay exhibits that attraction extra to Sooryagayathri. The turning level for Sooryagayathri got here when Kuldeep M Pai was searching for a toddler artiste to report the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ for an advert. He uploaded her recording to his YouTube channel and since then, Sooryagayathri has continued to encourage thousands and thousands together with her soulful voice.Steven Samuel Devassy 19, Chennai
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Music runs in Steven’s veins. His expertise for drumming was observed at 5 with excellent rhythms on faculty desks. He was quickly enrolled in lessons — and gifted his first drum package by his uncle, acclaimed musician Stephen Devassy. By six, he was performing with Sivamani, and at 10, turned the youngest to clear Trinity Faculty London’s Grade VII in drums.Inspired by his father, he additionally recorded gospel songs that went viral, inspiring him to check Indian and Western classical music. His on-line fusion experiments, mixing drums with Indian devices, drew reward from senior musicians.Now 19, Steven has launched his personal album in Tamil, Hindi, and English and was amongst 12 chosen by A R Rahman for his Indian classical band ‘Jhalaa’.Switching from humanities to sound engineering, Steven desires of composing for movies, acting on worldwide phases, and someday successful a Grammy.Uthara Unnikrishnan 20, Chennai
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It was throughout a Golu celebration at singer Saindhavi’s home when a younger woman sang a track that left an enduring impression. A lot in order that when music director G V Prakash Kumar was searching for a contemporary voice, Saindhavi remembered that second. The little woman was Uthara Unnikrishnan. The track that adopted — ‘Azhage’ from the 2015 movie Saivam — turned a defining debut for her. Uthara was 10 when she recorded it, incomes her the Nationwide Movie Award for greatest feminine playback singer.The daughter of famend Carnatic vocalist P Unnikrishnan and Bharatanatyam dancer Priya Unnikrishnan grew up immersed within the arts. Seeing her love for music, her dad and mom enrolled her in Carnatic music lessons at 5. Later, her classical base gave her the arrogance to discover different genres — Hindustani classical, playback, and Western types like pop, rock, and jazz, a lot of which she taught herself just by listening. Her most up-to-date work consists of the title monitor ‘Kanavellam’ for the upcoming movie ‘3BHK’, slated to launch on July 4.Anirban Roy | 15, Kolkata
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He’s maybe Bengal’s solely baby prodigy who’s had Bollywood celebs dancing to his tune — fairly actually. He first shocked his dad and mom by taking part in the flute at his dwelling when he was simply 4 and a half. His father would train his sister, unaware that the kid spontaneously began studying to play. When he turned six, a video of Anirban acting at a Saraswati Puja live performance at Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumder’s residence went viral.Now 15, the star performer on the ‘Hunarbaaz Desh Ki Shan’ expertise present has earned monikers like ‘Kanha’ and ‘Gopal’ for his melodious recitals. He has carried out jugalbandis with Hema Malini, Madhuri Dixit Nene, and Ustad Taufiq Qureshi. A scholar of his father, Lokenath Roy, Anirban made his public debut at 5 throughout Pt Tanmoy Bose’s ‘Kal Ke Kalakar’ programme.Aside from being the the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna Dr M S Subhalakshmi Fellowship in music, he has additionally received the Naad Brahma Award (2017), Grasp Mohan Award (2018), Byju’s Younger Genius Trophy (2021), Sama Bala Puraskar, Asian African Iconic Model Award, and the Kalki Gaurav Award (2022). He has additionally performed internationally — on the closing ceremony of the Shanghai Worldwide Movie Pageant and the Khelo India Youth Video games 2023 opening.Fantastic arts and humanitiesJiya Doshi | 17, Mumbai
When Jiya Doshi’s mom exhausted their inventory of storybooks, she got here up with a novel means of making new bedtime tales. She’d revisit previous tales, prompting Jiya to think about new twists. “She’d ask, ‘What occurs subsequent?’ and I’d assist construct the plot,” Jiya remembers. That early sport formed her love for writing — a ardour she’s nurtured since she was 5. Jiya has authored three books: two novels and a poetry assortment, squeezing writing into her research breaks and scribbling concepts in textbook margins throughout class.
