With millions across the country already brainstorming and building, the Mark Rober Jugaad Contest is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting innovation competitions India has ever seen. Launched on April 30, 2025, the contest offers an incredible opportunity for Indian inventors — especially young minds — to win ₹5 lakh each, with ten winners to be selected. But while the internet buzzes with inventive entries, many participants are still unclear about one critical thing: how to properly enter and avoid disqualification.
Organized by CrunchLabs LLC, the contest is open to legal residents of India aged 8 and above.
Mark Rober, YouTube megastar, ex-NASA engineer, and globally recognized science
influencer, wants to celebrate India’s deep-rooted Jugaad culture — the art of doing more with less. The goal is
simple: use common household materials to create something brilliant and submit
a video showcasing it. But the entry
process requires more than just creativity — it demands precision.
To officially
participate, entrants must follow a multi-step
process. First, they must create a video demonstrating their original Jugaad invention. It could be a working
prototype, a creative mechanism, or even a clever tool designed to solve a
real-world problem using frugal methods. The emphasis is on innovation, functionality, and
storytelling.
Once the video is ready,
it must be posted on one of the
following public social media platforms: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or X
(formerly Twitter). It’s crucial that the profile used to post the video is set
to public visibility. If your video
is posted from a private account, even if it uses the correct hashtag, the
judges won’t be able to view it — and that alone can disqualify an otherwise
brilliant submission.
The social media post
must also include the official contest
hashtag: #MarkRoberJugaad. This is how contest organizers track entries
across platforms. Without the hashtag, the post may go unnoticed by the judging
team, and your entry could be lost in the crowd. Many eager participants have
already learned this the hard way.
But here’s the most important
step — and the one most frequently overlooked. Posting the video on social media is not enough. Contestants must
also visit the official contest website, www.markroberjugaad.com,
and submit the direct link to their
social media post through the entry form provided. If this step is skipped,
the entry will not be counted. This is a strict rule, emphasized repeatedly in
the contest's official terms and
conditions.
Participants under the
age of 18 must also ensure that their entry is submitted by a parent or legal guardian. Even if the
child is the face behind the invention, all official submissions must be
completed by an adult on their behalf. This requirement ensures legal
compliance and protection for minors.
Mark Rober has already
praised the incredible variety and depth of talent coming from India. From
students building automated farming tools using old toys and strings, to young
coders crafting basic sensor systems with scrap electronics, the response has
exceeded expectations. But Rober and his team also stress the importance of
following the rules — not just to be fair, but to ensure every entry gets the
recognition it deserves.
The judging panel will
evaluate entries based on several criteria: originality, ingenuity, problem-solving, presentation, and how effectively the project reflects Jugaad principles. Simply copying an
idea or creating something overly complex with expensive materials won’t help.
The spirit of the competition lies in frugal
innovation and creative practicality.
To help guide
participants, Rober has also uploaded inspiration videos and highlights on his
YouTube channel. These videos not only motivate but also subtly guide viewers
on what kind of projects catch the eye of the judges. Watching these videos can
be extremely useful for those still unsure of what to build.
It’s worth remembering
that the contest runs until September
15, 2025, giving participants plenty of time to think, build, revise, and
submit. But that also means the volume of submissions will continue to rise,
making it even more critical that all steps are followed exactly.
The contest is not affiliated with any social media
platform, so help and support regarding entries must be sought directly
from CrunchLabs or through the official contest site. Any questions about
eligibility, submission, or technical difficulties are best addressed early to
avoid disqualification.
In
the end, Mark Rober’s Jugaad Contest is not just about winning cash. It’s a
celebration of India’s ingenuity, an
opportunity for young minds to shine,
and a rare platform where simple, home-built inventions can gain global
attention. But none of that matters if your entry isn’t officially counted. So
follow the steps, get creative, and submit smartly — because in the world of
Jugaad, even brilliance needs to be properly submitted.
){kind=link}