IIST Student Secures Runner-Up at IET India Scholarship Award 2026

Omkar Manik Jadhav, a fourth-year aerospace engineering student at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram, has gained national recognition by securing the First Runner-Up position at the IET India Scholarship Award 2026. This prestigious competition, held on November 10, 2026, awarded Jadhav ₹3 lakh for his innovative project titled 'Forest Sentinel'. His achievement places him among the top two performers out of 48,761 undergraduate engineering students who participated across India, showcasing his exceptional technical understanding and problem-solving skills.

The IET India Scholarship Award is a multi-stage competition designed to identify engineering students who excel beyond academic proficiency. Participants are assessed not only on their theoretical knowledge but also on their ability to apply engineering principles to create practical solutions for real-world challenges. Jadhav's journey began with a strong performance at the regional level, where he won first place in the South 2 Regional Round on September 5, 2026, earning ₹1 lakh and securing his spot in the national finals.

During the national finals, five regional winners presented their projects to a jury of industry experts. Jadhav's 'Forest Sentinel' prototype was developed to address critical issues in forest conservation, specifically focusing on the early detection of forest fires and illegal logging activities. The project uses a network of low-cost, low-power devices equipped with sensors to monitor large and remote forest areas, effectively tackling the limitations of traditional surveillance methods.

This innovative approach not only improves monitoring effectiveness but also reduces the dependency on costly ground-based infrastructure. The Forest Sentinel system operates by detecting unusual activities or potential threats in the forest environment. When a threat is identified, the system sends an alert to a satellite, which relays the information to a designated base camp, enabling a rapid response from monitoring teams. This method of combining sensor-based detection with satellite communication is particularly valuable in regions where establishing extensive monitoring systems poses challenges.

By adopting this approach, Jadhav's project illustrates how engineering can play a vital role in environmental protection and sustainable resource management. His recognition as the First Runner-Up at the IET India Scholarship Award not only highlights his technical expertise but also emphasizes the importance of innovation in addressing environmental issues. The award was presented by Kavitha Rajan, Vice President – Sales (India and South Asia) at ADP India Private Limited, in front of industry representatives and senior members of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). This achievement marks a significant milestone in Jadhav's academic journey, demonstrating his ability to translate engineering concepts into impactful solutions for pressing environmental challenges.