This award goes to be oneof my favorite recollections
Jiya Dosh
Jiya additionally recites her poems on social media. Amongst her accolades is the Worldwide Exceller Underneath 18 Writers Awards and Golden E book Awards 2025. However writing might be only one half of her future. “I need to research drugs or biochemistry and heal individuals,” she says. “However I additionally need to write poetry — as a result of poetry heals too.”Samarth Chitta | 13, B’luru
“What do you need to be while you develop up?” For most youngsters, it’s a question that may spark confusion, hesitation, possibly even a nervous shrug. However Samarth Chitta did one thing completely different. He turned it into content material for thousands and thousands of youngsters like himself, all in search of readability in a world filled with countless potentialities.“It began after I was 4. With my dad and mom’ assist, I launched a YouTube channel,” he mentioned. When Covid-19 lockdown hit, Samarth’s information present discovered a brand new format: podcasts and he quickly zeroed in on one phase. “Children like me are interested in a thousand careers. So, I assumed, why not interview professionals from completely different backgrounds. That helps us perceive what completely different jobs actually seem like behind the scenes.” Samarth can also be an writer, with two books out and a 3rd in progress.Anvi Vishesh Agrawal 5, Bhubaneswar
When she walked onto a TEDx stage in Gurgaon this Jan to talk on ‘Creativity is a Superpower’, she didn’t simply win the room, she made historical past, changing into the youngest feminine TEDx speaker, an achievement recognised by Guinness World Data. “I used to be excited, scared, and completely happy,” mentioned the category 1 scholar. “I used to be apprehensive what individuals would say about my speech, whether or not they would clap or not. Joyful as a result of I used to be giving a speech earlier than so many grown-ups.”
I’m so completely happy. My coronary heart isjumping. My subsequent goal is tohave the Pradhan Mantri BalPursukar Award and lots of Guinnessrecords
Anvi Vishesh Agrawal
Earlier than her TEDx debut, Anvi was already expressing herself — in color, music, and phrases. Her inventive journey started earlier than she may learn. At simply two, she entered the report books for having created over 72 work. By three, her paintings had already been showcased in exhibitions throughout Mumbai, Gurgaon, and Dubai. Her creativity doesn’t cease on the canvas. She can also be a budding writer and pianist. Earlier than she turned 5, she turned the youngest writer of a bilingual e-book — ‘Little Woman’s Large Feelings’ — printed in English and Spanish.Austin Ajit | 12, Bengaluru
He’s a naturalist, activist, and writer of 11 books on animals and conservation. His first, ‘Grandma and Austin’s Plant Kingdom’, was printed when he was eight, incomes him recognition because the youngest writer of fiction on vegetation and farming. “I’ve at all times cherished nature — all elements of it, even bugs,” says Austin, who’s homeschooled via Wolsey Corridor Oxford.Eager to make conservation partaking, he turned info into entertaining tales. Just lately again from a dragonfly workshop in Mangaluru, he’s planning one on butterflies subsequent. His e-book earnings assist take care of a rescued sloth bear via Wildlife SOS. Austin hopes to be knowledgeable naturalist and encourage others to like and shield nature.
Science
Mayank Pandhari | 20, Bengaluru
This undergrad scholar is researching on most cancers cells — monitoring protein expression throughout cell strains and analyzing how matrix stiffness might affect protein localisation tied to most cancers metabolism. He’s received a gold medal on the 2022 Worldwide Biology Olympiad held in Armenia and secured an All-India Rank of 64 within the KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) fellowship, gaining admission into IISc’s aggressive BSc (Analysis) programme in Biology. As Moist Lab Coordinator for the IISc group on the 2023 Worldwide Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competitors in Paris, Mayank led experimental efforts to design a potential mRNA-based remedy for endometriosis — a situation that impacts thousands and thousands of ladies worldwide.Krisha Janaswamy | 19, Mumbai
For over a yr now, Krisha, an Mbbs scholar , has been creating a self-test package that would revolutionise how gynaecological problems, and probably cervical most cancers, are identified in India. Her innovation is a compact system that makes use of an enzyme-coated strip to measure lactate ranges in vaginal fluid. “Lactate is a novel biomarker that may sign gynaecological infections or malignancy,” says Krisha, including that the package screens for a number of situations typically underdiagnosed resulting from stigma, inaccessibility, and lack of knowledge. The system is tailor-made for post-menopausal and geriatric girls, together with those that are bedridden. Already patent-filed, the challenge was named one of many prime 5 improvements at IIT Bombay’s TechFest and is now heading towards medical trials, regulatory approvals.Anirudh Nautiyal | 20, Vadodara
Impressed by a Hollywood movie primarily based on battle, Anirudh constructed a robotic arm that mimics human hand actions and makes bomb disposal sooner and safer. He assembled a state-of-the-art robotic arm that could possibly be managed remotely through a flex sensor glove worn on one hand. It mirrors the consumer’s hand actions in actual time. “After eight months of labor, I developed the robotic arm and named it VENOM,” mentioned Nautiyal. The innovation even caught the eye of PM Modi earlier this yr. “I targeted on the technical elements, whereas the monetary help got here from my dad and mom.” The budding tech innovator is now engaged on one other challenge — an anti-drone system that may be mounted on transferring autos. “The system I’m creating will detect and neutralise drones mid-air,” Nautiyal mentioned.Aditya Kumar Jha | 15, Mumbai
He has developed an AI-driven diagnostic instrument geared toward detecting liver illness in its early phases. The thought struck when he was 13 in Raipur, after studying his shut pal’s father was battling extreme liver sickness. “I wished to assist households like my pal’s,” he says. His diagnostic system makes use of a paper strip that exams urine samples for chemical markers, with AI assessing illness threat. Although nobody in his household works in science — his father is in personal service and his mom a homemaker — they’ve at all times backed his ardour. Aditya is now attending a prestigious summer time programme in Boston, collaborating with younger innovators from all over the world.
