A Design Thinking Webinar (January 2026) under YCIC Innovation Dialogue Series was organised by TERI in collaboration with Harit by HCLFoundation, which aimed to introduce youth to structured innovation approaches for addressing climate challenges. The session brought together 66 participants from different regions in India, reflecting diverse engagement.

The webinar was designed to build participants' understanding of design thinking as a user-centric, solution-oriented framework, emphasising empathy, creativity, and critical analysis. It encouraged young innovators to move beyond theoretical knowledge and apply interdisciplinary approaches to develop practical, scalable climate solutions. The session also reinforced the importance of aligning innovation with real-world needs and sustainability goals.

The session commenced with a welcome address by Ms. Taru Mehta, Senior Professional, TERI, who highlighted the importance of youth-led innovation and positioned YCIC as a continuous learning platform rather than just a competition. She stressed the significance of collaboration, idea exchange, and sustained engagement in addressing climate challenges.

Dr. Kaustubh Dhargalkar, a design thinking expert, explained that impactful innovation lies at the intersection of user needs, technological feasibility, and business viability. He introduced participants to the key stages of the design thinking process — empathy, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing — while emphasising iteration, collaboration, and multidisciplinary perspectives. Participants also learned to refine problem statements and identify research gaps, strengthening their analytical and innovation skills.

The participants were also introduced to the YCIC initiative, its objectives, structure, and opportunities for youth participation.

The webinar successfully created an engaging learning environment, enhancing participants' understanding of innovation-driven climate action. It served as a foundational step in preparing youth to develop impactful, scalable solutions while strengthening the YCIC platform as a catalyst for youth-led sustainability initiatives.