Delhi students develop low-cost fan filters to improve classroom air quality
Krish Aggarwal and Samarth Meattle have been recognised on the 2026 Diana Award Roll of Honour for their Project Vayu initiative.
Two students in Delhi, Krish Aggarwal and Samarth Meattle, have developed a low-cost filter that converts standard table and wall fans into air purifiers. According to reports from Moneycontrol, The Economic Times and Hindustan Times, the initiative, known as Project Vayu, aims to provide affordable air filtration for schools with limited resources.
Aggarwal is a Class 12 student at Sanskriti School, while Meattle is a Class 11 student at Vasant Valley School. The project uses electret filter media to capture fine particulate matter, such as PM2.5, through electrostatic attraction. The filter expands into a rounded form when used, creating a surface area of about five square feet.
The installation process involves fitting an elastic lining over a fan grille, which can be done in less than a minute without tools. Each filter costs Rs 140 to manufacture and requires monthly replacement. The project provides these filters to schools free of charge to support large-scale distribution rather than seeking profit.
Project Vayu has already reached more than 10,000 students in underprivileged schools across Delhi. A previous pilot programme covered 295 classrooms and 602 filters, benefiting approximately 8,000 students. Aggarwal has also been recognised on the 2026 Diana Award Roll of Honour for his work and advocacy for climate action.
Meattle stated that the project began three years ago and they now intend to expand the initiative from Delhi to a nationwide scale.