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VayuDrishti, a startup from Nepal, has been selected among the top 20 finalists in the global Hult Prize competition, chosen from over 15,000 entries worldwide. The team will now compete in the final round in London for a chance to win the $1m grand prize. The Hult Prize, now in its 16th year, is one of the world’s largest student startup competitions, engaging more than 200,000 students from over 130 countries. It aims to support entrepreneurial solutions to pressing global challenges.

VayuDrishti has developed a patent-pending device that integrates air quality monitoring, purification, and AI-based pollution forecasting. The device is intended to offer an accessible and scalable approach to air pollution management and public health protection. The team is led by 19-year-old Shakriya Pandey of Saraswati Multiple Campus, along with team captain Shrisha Pandey and member Manjila Pandey. Their selection marks a significant milestone for Nepal in international student-led innovation competitions.

Nepal has submitted its first-ever Child-Centered Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report on Children and the Environment (Climate) to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR). The report contributes to the country’s Fourth UPR Cycle, highlighting children’s rights in the context of climate change and environmental challenges. The initiative was supported by DKA Austria and coordinated by the youth-led organization Yuwalaya. 

The report was finalized during a National Validation Workshop held in Kathmandu. The event brought together 48 participants in its initial session, including civil society representatives, development partners, technical experts, solidarity members, and the report consultant. In the second session, the report’s key findings and recommendations were formally presented to government representatives. 

The report reviews Nepal’s policy and legal frameworks and assesses the country’s implementation of its human rights obligations, particularly in relation to children’s rights to education, health, protection, a clean environment, development, and participation. A total of 24 recommendations were refined at the workshop, including suggestions for emergency education during crises, improved child protection systems in remote areas, enrollment protocols for environmentally displaced children, promotion of school gardening, and programs to build children’s resilience to climate change.

In addition, a Youth-Led UPR Report has also been submitted to the UNOHCHR for the 51st Session (Jan–Feb 2026). Developed in partnership with Plan International Nepal and IM Swedish Development Partner, the process involved collaboration with 68 organizations and civil society groups. The report draws on inputs from 279 young people aged 18–35 across all seven provinces through provincial consultations, focus group discussions, and a national validation workshop. It was led by four young women and incorporates feedback from consortium members.

The youth report focuses on issues such as employment, health, education, meaningful youth participation, climate change, equality, non-discrimination, and digital technology.

DeerHack 2025, a student-led hackathon organized by the Deerwalk Institute of Technology (DWIT), concluded on July 13 after three days of coding, collaboration, and technical workshops. Billed as Nepal’s largest student-organized hackathon, the event brought together aspiring developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts from across the country.

The hackathon opened with a pre-event session that included a keynote address by data consultant Mala Deep Upadhaya, followed by networking activities and team-building games. Participants from outside the capital were hosted near Bhaktapur Durbar Square, allowing them to experience the area's cultural heritage.

Throughout the main event at the DWIT Complex in Sifal, participants worked in teams to develop tech-based solutions. The program featured technical mentorship, interactive sessions, and workshops, including one on GitHub and version control. Several sponsors set up stalls, and brand activations were conducted by CF MOTO and other partners.

The final day of DeerHack 2025 focused on project presentations, where participating teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges. After careful evaluation, winners were announced across various categories. Team SAGEA was declared the overall winner of the hackathon. Team NASCENT won in the Interactive Technology category, while Tech Tacticos was recognized for their work in Data Science and Machine Learning. The Open Innovation category was won by Techtonics, and Team Syntax was awarded in the Ed-Tech category.

The event was supported by multiple partners, including Nepal Investment Mega Bank (NIMB), Annapurna Media Network, Devfolio, and others. Organizers say DeerHack 2025 aimed to foster innovation and problem-solving skills among students while promoting a collaborative tech ecosystem.

Researcher and children’s author Indra Chaudhary’s new book ‘Sudurpaschimka Tharu Sanskriti ra Lokkatha’ (Tharu Culture and Folktales of Sudurpaschim) was officially launched on Sunday. The event coincided with the 212th birth anniversary of Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya and was held in Dhangadhi. Published by the Sudurpaschim Academy, the book was jointly unveiled by Meghraj Khadka, Minister for Social Development of Sudurpaschim Province, and the academy’s Vice-chancellor TN Joshi, among others.

Speaking at the event, VC Joshi expressed delight over the publication, highlighting the Tharu community as a key ethnic group in the province. He stated, “Sudurpaschim Academy has been dedicated to preserving and promoting the art, culture, language, and traditions of various indigenous communities in the region. This book is a step in that direction, and we aim to publish similar works on other communities in the coming year.”

Minister Khadka also praised the Academy’s efforts in documenting and preserving local heritage. Author Chaudhary expressed gratitude to the Academy for entrusting him with the research project. “It was an honor to be given the opportunity to study Tharu culture in my own province. This collaboration with the provincial government has been truly fulfilling and has further motivated me to pursue deeper research,” he said.

The book is divided into three sections: an introduction to the Tharu community, a brief history of their folktales, and a compilation of twenty traditional Tharu folktales. Chaudhary mentioned that most of the stories included had never been published before. He collected narratives from elder community members, including 76-year-old Laughari Dagoura, 78-year-old Kalimaya Dagoura, and 55-year-old Rampyari Dagoura.

This is Chaudhary’s seventh publication, with his previous works also focusing on the folk culture of the Tharu and Rana Tharu communities. The book’s cover was illustrated by emerging artist Deepak Chaudhary.