India
Delhi Teen Wins 2026 Diana Award for Low‑Cost Air Filter Turning Classroom Fans into Purifiers
Krish Aggarwal, a student at Sanskriti School in New Delhi, received the 2026 Diana Award for his work on Project Vayu, a low‑cost air filtration system that converts ordinary classroom fans into air purifiers. The project has distributed filters to more than 10,000 students in Delhi’s under‑privileged schools. Aggarwal co‑founded Project Vayu with fellow student Samarth Meattle to provide a cheaper alternative to commercial air purifiers. The filter attaches to existing fans and uses electrostatically charged fibres to capture fine particulate matter, including PM2.5. When the fan is turned on, the filter expands into a balloon‑like shape, increasing its filtration surface area while allowing air to pass through. Each filter costs about ₹140 to manufacture and is supplied to schools free of charge, with replacement filters provided monthly. In closed‑room tests, the filter reduced PM2.5 concentrations by more than 90 % within an hour, dropping from 158 µg/m³ to 11 µg/m³. The initial programme covered 295 classrooms, producing 602 filters and reaching roughly 8,000 students. Project Vayu now plans to expand to 45 additional schools in New Delhi. Aggarwal also promotes evidence‑based environmental solutions and encourages youth participation in climate action. The Diana Award, established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, recognises young people worldwide for their social and humanitarian contributions.