Raigarh Student Wins Third Prize at National Science Exhibition for Child-Safe Electric Iron

Krishna Agrawal, a student from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh, has won third prize at the 12th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) 2026. His entry, titled "Flip Electric Iron for Child Safety", is designed to prevent children from being injured by hot electric irons. The award was presented by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh.

Chhattisgarh School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav congratulated the student, saying the achievement shows that students of the state can earn national recognition in science and technology.

The project works in three ways. First, the soleplate of the iron tilts upward when the iron is released or left unattended, which lowers the chance of skin contact or contact with nearby surfaces. Second, the iron switches itself off after 30 seconds of inactivity. Third, built-in locks stop children from switching the iron on or tampering with it.

Burns from household appliances are a common cause of injury among young children, particularly in homes where ironing is done on the floor or low tables. A design that cools the hot plate away from reach and cuts the power automatically addresses the most frequent situations: an iron left on and a curious child nearby.

Science exhibitions of this kind give school students a platform to turn everyday problems into working models. Whether the design could be produced at scale would depend on cost, testing and approval by safety standards bodies, none of which has been reported. For now, the prize is a recognition of the idea and of the student's effort, and it is a proud moment for Raigarh.