BAJA SAEINDIA 2026 Begins 19th Edition with Electric and Hydrogen-Hybrid Competitions at NATRAX

The 19th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA commenced this week with the physical round of eBAJA and hBAJA 2026, bringing together 90 electric and 21 hydrogen-hybrid teams from across India for a five-day engineering competition.

Running from January 7-11 at NATRAX in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, the event themed "Torque to Triumph" challenges students to design, build and test all-terrain vehicles through static and dynamic evaluations. An HR Meet will follow on January 12-13 at Acropolis Institute of Technology and Research in Indore.

This year's competition introduces significant technical upgrades, including a new 72V tractive system for electric vehicles, increased hydrogen blending from 5% to 18% in hybrid vehicles, and the Greaves G395WVI lightweight aluminium engine for hBAJA teams.

"I still remember the humble beginnings of BAJA SAEINDIA when we started with just seventeen teams," said S. Balraj, Chairman of the Organising Committee. The competition has since expanded into four categories, including the recently introduced autonomous vehicle category (aBAJA).

Teams will compete in static events covering design, sales, cost analysis, computer-aided engineering, sustainability, innovation and manufacturing excellence. Dynamic challenges include sled pull, acceleration, suspension and traction tests, and maneuverability assessments, culminating in a four-hour endurance race.

Dr. Manish Jaiswal, Director of NATRAX, highlighted new contests for participants: virtual validation through simulation and instrumented testing, and 3D printing challenges. "There is a constant effort from our side to raise the levels of engineering students so that they get exposed to state of art technology," he said.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited continues as title sponsor, having supported the event since its 2007 inception. According to Vikranth Hate, Territory Manager for BPCL Retail in Indore, the company remains the only oil marketing company providing consistent fuel services for motorsport events in India.

The competition emphasizes diversity and inclusion, with women accounting for nearly 21% of participants. Teams represent more than 20 states across India, according to Supriya Kawade, Convener of hBAJA SAEINDIA 2026 and Diversity Ambassador.

The HR Meet will connect participating students with automotive industry recruiters for internship and full-time employment opportunities. "BAJA SAEINDIA equips students with hands-on experience making them truly industry-ready," said Amit Anand, Convener of eBAJA SAEINDIA 2026.

The event also features the Dronacharya Award, recognizing outstanding faculty advisors who mentor student teams throughout the competition.