The shortlisted concepts address challenges ranging from orbital debris management and disaster warning systems to crop health monitoring and emergency communications.
Viasat Inc., a global satellite communications company, has announced the six finalists selected for the grand finale of the second annual ‘Viasat: Space for Good India Challenge 2026’. Organised in strategic partnership with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), the STEM competition brings together university talent from across India to develop solutions to real-world challenges using space-enabled technologies.
The shortlisted projects span a range of applications, including AI-driven orbital debris management, satellite-enabled disaster warning systems, crop health monitoring and emergency communications platforms designed for disaster response. The concepts will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts, government representatives and space-sector leaders during the final round.
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India, said, “Through this programme, we are providing students access to technology, mentorship and real industry engagement, helping transform ideas into solutions that can improve lives. Just as importantly, we are bringing together universities, government organisations, industry partners and communities, because no single organisation solves global challenges alone.”
The six finalists are Aryan Gupta for a secure-by-design framework for D2D IoT; Adeetya Uppal for DRISHTI AI guardian for sustainable orbits; Nived Krishna for Multi-Orbit Alert Relay Network (MARK); Parth Bhagwat Kharat for BhuKavach satellite collapse triage layer; Shashank Kumar Singh for ChronoSentinel plant’s clock from space; and Tanatswa Manjeya for Aegis regional twin for emergency response applications.
The finalists will compete for a total prize pool of ₹1.15 million, including ₹500,000 for first place, ₹375,000 for second place and ₹275,000 for third place. Winners will also receive mentorship from Viasat industry experts.
The grand finale will be held in New Delhi on October 27.
From Connectivity to Capability
More than a competition, Viasat: Space for Good is designed to demonstrate how access to connectivity, technology and mentorship can accelerate innovation. The programme provides students with opportunities to develop practical solutions using satellite-enabled technologies deployed across sectors such as government services, aviation, maritime operations and disaster response.
The six student innovators have earned the opportunity to present their concepts in New Delhi after clearing a multi-stage evaluation process. Now in its second year in India, the initiative reflects Viasat’s broader objective of expanding access to technology and supporting solutions to complex global challenges. Through technical mentorship and exposure to real-world applications, participants gain experience in translating concepts into deployable innovations.
India’s growing technology and space ecosystem provides a favourable backdrop for such initiatives. With more than 43 million students enrolled in higher education and a rapidly expanding base of STEM talent, the country is increasingly positioned as a hub for innovation. At the same time, the country’s space economy is projected to expand significantly over the coming decade, creating new opportunities for researchers, entrepreneurs and technology innovators.