Maharashtra students build AI lifeline for autism care; win Rs 1 lakh, Europe trip
India Today
Three engineering students from Maharashtra built an AI chatbot that supports parents of autistic children between therapy sessions. Their project won GRASP 2026, earning Rs 1 lakh, internships and a chance to work with a European university.
Three engineering students from Maharashtra have won the national GRASP 2026 hackathon with an AI-powered chatbot designed to support parents of autistic children.
The chatbot provides evidence-based guidance between therapy sessions, helping families manage critical behavioural moments.
Most parents of autistic children in India see a therapist only once a month, if at all. Geography, cost, and shortage of specialists mean families often go weeks without professional support.
Team Neurostars, which consists of Ganesh Ramchandra Mahadik, Vaishnavi Rajkumar Patil and Abhishek Shivprasad Patil from Rajarambapu Institute of Technology saw this gap and created a tool to assist parents in real time.
“We took structured clinical knowledge and made it accessible when families need it most,” said the team. “Think of it as a therapeutic companion that's always available,” the team added.
GRASP 2026, organised by KRUU in partnership with ASME India, challenged over 5,000 students nationwide to solve human problems using reasoning-led AI design.
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