Anveshan 2025, a Students’ Research & Innovation Competition (South Zone) was organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and hosted by VIT-AP University, Andhra Pradesh, had successfully concluded on 18th December 2025. It was held on December 17–18, 2025, at VIT-AP University which is India's largest research and innovation competition and has emerged as a vibrant hub for scholarly dialogue and innovation, witnessing the enthusiastic participation across universities.
The event was graced by Dr. Ahanthem Santa Singh, Executive Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mangalagiri, as the Chief Guest. In his inaugural address, he underscored the critical role of youth-led research in nation-building and emphasized the need for ethical, evidence-based, and impactful scientific inquiry in the world of AI.
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Panchumarthi Lakshmi Bheemesh, Managing Director, Genius Filters and Systems Private Limited, urged students to align their research pursuits with real-world industrial and societal challenges, highlighting the importance of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Amarendra Pani, Joint Director, Association of Indian Universities (AIU) was the special guest, and congratulated all participants and award winners, reiterating the university’s vision of nurturing a robust, research-centric academic ecosystem.
He observed that platforms like Anveshan are instrumental in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications, while also fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation among students. He also encouraged that the world is not looking only for the smartest minds but also for problem solvers.
The event was also graced by Dr. P. Arulmozhivarman, Vice Chancellor of VIT-AP University and Dr. Jagadish C. Mudiganti, Registrar of VIT-AP University. The competition provided a dynamic platform for students to present and defend their research before experts, showcasing cutting-edge and innovative projects across six major disciplines: Agriculture, Basic Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Health Sciences, and Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary.
The diversity and depth of the presentations reflected the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary research and the growing emphasis on problem oriented and socially relevant inquiry among young scholars. A total of 964 students from 34 universities have registered for the research competition out of which 273 young researchers representing 24 universities from four southern states of India (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana) were selected for the competition to present their research and innovation.
The projects presented by the student researchers were adjudged through rigorous and multi-level evaluation criteria by a panel of 18 distinguished experts from academia, research institutions, and industry, outstanding student research projects were selected from both poster presentation and podium presentation where the selection process reflected the high standards of originality, methodological rigor, and practical relevance demonstrated by the participants.
The event culminated with a prize distribution ceremony honouring the first, second, and third place winners along with the faculty representatives from each track marking a significant milestone in strengthening regional academic collaboration and promoting a culture of research excellence, innovation, and student empowerment across the South Zone.
The organising team of 36 members was led by the coordinator, Dr Santanu Mandal and Co-Coordinator Dr. Somya Ranjan Sahoo, faculty of VIT-AP University.