The Clean Air Crusaders: Chakr Innovation’s Battle Against Pollution

Introduction to Chakr Innovations

Air pollution is one of India's most urgent problems. What if diesel generators, infamous for black smoke and toxic emissions, could operate cleaner? That is the challenge Chakr Innovation, which was established in 2016 by IIT Delhi alumni, aimed to address.

Chakr Innovation is at the forefront of India's cleantech revolution today. With over 30 patent filings, international accolades from the United Nations, WWF, and Forbes, and an array of award-winning products, the company is revolutionizing the way industries address air quality and carbon footprints.

Kushagra Srivastava, co-founder and CEO, Chakr Innovation

What They Do and Why It Matters

It all started on a regular day in Delhi. A bunch of young engineers, just out of IIT Delhi, stopped at a roadside juice stall to take a break from the heat. They saw the walls of the stall covered in thick, black soot — all from the diesel generator buzzing inches away from them. That black smudge on the wall gave them a brilliant idea: What if they could contain this pollution right where it's being generated?

This straightforward question birthed Chakr Innovation in 2016 — a company set to purify India's air, beginning with one diesel generator at a time.

Strategic Growth

Directed by a dedicated team, Chakr's first innovation was the Chakr Shield, India's first Type Approved Retrofit Emission Control Device for diesel generators. Employing a clever catalyst-based filtration technology, the Shield traps more than 80% of poisonous particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide — without damaging the generator's performance.

It was a game-changer. Rather than inundating cities with toxic fumes, Chakr's machine transformed generators into cleaner, more discreet sources of power. From office buildings to factories, customers waited to install these shields and comply with India's stricter standards of emissions.

The Challenges of Chakr

But Chakr didn't rest on hardware alone. They created a strong IoT monitoring system, which helps track emissions in real time. They came up with a dual fuel kit that enables diesel generators to operate partially on cleaner natural gas — reducing fossil fuel consumption even more.

Their work made global headlines: awards flooded in from the United Nations, WWF, and Forbes. The group had more than 30 patents filed, took home the Urban Labs Innovation Challenge award, and secured positions in high-profile lists such as Forbes 30 Under 30.

Financial Performance

Financially, Chakr has proven that sustainability and profitability can thrive together, clocking ₹124.80 crore in revenue with steady growth. And their mission aligns beautifully with India’s National Clean Air Programme, helping industries comply with stricter emission rules and supporting India’s climate goals.

The Chakr Innovation story is more than technology. It's a story about young curiosity, scientific creativity, and an unshakeable conviction that clean air is every Indian's birthright — not a privilege.

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