As the Mark Rober Jugaad Contest 2025 powers through its midway point, social media feeds across India are overflowing with ingenious, hilarious, and downright brilliant entries. What started as a simple call-to-action from former NASA engineer and YouTube sensation Mark Rober has exploded into a nationwide celebration of innovation — Indian-style. With over ₹50 lakh in total prize money on the line and a chance to be personally recognized by Rober himself, creators are going all out, using everything from cardboard and broken fans to discarded plastic bottles and kitchen gadgets to solve real-world problems.
The contest — running from April 30 to September 15, 2025 — invites participants aged 8 and above to design and post videos of their most creative Jugaad inventions using everyday household items. While the challenge is simple in its premise, the entries flooding in are anything but ordinary.
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One standout comes from a 12-year-old boy in Jaipur, who designed an automatic plant watering system using old IV drips, plastic bottles, and a discarded alarm clock. The setup ensures plants are hydrated on a timer, without relying on expensive gardening tools. Meanwhile, a duo of college students from Pune created a mini washing machine for hostel dwellers using just a hand drill, a bucket, and a salvaged fan motor — offering a lifeline for students managing laundry on a tight budget.
From the rural heartlands of Bihar to the urban rooftops of Delhi, the Jugaad spirit is thriving. A farmer from Madhya Pradesh submitted a video of his cow dung-powered phone charger made using copper wiring and broken torchlight parts — a practical and sustainable solution to electricity issues in remote areas. His post not only impressed viewers but also gained traction from tech influencers, sparking conversations around rural innovation.
In Bengaluru, a young girl crafted an automated room-cooling device from old computer fans, ice trays, and recycled cardboard. Her invention cools the room using basic thermodynamic principles without needing an air conditioner — a major win for eco-conscious innovation.
The key to these successful entries lies not in expensive parts or polished presentation but in the pure creativity behind them. Mark Rober has emphasized that this contest is not about flashy editing or perfect builds — it’s about original ideas, clever problem-solving, and the ability to make something meaningful out of almost nothing.
Every entry must be posted on a public social media platform (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or X) with the hashtag #MarkRoberJugaad, and then submitted via the official contest website: www.markroberjugaad.com. Without submitting the link through the site, entries won’t be considered — a critical step that many still overlook. Also, participants under 18 must ensure that their parent or legal guardian submits the entry on their behalf.
The contest is part of Rober’s broader effort to promote science and engineering in India through fun, accessible formats. His visit to India includes collaborations with some of the country’s top creators like Curly Tales, CarryMinati, Techburner, and even a special feature with Hardik Pandya. At the heart of it all is his mission to tap into India’s centuries-old Jugaad culture — where necessity breeds innovation, and frugality doesn’t limit genius.
Rober, whose YouTube channel has garnered over 68 million subscribers and more than 11 billion views, is well-known for his viral science experiments — from squirrel mazes and glitter bombs to building the world’s largest Nerf gun. But with this contest, he’s handing the spotlight to Indian creators, many of whom are still in school or working from villages with minimal resources.
Entries like a “fridge without electricity” built using clay pots and an evaporative cooling system, or a scooter-to-wheelchair converter built using scrap metal, show that the competition is not just fun — it’s making a real difference. Participants are solving local problems, making tools for the elderly, or building devices to help their communities — all using the true essence of Jugaad.
With just under half the contest duration remaining, the most impressive entries might still be in the making. Participants are encouraged to take their time, improve their builds, and tell a compelling story through their videos. Mark Rober and the CrunchLabs team are watching closely, and with ₹5 lakh awarded to each of the ten winners, the stakes have never been higher.
But win or not, the impact of the Jugaad Contest is already visible. It’s sparked classroom discussions, inspired family collaborations, and above all, given kids and adults alike the confidence to say, “I built that.”
