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Gurugram-based cleantech startup Chakr Innovation captures diesel generator emissions and turns pollution into inks and paints
With Delhi’s AQI crossing 500+, pollution control is no longer optional. Daily life comes to a halt as schools shut, outdoor work stops, and hospitals report more breathing-related cases. While vehicles and construction often get attention, diesel generators quietly add to the problem every day.
Air pollution is one of India’s biggest health threats. According to Greenpeace India, it causes nearly 1.2 million deaths every year and leads to an estimated 3% loss of the country’s GDP. Diesel generators are a major reason, especially in cities with frequent power cuts.
In 2016, long before air pollution became a yearly headline, Chakr Innovation began working to stop this pollution at its source and reuse what it captures.
Meet the Founders of Chakr Innovation
Chakr Innovation was founded in 2016 by IIT Delhi alumni Kushagra Srivastava, Arpit Dhupar, and Bharti Singhla. Each founder brought a personal reason to work on air pollution.
Kushagra grew up in Delhi and saw how pollution affected people close to him. He has said that diesel generators are one of the main sources of pollution and that this pushed the team to build technology that reduces emissions while also cutting pollution from regular ink production.
Arpit Dhupar had to quit sports at the age of 18 because of poor air quality. At Chakr, he focuses on building systems that reduce emissions from diesel generators and industrial chimneys.
Bharti Singhla joined after working at BCG, where she felt limited in the kind of environmental impact she could create. She has said that Chakr’s technology captures pollution at the source and converts most of it into inks and paints.
Both Arpit and Bharti have since moved on to work elsewhere.
Their Story
The idea for Chakr Innovation came from a common sight in Delhi. Walls near diesel generator exhausts were often covered in black soot. The founders understood that this soot was particulate matter entering the air without any control.
The first two years were spent on research, testing, and building hardware that could work in industrial settings. In 2017, Chakr received approval from the Central Pollution Control Board, becoming India’s first company with an approved retrofit pollution control device for diesel generators.
Kushagra later shared that the devices had already captured over 180 kg of particulate matter, which would have otherwise polluted nearly 900 billion litres of air. The collected pollution was reused to make ink, showing that waste could be turned into something useful.
About Chakr Innovation
Chakr Innovation is headquartered in Gurugram, with manufacturing units in Manesar and Pune. The company works on emission control and energy storage using material science. Its main focus is the global diesel generator retrofit market, which is estimated to be worth $10 billion.
The company has deployed more than 15,000 units across over 1,000 sites. Its customers include ONGC, JSW Cement, Hindustan Petroleum, and Hitachi Astemo. These installations help reduce more than 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Chakr employs 484 people, including over 200 engineers and scientists, and has received recognition from global clean energy groups.
Chakr Shield & Other Products, Reducing Diesel Generator Emissions
Chakr Innovation’s main work focuses on reducing emissions and improving energy use.
Chakr Shield: India’s first pollution control device approved by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for diesel generators. It fits medium to large generators and reduces particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide by 70 to 90 percent.
The device works in two simple ways: it converts harmful gases into harmless compounds and captures smoke particles, which are then recycled into inks and paints. It is compact, requires very little maintenance, has a lifespan of 10–12 years, and does not affect generator performanceDual Fuel Kit: Allows diesel generators to run on a mix of diesel and cleaner fuels, helping reduce fuel use and emissions.
IoT DG Monitoring: Tracks generator health and emissions in real time, helping companies stay within pollution rules.
Al Air Batteries and Energy Storage Pilots: Early work focused on cleaner local power storage.
Financials, Revenue, Funding & Business Model
Chakr Innovation has seen strong growth in recent years. According to Tracxn, the company reported ₹125 crore in annual revenue as of March 31, 2024. FY24 also marked a shift as Chakr posted a profit of ₹9.5 crore after reporting losses in earlier years.
The startup has raised more than $43.6 million across 12 funding rounds. Its largest round was a $23 million Series C raise in September 2025, led by Iron Pillar with support from SBICap, ONGC, IAN, and Inflexor Ventures. In 2023, Chakr also secured a ₹18 crore facility from EXIM Bank to expand manufacturing.
Chakr earns most of its revenue from selling and installing pollution control devices. This is supported by regular income from maintenance contracts, monitoring services, and compliance support. The company mainly serves large industrial customers and is expanding into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the UAE.
The Road Ahead
With fresh funding, Chakr Innovation plans to increase manufacturing capacity, expand outside India, and continue work on energy storage and emission control systems. Kushagra has said that material science will play a key role as energy needs rise and new technologies grow.
The company’s long-term aim is to reduce pollution from fossil fuels and improve access to clean air by turning harmful emissions into useful products. Chakr Innovation shows that pollution control and business growth can move forward together.