India is entering a pivotal phase in its development – one defined by skills, innovation and future-ready education. Through national agendas such as the Atal Innovation Mission, the government is working to build an ecosystem of young innovators by equipping thousands of schools with tools, labs and programmes designed to nurture problem-solving from an early age.

At the heart of this transformation sits a fundamental question: How can India build the innovation capacity it will need tomorrow, starting with learners in classrooms today?

Shell NXplorers has become a powerful part of the answer. By introducing systems thinking, creative confidence and structured problem‑solving into schools, Shell is helping strengthen India’s innovation pipeline from the ground up.

The challenge

Over the past decade, government-led programmes have made impressive strides in expanding hands-on learning. More than 10,000 schools were provided with innovation labs and detailed project books – a major step forward in creating access to practical science and technology education.

Yet a key challenge persisted.

Because the materials often instructed students exactly what to build, many schools saw the same projects recreated year after year. Students were busy, but they weren’t necessarily innovating.

The result was a paradox: activity-rich, innovation-poor environments — classrooms full of effort, but with limited space for curiosity, questioning or connecting learning to real issues within students’ lives and communities.

Shell introduces a new way to think

In 2019, Shell introduced something fundamentally different. Instead of equipment or worksheets, Shell brought a globally recognised innovation methodology rooted in systems thinking.

Students were encouraged to ask “Why is this happening?” before “How do I fix it?” They analysed the systems around them, explored multiple perspectives, and examined real-world problems rather than replicating pre-designed outputs.

This shift was significant. NXplorers began fostering the early behaviours of true innovators:

• curiosity

• systems thinking

• collaboration

• creative problem-solving

Within months, schools reported visible mindset shifts.

A pilot that sparked a movement: the first 100 schools

Shell launched NXplorers India as a 100‑school pilot to gather evidence and test feasibility. But early indicators showed something much bigger was taking shape.

• Teachers began using Shell NXplorers tools beyond science labs, integrating systems thinking into social studies, language classes, even assemblies.

• Students started using Shell NXplorers concepts and vocabulary in everyday conversation, talking about feedback loops, perspectives and root causes.

• Schools began winning regional and national awards for Shell NXplorers-inspired projects.

• Reports of mindset shifts reached government leaders, drawing interest from NITI Aayog and several state departments.

What began as a pilot quickly grew into a movement.

Scaling with confidence: 5 years to reach 5,000 schools

Shell NXplorers India has grown steadily from 240 schools and 19,000 students in 2018–19 to over 500 schools and 73,000 students per year. The programme has now reached over 477,000 students in total, engaging over 600 schools in 2024–2025. This trajectory underpins India’s ambition to strengthen future competitiveness by building innovation capability early and at scale.

Today, Shell NXplorers India is on a five‑year path to expanding into 5,000 schools nationwide, backed by national and state partners who recognise the programme as a proven way to develop young problem-solvers at scale.

Shell NXplorers India locations

The people behind the impact

Behind this national journey is a story of perseverance, trust and deep partnership.

For years, Deepak Joshi and the Shell NXplorers India team have built relationships with NITI Aayog, Learning Links Foundation (LLF), state governments, district officers, principals and teachers. Scaling within India’s public education system requires thousands of conversations and countless demonstrations, and the team has consistently shown up.

Progress has not been linear or quick. But through patience, credibility and collaboration, Shell and its partners have built a shared belief in what Shell NXplorers can achieve.

In India, scale happens through people – and it is the people behind Shell NXplorers who have unlocked the pathway to 5,000 schools.

What makes this partnership work?

The Shell NXplorers model translates national policy ambition into classroom-level impact through a combination of:

• Innovation expertise: decades of expertise in systems thinking and problem-solving.

• Credibility: long-standing relationships with national bodies and a global track record in responsible, large-scale programme delivery.

• A research-led model: Shell NXplorers focuses on capacity-building, behavioural change and meaningful learning outcomes.

• Reach with integrity: an ability to work at scale while staying deeply connected to local needs and cultural contexts.

By supporting students today, Shell NXplorers is helping shape the future innovators, engineers, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers India will rely on tomorrow.

The young people shaping the future

Across urban and rural schools, Shell NXplorers is changing how young people see themselves and their futures.

Students who once hesitated to speak up now confidently present systems maps to school leaders. Girls from underserved communities are proposing new solutions for water and waste challenges. Teachers report students discussing root causes of local issues at home with their families. Some young people are even choosing engineering and environmental science for the first time.

Standout projects include:

• Agricare Comfort: In Mumbai, a Grade 10 student designed a 100% biodegradable sanitary pad made from banana pseudo‑stem fibre, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional menstrual products.
  Her innovation was selected as a Top 21 finalist at the Social Impact Awards 2025, being the only school student among startup finalists.

• Passive Energy from Electric Vehicles: In Rajapalayam, a 3-student team developed a prototype that captures and reuses energy generated by moving electric vehicles, proposing a new approach to sustainable mobility.
  The project won Changemakers of Tomorrow 2025, reached multiple national competitions, secured international Bronze at the Shell NXplorers Global Inspiration Awards, and have taken a significant step forward by filing for a patent, securing recognition and protection for their innovation.

Shell NXplorers students with their project Passive Energy from Electric Vehicles

A skills‑led story for India’s future

Shell NXplorers India is now a multi-year, government-backed journey reaching thousands of schools and millions of learners. Through strong partnerships, evidence-based practice and long-term commitment, Shell is helping India build a future-ready generation equipped with the skills and mindset to drive national growth.

And as Shell NXplorers continues to grow, so too does the generation of young people ready to shape India’s future with curiosity, confidence and purpose.