The Project Management Unit (PMU),Coding and Robotics Education in Schools (CARES),as a part of its series of competitions (refer above) proposes to organise the Series-I: “Tech Makhar 2026 – Where Tradition Meets Innovation”, an innovation competition primarily for students enrolled in the Elective Curriculum for the Academic Year 2026–27, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
The competition aims to encourage all students to combine tradition with technology by designing and developing smart, innovative and eco-friendly Makhars using the CARES Robotic Hardware Kit and CARES Ed-Stack.
Through this initiative, we intend to provide students with an opportunity to apply STEM concepts to a real-world cultural context, while promoting creativity, innovation, collaboration and problem-solving. The competition also seeks to demonstrate how technology can be meaningfully integrated with Goa’s rich cultural traditions.
Participation in the competition is for a “holistic performance evaluation” of the Elective Curriculum students.
The competition will be conducted in three phases:
Eligibility:
l Each participating school must register one team, comprising of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 students.
l Each team must include at least one student enrolled in the Elective Curriculum for the Academic Year 2026–27.
Problem Statement:
Each team shall design and develop a technology-enabled Makhar using the CARES Robotic Hardware Kit and CARES Ed-Stack. The project may include Coding, Robotics, Electronics, Sensors, Automation, Programmable Lighting or any other innovative technological solution.
Project Development Period:
3rd September to 11th September 2026
Digital Submission:
Each participating team shall:
l Prepare a one-minute Instagram Reel showcasing the Makhar and highlighting its innovative features and technical implementation.
l Upload the Reel between 14th September and 21st September 2026 on:
an Instagram account operated by a parent/guardian or any individual aged 18 years or above; or
the official Instagram account of the participating school.
l Include a brief description of the project and mention all the components used in the project in the caption.
l Use the mandatory hashtags: #TechMakhar, #CaresGoa
Coordination and Mentorship:
l Each team shall be guided by one Coordinator Teacher.
l The Head of the Institution shall provide overall guidance and institutional support.
School-Level Selection:
l The school shall evaluate all participating projects based on the prescribed evaluation criteria.
l One best team from each school shall be selected and nominated by the Head of the Institution, along with the Coordinator Teacher and Teach For Goa-Fellow (TFG-F), for the Taluka-Level Evaluation.
l This best team must collaborate with @cares_goa on Instagram.
l The last date for nomination of the best team at the school level is 28th September 2026.
l The Head of the Institution must submit the following documents on the school letterhead while nominating the school’s best team : Team-wise Attendance of all participating teams, Judging Sheet and Nomination Letter for the selected team.(Formats of the same will be available on the CARES Portal)
Certificates:
All participating teams (students) will receive an e-Certificate of Participation.
The nominated team from each participating school will be eligible for the Phase II – Taluka-Level Evaluation.
Evaluation Period:
29th September to 3rd October 2026
Taluka-Level Selection:
l Projects will be evaluated by a panel comprising of experts from education, technology, innovation, industry, Government departments and/or Teach For Goa Fellows (TFG-Fs).
l The evaluation will be based on the prescribed judging criteria.
l Top two teams from each Taluka will qualify for the State-Level Competition.
Certificates:
All Taluka-Level participants will receive Certificates of Merit.
The top two teams from each Taluka will participate in the Phase III – State-Level Competition.
Duration:
6th October to 8th October 2026
State-Level Selection:
l The shortlisted projects will be evaluated by a panel of experts from academia, industry, innovation, design, engineering and Government departments.
l The projects will be judged on parameters such as: Innovation, Technical implementation, Design and aesthetics, Functionality, Presentation, Instagram caption, Overall impact.
The prizes will be awarded to the winning teams:
1. First Prize: ₹10,000 + Certificates + Trophy
2. Second Prize: ₹8,000 + Certificates + Trophy
3. Third Prize: ₹7,000 + Certificates + Trophy
4. Digital Popular Choice Award (Highest Instagram Reach): ₹5,000 + Certificates + Trophy
