IIT Delhi’s Textile & Fiber Engineering Department swept the top three awards at Sanrachna 2026, showcasing indigenous, high-impact technical textile innovations for healthcare, defence and agriculture.
IIT Delhi’s Big Win at Sanrachna 2026
The Department of Textile & Fiber Engineering at IIT Delhi has concluded Sanrachna 2026 on a triumphant note, securing the top three awards at the National Product Development & Design Hackathon for Technical Textiles. The event, organised by TBD Campus in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), is now over, but its impact on India’s technical textile landscape continues to resonate. Among more than 700 applicants and 31 finalists from across the country, IIT Delhi’s three research-driven innovations stood out for their originality, technical depth and practical relevance, firmly establishing the institute as a national leader in advanced functional textiles.
Guided by Prof. Harun Venkatesan of the Textile & Fiber Engineering Department, all three winning concepts translated cutting-edge research into industry-ready solutions. The innovators received national recognition and were felicitated by the Honourable Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, during the Grand Finale held at Bharat Tex 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 14–17 July 2026. The conclusion of the hackathon has thus marked a milestone for IIT Delhi, the Ministry of Textiles and the broader ecosystem working to make India self-reliant in technical textiles.
Event Highlights: From Lab to National Stage
Sanrachna 2026 brought together some of India’s most promising minds in technical textiles, focusing on product development and design that address real-world challenges. With hundreds of applications filtered down to a curated group of 31 finalists, the hackathon created a highly competitive yet collaborative platform for innovators. IIT Delhi’s presence became one of the main highlights of the event as its projects collectively covered three critical domains: healthcare, extreme-environment defence and farmer safety.
The Grand Finale at Bharat Tex 2026 added further visibility and prestige. Industry experts, policymakers, entrepreneurs and researchers witnessed how technical textiles can move beyond conventional apparel to address complex problems such as chronic wounds, sub-zero survival and occupational hazards in agriculture. With the event now concluded, the focus has shifted to the post-hackathon journey: technology transfer, partnerships and potential commercialization of these award-winning solutions.
BacCelAero: Advanced Healthcare Textile for Wound Care
The first recognised innovation, BacCelAero, showcased how bio-based materials can transform healthcare textiles. Developed by postdoctoral researcher Dr. Ankita Sharma, this concept uses bacterial cellulose-based aerogel to address diabetic wound care and rapid haemorrhage management. The material combines high absorbency with a lightweight, porous structure, enabling efficient fluid handling and potential support for wound healing in vulnerable patients.
By targeting both chronic diabetic wounds and emergency bleeding, BacCelAero moves beyond traditional dressings and positions technical textiles as an active partner in clinical care. Although the event has concluded, the innovation now stands ready for further validation, clinical collaboration and scale-up, making it a strong candidate for hospital use, emergency kits and specialized care centres.
Ultra-Light Aerogel Sleeping Bag and Mattress for Extreme Cold
The second award-winning innovation, presented by Ph.D. scholars Mr. Sudipto Behera and Mrs. Sukriti Baliyan, focuses on life in extreme environments. Their ultra-lightweight aerogel-based sleeping bag and mattress system integrates hydrophobic silica aerogel with multilayer functional textiles to provide thermal protection down to −60°C. Despite this high level of insulation, the system remains breathable, waterproof, washable and portable.
Designed for soldiers stationed in high-altitude regions, disaster response teams and mountaineers, this indigenous technology addresses a crucial gap in defence and outdoor gear. With Sanrachna 2026 now behind them, the team can channel the visibility and validation from the hackathon into collaborations with defence agencies, disaster management authorities and outdoor equipment manufacturers, potentially creating a new benchmark in cold-weather protective systems made in India.
KISAN-SHIELD: Multifunctional Protective Textile for Farmers
The third innovation, KISAN-SHIELD, presented by M.Tech graduate Mr. Sambhaskar Singh, turns the spotlight on India’s farmers. This multifunctional protective textile is designed as a single garment that addresses multiple occupational hazards—heat stress, UV radiation, rain, humidity and insect exposure—which farmers routinely face in the field. The garment integrates passive thermal comfort, water resistance, UV protection, breathability, moisture management and insect repellency.
Built using aerogel-inspired insulation and solar radiation management principles, KISAN-SHIELD aims to enhance safety, comfort and productivity for Indian farmers, while promoting sustainable protective clothing specifically tailored to local climatic and working conditions. Now that the event has concluded, this concept stands well-positioned for pilot deployment with agricultural cooperatives, state agriculture departments and rural development initiatives.
Strengthening NTTM and Atmanirbhar Bharat
The recognition of all three innovations among the top concepts at Sanrachna 2026 has reinforced IIT Delhi’s leadership role in technical textiles and advanced materials. The projects collectively align with the vision of the National Technical Textiles Mission by demonstrating how indigenous research can create globally competitive solutions across healthcare, defence and agriculture. They also echo the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, showcasing home-grown innovations that can reduce dependence on imported high-performance textiles.
With the hackathon successfully concluded, the real measure of success will now lie in the journey from prototypes to products. As these innovations move forward into field trials, industry collaborations and policy-level support, they are poised to shape the next chapter of technical textiles in India—where fabric is not just worn but actively protects, heals and empowers.
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