Seventeen-year-old Arnav Anupriya Maharshi from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has turned personal tragedy into national recognition by winning the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 for excellence in science and technology. Arnav was honoured for developing AI-enabled, low-cost rehabilitative devices designed to support people living with paralysis, especially those from rural and low-income backgrounds.
The award was conferred by Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in New Delhi, celebrating children whose achievements create meaningful social impact.
From life-threatening accident to life-changing innovation
Arnav’s journey began with a near-fatal road accident in 2022 that left him paralysed on his dominant right side. For nearly two years, he underwent intense physiotherapy, facing physical pain and emotional setbacks. During this period of recovery, he began observing the gaps in rehabilitation support, particularly the lack of affordable assistive devices for patients outside major cities.
“When my son met with the accident, he could not even recognise me for many days,” recalled his mother Anupriya, a gynaecologist. “From that painful moment to receiving a national honour reflects his grit and determination. His physiotherapists Ashwini Kale and Shilpa Kale played a crucial role in his recovery.”
Affordable technology with human impact
Drawing from his own experience, Arnav designed a wrist-worn rehabilitative device to aid gross motor recovery among paralysed patients. The device, which is patented and copyrighted, focuses on restoring movement while helping users regain confidence and social engagement during rehabilitation.
He also developed FAIR Chance, an AI-powered application for finger and hand rehabilitation. The app provides real-time, data-driven feedback, encouraging patients to adhere to exercise routines. Designed to work on smartphones and laptops, FAIR Chance is especially suited for home-based therapy.
“Having fought my own battle through paralysis, I want to ensure that no Indian is denied recovery due to lack of resources,” Arnav said.
National honour and global recognition
A Class XI student of JISA Maliwada and an alumnus of Nath Valley School, Arnav has already gained international attention. FAIR Chance won the International Innovation Award at IIT Bombay Techfest 2024. His wrist-worn device has also been selected for the Harvard Venture TECH Summer Program 2025 with a global scholarship.
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar recognises exceptional children across India, and Arnav’s achievement highlights how resilience and innovation can transform individual suffering into solutions that benefit society at large.