Abhishek Dhanda and Prabhkirat Singh — two Class 12 students from BCM Arya Model School, Ludhiana, in North India, have developed Prithvi Rakshak, an AI-powered vermicomposting unit designed to revolutionize organic waste management.
By reducing composting time from 90 days to just 38, the innovative system integrates automation, real-time sensors, and a custom-built mobile app for continuous monitoring. At its core is VermiDoot, an IoT-enabled robotic arm that regulates humidity and temperature throughout the composting process, ensuring efficient and timely waste decomposition.
Engineered for efficiency, Prithvi Rakshak delivers compost nearly three times faster than conventional vermicomposting systems. As reported by The Times of India, the idea was first sparked at an innovation event hosted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), where Class 12 students Abhishek Dhanda and Prabhkirat Singh began experimenting with kitchen and bio-waste processing. While they recognised the potential of vermicomposting, the slow pace of traditional methods led them to rethink the system. Determined to improve its speed and consistency, the duo set out to redesign the process using automation and AI.
We realised the key to speeding up the composting cycle was in creating optimal conditions for the earthworms, mainly temperature and humidity. That’s where sensors, robotics, and AI came in.
AI at Prithvi Rakshaks’ Core
Prithvi Rakshak utilises proprietary AI driven temperature and humidity sensors coupled with bio-enzyme formula to accelerates decomposition, while VermiVeda allows remote tracking and diagnostics. These factors contribute to make the system optimal for simulating conditions for earthworm activity, enabling conversion of organic waste into nutrient-rich compost three times faster than traditional composting methods.
Since we are able to observe the parameters 24×7, and also control them to create the most conductive environment, not only is vermicompost create much Faster but also of high quality which has optimal moisture, pH and other parameters, for improving soil fertility
The duo represented India at the IEEE Junior Scientist International Competition in Tunisia and were finalists in the Net Zero Carbon Emission Challenge, EcoHackathon Delhi, and Eureka Junior. They also ranked among the top 10 at the MESA Business School Pitch Competition. Back home, they won INR 45,000 at IIT Guwahati’s TechNiche, earned prizes at WRO Nationals and Eco-Innovators Ideathon, and were among the top 35 out of 1.9 lakh entries in the Amazon–MoEFCC Eco-Hackathon.
Urban Agri Synergy
The Prithvi Rakshak has already been successfully tested on campus waste and kitchen scraps, Prithvi Rakshak can process 12,000 kg of organic material per month and has generated more than INR One lakh in monthly revenue. The composting unit also produces vermiwash and vermisticks, byproducts of composting that are in high demand among organic farmers. Prtihvi Rakshak has multiple utilities for generating revenue streams and the developers have estimated that each unit is capable of earning INR 2.5–3 lakh per month if deployed at suitable scale.
Also Read: Lightstar Launches New York’s First Agrivoltaics Farm, Will Power 466 Homes
In April, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) introduced rapid composting machines that convert leaf litter into fertilizer within 24 hours. Municipal Corporation Ludhiana is also planning to institute a 15 tonne-per-day biofuel facility in collaboration with private enterprises to process horticultural waste. These parallel efforts highlight the city’s evolving collaboration between urban systems and agriculture to create a closed-loop solution for organic waste.