GEC Aurangabad wins national honour at HMEL QUEST 2025
Students from Government Engineering College, Aurangabad, Bihar, bag Rs 1 lakh and national recognition at HMEL QUEST 2025 for their innovation in accident prevention.
Government Engineering College (GEC), Aurangabad, Bihar, has made the state proud with its remarkable achievement at the HMEL QUEST 2025 Innovation Challenge organised by HPCL Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL). Competing against over 200 top engineering institutions across India, including several IITs and NITs, GEC Aurangabad secured the second prize and a cash award of Rs 1 lakh for its innovative project.
The winning idea: “Spring Circle to Prevent Accidents”
The winning team — Raj Laxmi, Jyoti Kumari, and Shobhha Kumari, first-year students from the Civil Engineering Department — presented an original and socially impactful project titled “Spring Circle to Prevent Accidents.”
Guided by Prof. Anand Raj, Startup Cell In-charge, the project impressed the jury for its technical ingenuity, practical utility, and focus on public safety. The idea aims to mitigate road accidents through a low-cost, sustainable engineering solution adaptable to India’s diverse traffic conditions.
Awards and recognition
The award ceremony, held on 3 November 2025 at the HMEL Refinery, Bathinda (Punjab), was attended by HMEL’s senior management and industry leaders.
Highlights from the event:
- The GEC Aurangabad team received the second prize and Rs 1 lakh from HMEL.
- Principal Dr. Prashant Mani and Prof. Anand Raj were felicitated for their leadership and mentorship.
- HMEL’s Managing Director expressed interest in collaborating with GEC Aurangabad for campus placements and future research projects.
- The R&D and Innovation Wing of HMEL also assured funding and mentorship support to help implement the students’ project.
Driving innovation in Bihar’s education landscape
Expressing his pride, Principal Dr. Prashant Mani said the victory reflects the college’s growing focus on innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. He credited the achievement to the students’ creativity and the efforts of Prof. Anand Raj and the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) and Pravidhii Technical Club, which actively promote an innovation-driven culture on campus.
Under the dynamic mentorship of Prof. Anand Raj, the college has nurtured over 20 student startups, many of which have received seed funding from the Government of Bihar. GEC Aurangabad was also recognised as the “Best Startup Cell in Bihar” for its contributions to entrepreneurship and student innovation.
A proud moment for Bihar
GEC Aurangabad stood out as the only institution from Bihar to win an award at this prestigious national-level challenge, a milestone achievement that underscores the state’s growing presence in India’s innovation ecosystem. This victory not only celebrates the students’ ingenuity but also positions Government Engineering College, Aurangabad, as a rising hub of technical innovation, startup culture, and academic excellence in Bihar.