THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Dhanbad, May 22: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad alumna Deveshi Singh has won a theme award at the AI for Bharat 2 Hackathon, organised during the PanIIT Bangalore Summit 2026, for developing an AI-powered solution focused on cleaner energy, waste utilisation and sustainable industrial applications.
Deveshi, a 2025 B.Tech graduate in Engineering Physics from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, participated as a solo innovator and developed “IndicAI” under the theme AI Platform for Molecular Discovery in Chemical Catalysis and Synthetic Biology.
AI Model for CO2-to-Methanol Conversion
The innovation aims to accelerate the discovery of advanced catalysts capable of converting carbon dioxide into methanol, opening possibilities for cleaner fuel production and carbon utilisation.
Speaking about the project, Deveshi Singh said the idea was inspired by India’s growing waste and emissions challenge. According to her, India generates nearly 200 million tonnes of domestic waste annually and around 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from waste and related sources, including burning and incineration.
“The prototype generates novel catalysts for CO2-to-methanol conversion to support cleaner energy, greater self-sufficiency and lower emissions,” she said.
Uses Advanced AI Models
Deveshi explained that IndicAI uses variational autoencoders, an advanced AI model, to learn the chemical search space and generate promising catalyst candidates. The platform can also be adapted for multiple industrial reactions linked to biodegradable waste and emissions management.
Major National AI Innovation Platform
The AI for Bharat 2 Hackathon was organised by PanIIT Alumni India in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka. The event attracted more than 16,000 participants across 12 themes and focused on practical AI solutions for real-world problems.
Prabhat Kumar (IRS), Chairman of PanIIT Alumni India, said the hackathon was designed to identify and support young innovators working on impactful technologies.
Ashok Kumar, General Secretary of PanIIT Alumni India and an IIT (ISM) Dhanbad alumnus, said the achievement reflects both Deveshi Singh’s talent and the institute’s innovation-driven culture.
IIT (ISM) Strengthens Deep-Tech Innovation Footprint
The achievement highlights IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s growing presence in deep-tech and applied AI innovation, particularly in sustainability-focused research and industrial problem-solving.
The PanIIT Bangalore Summit 2026, inaugurated by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, brought together more than 2,000 delegates, including innovators, founders, investors, policymakers and technology leaders.