PhD Student from Uttar Pradesh Turns Smartphone into Free Hindi Learning Platform for NET and JRF Aspirants

Student Prateek Sethi developed a security system based on Wi-Fi signal analysis that detects potentially dangerous situations in public places without using cameras. This idea earned him first place in the individual category at the third vivo Ignite event, an initiative by vivo India in technology and innovation, along with a scholarship of 4 lakh rupees.

Security System Concept

Prateek, who was 14 years old when he developed it, noticed a gap in security in places like bathrooms, dormitory corridors, or residential areas. He decided to solve this problem using the Wi-Fi signal, which, in his opinion, is distorted and scattered uniquely when a person moves. He believed that analyzing these patterns could help distinguish normal behavior from signs of danger.

Prateek explains that his project focused on 'identifying criminal patterns using Wi-Fi.' He applied artificial intelligence (AI) to differentiate between ordinary human actions in space and actions that might indicate violence or crime, all without requiring any recordings or cameras.

Path to Victory and Project Development

Prateek's idea won him a prize at the third stage of vivo Ignite. The 15-year-old student, studying in the 10th grade at a government school in a remote part of Odisha, is now an example of the type of participant the fourth edition of the program seeks. Registration for the fourth edition is open to students in grades 8–12 across India and closes on July 10, 2026.

Prateek's interest in IoT and AI arose during the pandemic upon the advice of his professor father. After numerous crimes against women attracted public attention in India, he found a direction to apply his skills. He learned about vivo Ignite through the program's website and a friend who participated in a previous contest and got into IIT.

The competition narrowed down to 200 finalists from thousands of applications. The final stage took place in Delhi and included entrepreneurship and critical thinking workshops, as well as project presentations to a jury. The mentor's advice to focus on the problem and solve small details proved very important to him.

The funds received were used to improve the project: he acquired ESP32 transmitters to capture Wi-Fi signals, created an AI model on Ollama, and secured powerful equipment to run the entire system. A year later, the system went beyond a prototype and is now implemented in parts of his father's college campus, including classrooms and dormitories. He has been able to detect and identify instances of violence in real time, planning to install similar sensors in regular homes in the future.

vivo India's Strategy in Supporting Youth

For vivo India, the Ignite program represents a strategic investment in India's youth. Getaj Channan, Director of Corporate Communications for vivo India, noted that there are about 250 million children in the country, making it one of the youngest populations in the world. He emphasized that the missing element was not ambition, but a platform capable of turning ideas into reality.

The program has grown significantly: only the third edition attracted over 37,000 registrations from more than 9,000 schools in 660 districts, more than double the figures of the previous year. In response to this growth, the fourth edition introduces the 'Achiever 30' cohort for intensive mentorship of top participants, as well as the 'Teacher Innovation Fellowship' program to support educators.

Channan recalled a distinguished participant from Odisha in the third edition who created an AI-based security system detecting suspicious activity solely via Wi-Fi signals. He noted that what was valuable was not just the 'clever engineering solution,' but also the 'maturity of his thought process,' as the participant focused on practicality, empathy, and respect for human dignity.

Expanding Access to Talent

The core principle of the current edition is that talent has never been a scarce resource in India; the scarcity has always been access. For the first time, students from 112 state 'aspirational districts' in India will receive special advantages in selection, alongside students from government schools. These districts have historically faced challenges in infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

Channan explained that this deliberate shift is aimed at ensuring opportunities are distributed evenly, and the barrier has never been a lack of ambition or intellect, but purely a lack of access. The total prize pool for this year is 30 lakh rupees, and the Top-10 finalists will be determined after seven stages, culminating in the National Final in Delhi on October 11, 2026.

In addition to monetary prizes, Prateek benefited from the implementation of his system on a real campus, as well as interacting with another finalist working on brain-controlled robotic limbs. Channan notes that participating in a national competition boosts confidence and develops structured thinking in young people, allowing them to move from mere dreaming to understanding the mechanics of creating solutions.

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