Social activism
Saiyam Mazumdar 17, Guwahati
His journey into wildlife conservation started when he was 10. He has since saved over 1,800 animals, changing into considered one of Assam’s most inspiring younger conservationists. Rising up in Pandu in Guwahati, he says, “Rescuing animals turned the aim of my life.” He’s been bitten a number of occasions, however says the ache solely deepened his resolve. He discovered tips on how to administer injections and saline to the wounded. He developed a fascination for snakes and commenced rescuing them with makeshift instruments. He’s recieved the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar — the nation’s highest civilian honour for youngsters. His efforts additionally embody lively involvement with ‘Inexperienced Earth Guardians’, the place he mentors the youth in consciousness campaigns, clean-up drives, and conservation tasks throughout Assam and past.In Jan, Saiyam added a brand new milestone to his journey — summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, and hoisting the Indian flag. He plans to climb Mt Elbrus in Russia this Aug.Anoushka Jolly | 15, Delhi
Anoushka Jolly
When Anoushka was in third grade, she was bullied by her classmates. She discovered herself doing chores no baby ought to be pressured into — tying shoelaces, cleansing plates — merely to keep away from ridicule. “There have been moments after I was serving to them with their footwear or plates,” she remembers. “After numerous battle, my dad and mom observed one thing was off. They helped me discover my voice.”With their help, the bullying stopped. However she questioned, “What in regards to the kids who don’t have somebody to show to?” In 2018, when she was 9, she launched AntiBullying Squad, a weblog the place victims may anonymously share their tales. However she realised that options and help have been additionally essential.In 2021, Anoushka developed a cell app referred to as ‘Kavach’, designed to permit nameless reporting, realtime help, and academic assets for colleges and college students. Her efforts gained nationwide recognition when she acquired funding at a Rs 50 lakh valuation in Shark Tank India, 2021. And in 2023, she was awarded the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her contribution.
Entrepreneurship
Vaibhav Shokeen | 21, Delhi
Vaibhav Shokeen
He goes wherever information takes him. From monitoring air air pollution in Delhi to becoming a member of a world analysis group combating parasitic illness in Africa, Vaibhav loves fixing challenges with numbers.A pc science scholar, he says, “The unhappy actuality with expertise is that those that want it most have least entry. I need to change that.”Final summer time, he labored with worldwide researchers creating a low-cost diagnostic instrument for schistosomiasis, a continual an infection in elements of Africa. “I used to be the one undergrad with a pc science background. My position was to design a machine studying module to help detection,” says Vaibhav, who will journey to Nigeria in July to implement his system with grant help.Again dwelling, he contributed to a Delhi challenge creating temperature-controlled bricks to cut back AC energy use and air pollution. Wanting forward, Vaibhav hopes to deal with rural laptop literacy. “Many govt workers lack even primary tech abilities like Excel or PPTs. I need to develop a module to ship technical training on the grassroots,” he provides.Ridhhaan Jaiin | 11, Pune
When most kids in Pune are tucked into mattress with a narrative, Ridhhaan Jaiin is probably going crafting considered one of his personal. The 11-year-old writer and budding writer made his debut in Dec 2021 with ‘As soon as Upon In My Thoughts’, a set of tales penned when he was eight. Since then, the e-book has offered over 1,000 copies. “Storytelling began early for him,” says his father. “Most dad and mom learn their children bedtime tales, however Ridhhaan was the one narrating them to us.”When Covid-19 hit, the Jaiins inspired their son to pen down his creativeness. Later, his principal urged his dad and mom to get them printed. Since then, he has written many books. However writing isn’t the place Ridhhaan’s journey ends. In 2022, he co-founded RidhzWorld Publishing along with his dad and mom to assist different children grow to be printed authors. Now, over 25 baby authors have printed their work via RidhzWorld.