A Bengaluru-based engineering student has won one of India’s most prestigious undergraduate technology honours for developing a solar-powered healthcare solution aimed at real-world deployment. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on Monday announced Rithika S K of KCG College of Technology as the national winner of the 9th IET India Scholarship Award.
Rithika emerged at the top from 43,971 applications screened through a strict multi-stage evaluation assessing academic excellence, innovation, leadership, and social impact. Her project, a solar-powered healthcare kiosk named HEKIO, won the National Finals held in December. She was awarded a scholarship of ₹3 lakh and complimentary IET membership. Vansika Jhawar from KIIT secured the first runner-up position, while SRM University AP student Khushi Malhotra was named second runner-up. The programme distributed ₹10 lakh in scholarships this year. Notably, all five national finalists were women—an unprecedented milestone in the programme’s history.
Innovations like solar healthcare kiosks can drive demand in underserved rural markets across eastern India such as Kolkata, where power outages and limited medical infrastructure persist. Local technology firms and start-ups in the city are increasingly focused on affordable renewable energy solutions, signalling commercial potential for such engineering initiatives. Prof. Abhijit Chakrabarti, Chair of the IET India Scholarship Advisory Committee, said the programme recognises young engineers “who demonstrate technical ability, leadership, and a strong sense of purpose.” Established in 2013, the scholarship follows a four-stage, merit-based process. Applications for the next edition open in April 2026, marking the programme’s 10th year.