FIRST Tech Challenge India Championship 2024-25
Vishwakarma University Presents FIRST Tech Challenge India Championship 2024-25
Pune : The largest robotics competition for school and junior college students, Vishwakarma University Present FIRST Tech Challenge India Championship 2024-25, was held at Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Boxing Stadium, Mhalunge – Pune from 28th February to 2nd March, 2025. The event brought together 60 teams from across India, including Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Chennai, along with six international teams from Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and UAE.
Inauguration and Key Highlights
The competition was inaugurated on February 28, 2025, in the presence of distinguished guests, including Dr. Siddharth Jabade, Vice Chancellor, Vishwakarma University, Padmashree Shri Pramod Kale, Ex-Director, ISRO; Mr. Vishwanth Sastry and Ms. Pragati Chauhan, Circana; Mr. Amit Sawarkar, RTX; Mr. Vikas Sawhney, Bajaj Auto Ltd; Mr. Mahesh Masurkar,
Director, John Deere; Mr. Sajit Chakingal, TMF and other dignitaries from academia and industries.
“With 60 teams and 6 international teams, the objective of FTC is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education among students in India” said, Mr. Amit Sawarkar, RTX.
1,500 students from Vidya Niketan Schools of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), accompanied by their faculty, to experience the championship firsthand.
The students had a unique opportunity to witness live robotics matches, where they observed top teams from across the country competing in high-energy, strategy-driven games. In addition to the thrilling matches, students explored various innovations showcased by participating teams, gaining insights into robotics, automation, and problem-solving techniques.
The semi-finals, final round, and the award ceremony took place on March 2, 2025. The top three teams- winners of the Inspire Award: Mad Engineers and Robot Game Winning Alliance Captain & Partner: Team Matrix and Team Eureka respectively will represent India at the FIRST World Championship in Houston, USA, from April 15th to 19th , 2025. Industry experts will be mentoring the Vishwakarma University Present FIRST Tech Challenge India winners to prepare them for the global stage.
About FIRST Tech Challenge
The FIRST Tech Challenge is a globally recognized, theme-based robotics competition presented by FIRST, USA (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) which was founded by Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers in 1989. FIRST aims to inspire young minds to engage with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The organization operates as a not-for-profit public charity, developing accessible, innovative programs that motivate students to explore STEM education and careers while fostering self-confidence and knowledge. Its core philosophy emphasizes “coopetition”—a blend of cooperation and competition—and “gracious professionalism,” which encourages teamwork, high-quality work, and respect for individuals and the community.
FIRST Tech Challenge in India
Introduced in India by PTC in 2010 in collaboration with NRB Bearings Ltd., the FIRST Tech Challenge has been organized annually since 2012 for students in grades 7-12 (ages 12 to 18). Under the guidance of mentors and volunteers, teams develop strategies and build robots using sound engineering principles.
The 2024-25 FTC India Championship was sponsored by Vishwakarma University and officially titled as Vishwakarma University Presents FIRST Tech Challenge India Championship 2024-25. They were supported by Qualcomm as Presenting Partner and RTX along with support from Circana, PTC, John Deere, BVG India, Bechtel, Dow , Carrier, Bajaj Auto Ltd, and other corporates joining the event. In addition, ARAI, STPI, SEAP, SAE India, COEP Technological University, and Savitribai Phule Pune University have also endorsed the Championship.
Competition Theme and Format
The theme for the 2024-25 competition was ‘Dive’ Powered by Qualcomm, and the game challenge was ‘Into the Deep’ Powered by RTX. Teams built robots using their STEM and collaboration skills to explore life beneath the surface of the ocean. The competition featured high-energy, 2-minute 30 second matches based on the alliance team format, testing the robots’ performance, efficiency, and endurance. After a series of qualification matches, high-ranked teams selected their alliance teams to compete in the elimination rounds, culminating in the semi-finals and finals.
Diversity and Inclusion in Participation
This year’s competition showcased a diverse range of participants, including teams from rural schools, corporation-run schools, state-run schools, and international institutions. Notably, the event included a team from a school for children with hearing difficulties and from the Signal School in Mumbai, and teams from municipal corporation schools in Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, and Delhi. The competition underscored its mission to foster inclusivity, accessibility, and equal opportunities for all students.
Support and Sponsorships
Each participating team received a robotics kit provided by the organizers. As the competition required knowledge of mechanics and electronics, mentors guided students through understanding the theme and constructing their robots accordingly. To encourage wider participation of students, Qualcomm, John Deere, Dow, RTX, Bajaj Auto Ltd and InfinityX STEM Foundation—a not-for-profit organization—sponsored 20 robotics kits for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Vishwakarma University Presents FIRST Tech Challenge India Championship 2024-25 successfully combined innovation, teamwork, and STEM education and continues to be a pioneering platform for young minds to explore the world of robotics fostering a future generation of tech leaders.