New Delhi, Nov 29 (NationPress) The first-ever InfraPandit Awards 2025 honored two exceptional PhD research projects that address some of India's most pressing infrastructure challenges — clean energy access and urban sanitation.

This prestigious event took place on November 29 at the India Habitat Centre in the capital, featuring chief guest Sthaladipti Saha, Senior Vice President & Head of Buildings & Factories at L&T Construction.

During his address, he emphasized that while infrastructure signifies a nation's aspirations, it is the scientific foundation that underpins it, stating that India’s future hinges not only on physical advancements but also on intellectual growth and innovation.

The awards attracted submissions from 16 esteemed institutions across India, including IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, IIM Ahmedabad, SPA New Delhi, BITS Pilani, Jadavpur University, and numerous NITs.

Noteworthy is the fact that 33 percent of the applicants were women, showcasing the increasing involvement of women in India’s infrastructure research.

The entries encompassed a broad spectrum of topics such as clean energy, environmental issues, transportation systems, governance, urbanization, technology, and civil engineering.

The Uttam Award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, was presented to Dr. Shubham Jain from IIT Delhi. His research centers around a novel cascade latent heat storage system for solar cooking, featuring a patented solar-powered thermal battery that facilitates indoor cooking at various temperatures.

This breakthrough presents a clean, economical, and scalable solution at a crucial time as India accelerates its efforts toward low-carbon technologies.

A large-scale implementation of his innovation is already slated in Ladakh for solar cooking, drying, and community-level heating.

The Mahaan Award, which offers a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, was awarded to Dr. Paresh Jawarilal Chhajed from IIT Bombay. His research proposes a governance and policy framework to enhance Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) systems in smaller Indian cities where conventional sewerage solutions are impractical.

His work fills a crucial void in urban sanitation and aligns with national initiatives like Swachh Bharat and AMRUT.

Dr. Chhajed’s research spans sanitation systems across over 60 cities and has already influenced real-world practices, notably his input into Kerala’s Integrated Wastewater and Septage Management Guidelines.

Both laureates continue to engage in applied research following their PhD completion earlier this year.

Dr. Jain serves as a Research Associate at the Ashoka Centre for a People-Centric Energy Transition in New Delhi, focusing on clean technology and industrial decarbonization.

Dr. Chhajed holds the position of Project Manager at the Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies at IIT Bombay, where he is involved in governance and policy development for infrastructure systems.