IIT Delhi Graduate Turns Diesel Smoke into Ink: The Story of Chakr Innovation

When Delhi’s air quality slips into the “severe” category and diesel generators roar to life during power cuts, pollution often feels unavoidable. But an IIT Delhi graduate has proven that even the darkest form of air pollution can be transformed into something useful — ink.

Founded in 2016, Chakr Innovation is the brainchild of Kushagra Srivastava, an engineer who decided to tackle diesel emissions at their source. As Delhi continues to battle hazardous air quality, Chakr’s technology is drawing renewed attention for offering a rare combination of pollution control, material reuse, and commercial scalability.

WHERE THE IDEA CAME FROM

The idea behind Chakr Innovation began with a simple observation. The black soot coating walls near diesel generator exhausts was the same PM2.5 particulate matter that people breathe every day.

“If it can stick to walls, it can be captured,” became the guiding thought.

Kushagra Srivastava, who grew up amid Delhi’s pollution, was later joined by Arpit and Bharti — professionals equally impacted by the city’s toxic air. Together, they set out to design a system that could trap diesel-generator emissions before they entered the atmosphere and convert the captured soot into a usable material.

While Arpit and Bharti have since moved on, their early collaboration laid the groundwork for what would become one of India’s most notable cleantech ventures.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE BREAKTHROUGH

Diesel generators are a major but often overlooked contributor to urban air pollution. Studies by IIT Kanpur and TERI estimate that DG sets contribute 10–22% of PM2.5 pollution in North Indian cities.

After nearly two years of lab testing and field trials, Chakr achieved a major milestone in 2017 by becoming the first Indian company to receive CPCB approval for a retrofit pollution-control device for diesel generators.

The captured particulate matter was then refined and converted into inks and paints, turning waste into a resource.

WHAT CHAKR INNOVATION DOES TODAY

Headquartered in Gurugram, with manufacturing units in Manesar and Pune, Chakr Innovation operates at the intersection of material science, emission control, and clean energy technologies.

Its core offerings include:

Chakr Shield

• CPCB-approved retrofit device for medium and large diesel generators

• Reduces particulate matter, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by 70–90%

• Captures soot before it enters the air

• Converts pollutants into inks and paints

• Operational life of 10–12 years with minimal maintenance

• No impact on generator performance

Dual-Fuel Kits

• Enable diesel generators to run on a blend of diesel and cleaner fuels, cutting fuel consumption and emissions

IoT-Based DG Monitoring

• Real-time tracking of emissions, fuel efficiency and generator health

Energy Storage Pilots

• Experimental work on aluminium-air (Al-Air) battery systems

According to company data, Chakr has deployed over 15,000 units across more than 1,000 sites, with clients including ONGC, JSW Cement, HPCL and Hitachi Astemo. The technology reportedly helps prevent over 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The company now employs nearly 500 people, including more than 200 engineers and scientists.

WHY CHAKR INNOVATION MATTERS

Chakr Innovation represents a new generation of Indian startups where engineering meets environmental urgency. It demonstrates that cleantech is no longer experimental or niche — it is industrial, measurable and commercially viable.

From soot-stained walls to ink used in factories, Chakr’s journey highlights how local problems can inspire globally relevant solutions.

As cities like Delhi continue to grapple with toxic air, technologies that eliminate pollution at the source may soon become necessities rather than alternatives.