India’s rapidly growing cities are pushing our environmental resources to their limits, making sustainable design, architecture and engineering essential. By 2030, Indian cities will house an additional 60 million residents, intensifying the need for green design.
The Prem Jain Memorial Trust National Green Earth Challenge invites students of Engineering, Architecture, and Design colleges across India to tackle critical environmental challenges by developing innovative and sustainable design solutions for the built environment. With the mounting pressures of climate change, resource depletion, and urbanization, this challenge emphasizes the importance of a transdisciplinary, integrated approach. Participants will blend insights from various disciplines to create solutions that are not only eco-friendly but also socially inclusive.
The challenge is rooted in the ancient Indian concept of the Panchabhutas — Bhoomi (Earth), Gagan (Space/Sky), Vaayu (Wind), Agni (Fire/Energy), and Neer (Water). These five elements serve as a profound framework for sustainable design, each embodying essential qualities that shape both our environment and our approach to harmonious design. Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from the Panchabhutas and incorporate the 5Rs (Repurpose, Recycle, Refuse, Reuse, and Reduce), along with the principle of Reinvent. The goal is to develop designs that minimize environmental impact and align human activity with nature. This challenge invites students to harmonize modern innovations with sustainable practices, creating future-ready sustainable designs, products, spaces, materials, and technologies.