Delhi class 12 student creates affordable air filter to combat indoor pollution

Rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR has prompted a Class 12 student to develop a low-cost solution that could make indoor spaces safer for children and the elderly.

Arkin Soni created “Filt Air,” a simple air filtration system designed to combat indoor pollution. The idea came to him in Class 11, inspired by the worsening air quality during winter months.

The device can be built at home using a cardboard box, a HEPA filter, a pre-filter, and a regular fan, with the total cost around ₹2,500.

The HEPA filter, costing ₹600–₹800, can last a year, while the pre-filter costs ₹100–₹200 and lasts about five years. The fan ranges from ₹100–₹1,500 depending on the model.

Arkin claims the system can purify up to 90% of the air in a room and reduce classroom pollution levels by nearly 50%.

The innovation is gaining attention as an affordable way to protect students during Delhi’s toxic winters.

“The children in government schools thought that AQI was a huge problem that we could never solve. When they learned to make the filter themselves, their confidence increased,” Arkin said.

Rather than limiting the device to personal use, Arkin is bringing Filt Air to government schools through hands-on workshops.

He has already reached more than 400 students across ten schools, teaching them how to assemble the filters themselves.

The project was inspired by a conversation with a student whose school often closes due to hazardous air quality. Arkin hopes his work will empower children to take action against indoor pollution.

Several other schools and NGOs have shown interest in adopting the idea. Despite growing attention, Arkin does not plan to commercialize the system.

“The goal is not just to provide a solution, but to encourage children to experiment, innovate, and improve on the idea themselves,” he said.

In a region where toxic air regularly disrupts daily life and education, initiatives like Filt Air offer practical solutions and hope for safer, healthier indoor environments.