How a young mind from Assam is shaping India's sustainable future through scientific innovation

Aishi Prisha Borah, a Class 9 student from KV RRL Jorhat in Assam, has been honoured with the Prime Minister's National Child Award for her work in science and technology. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at Vigyan Bhawan, with the main ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam.

The 14-year-old's projects caught national attention for tackling everyday problems with sustainable and eco-friendly solutions, through scientific innovation.

Speaking to India Today NE, Aishi traced her interest in science back to Class 4, when she joined an ISRO model-making competition at her school. "A spark kicked in from then on that kindled my interest in science and technology," she said. The award recognizes her combined efforts, but two projects stood out: an eco-friendly mulch made from newspaper and paddy straw, and a machine that turns waste newspaper into pencils.

Over the years, Aishi has worked on several projects, two of which gained particular attention for their practical relevance and sustainability focus. One is an eco-friendly mulching system made from newspaper and paddy straw, designed as an alternative to plastic mulch widely used in agriculture. Structured in three layers—with newspaper on top and paddy straw at the core, the innovation helps in pest control, improves agricultural productivity, and crucially, does not damage soil health.

Her second notable innovation is a machine that converts used newspapers into pencils, addressing both waste management and educational accessibility. The project reflects her broader concern about excessive paper waste and her belief that innovation should bridge environmental responsibility with everyday utility.

Aishi’s recognition at the national level is not the result of a single project, but of a consistent body of work. In 2025, she received the Dinanath Pandey Smart Idea Invention Award for multiple innovations, including the newspaper-to-pencil machine and a greywater reuse system aimed at conserving water. The same year, she secured a Silver Medal at the North-East Innovation Festival, held at the National Science Centre, Khanapara, Guwahati, further cementing her reputation as a young innovator to watch.

Despite the accolades, Aishi remains focused on her long-term goal. She says her ambition is to serve the nation through science and to make scientific learning accessible to children across the country, especially in remote areas. “I want science to reach every corner of India and every child,” she says, outlining a vision that goes beyond awards and competitions.

Receiving the Prime Minister’s National Child Award, she admits, was an overwhelming experience. Grateful and reflective, Aishi credits her parents for their unwavering support. Her father, Ujjal Bora, works as a stenographer at Jorhat Medical College, while her mother, Nilima Bora, is a homemaker. “They supported me at every step,” she said, adding that their encouragement made her journey possible.


"I am very proud of my daughter. To see her interact with the President and Prime Minister was itself a surreal moment for me.", said Aishi's father Ujjal Bora while speaking to India Today NE.

From a classroom experiment to the national stage, Aishi Prisha Borah’s story reflects the growing presence of young innovators from the Northeast in India’s scientific landscape—driven not just by talent, but by a clear sense of purpose.