Synopsis
The IT Ministry's inaugural 'e-Toycathon 2025' aims to uplift India's electronic toy sector by showcasing innovative toys that promote creativity and learning. The event celebrates young innovators, with prizes awarded for creative educational toys.Key Takeaways
- e-Toycathon 2025 promotes innovation in the toy industry.
- Sri Krishna College won the top prize for the Play Mat Toy.
- Robo-Mentor AI empowers children through robotics and AI.
- Interactive Educational Chart engages children in learning about India.
- India is transitioning into a net exporter of toys.
New Delhi, March 9 (NationPress) Aiming to enhance the domestic electronic toy industry, the IT Ministry announced the launch of the inaugural “e-Toycathon 2025” event this Sunday. This event displayed a variety of engaging and educational toys that promote creativity, learning, and child development.
Hosted by C-DAC under the research initiatives of MeitY, ‘e-Toycathon 2025’ sought to encourage innovation in the toy sector by offering a platform for young researchers and innovators to create indigenous, sustainable solutions.
The top prize was awarded to Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore, while Jaypee Institute of Information Technology in Noida and National Institute of Technology in Durgapur secured the second and third prizes, respectively.
The first prize-winning entry was the ‘Play Mat Toy’, an interactive play mat featuring piano keys, animal illustrations, sounds, drums, music, and rhymes.
This mat is crafted from soft materials for easy folding, allowing children to play the piano and dance, thereby enhancing their musical intelligence and visual skills.
The second prize was given to ‘Robo-Mentor AI’, an innovative educational toy designed to empower children by merging the thrill of robotics with the supportive features of generative AI.
The main objective is to provide a learning experience where children can construct and program their robots, receiving real-time, personalized guidance that boosts their sense of independence and accomplishment, as stated by the Ministry.
National Institute of Technology, Durgapur claimed the third position with their Interactive Educational Chart, which engages children in learning about India through interactive activities. The chart is available in English, with the option to select any regional language.
This interactive chart allows children to press specific pictures to receive audio and visual responses.
Consolation prizes went to National Institute of Technology, Srinagar for the Compact Mini Drone Toy and Indian Institute of Information Technology, Senapati, Manipur for the Electronic Cashier Machine Toy.
India's rapidly growing toy sector is set to secure a larger portion of the global toy market, projected to reach $179.4 billion by 2032.
India's toy imports have plummeted by 79%, dropping from $304 million in FY2018-19 to $65 million in FY2023-24. In contrast, exports surged by 40% during the same timeframe, increasing from $109 million to $152 million. Consequently, India has transitioned into a net exporter of toys.
