Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Seva First Challenge Opens With ₹5-Crore Innovation Prize Pool
A new competition is inviting people to create technology that solves public-service problems.
It is open to participants from Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh and Daman and Diu.
Ideas can focus on areas such as farming, health, safety, education and artificial intelligence.
Applications can be submitted until October 17, 2026.
There will be five winners in each of 10 sectors.
Each winner will receive ₹10 lakh.
About 200 finalists will demonstrate their ideas at an event in Nagpur on December 7, 2026.
Some winning ideas may later receive government projects, investment or help reaching the market.
Applications opened for the Seva First Innovation Challenge across Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh and Daman and Diu.
The challenge seeks technology solutions for 10 sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, education, AI and urban development.
Applications are open until October 17, 2026, with individuals, students, startups, companies and institutions eligible to participate.
Five winners in each sector will receive ₹10 lakh, creating a total prize pool of ₹5 crore.
About 200 finalists will present their innovations at a December 7, 2026, showcase in Nagpur.
- Who
- Individuals, students, researchers, startups, companies, institutions and other innovation teams from Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh and Daman and Diu.
- What
- The Seva First Innovation Challenge is seeking technology-based solutions to public-service and development problems.
- When
- Applications opened on Wednesday and remain open until October 17, 2026; the final event is scheduled for December 7, 2026.
- Where
- The challenge covers Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh and Daman and Diu, with the final showcase planned in Nagpur.
- Why
- To encourage practical innovations that can be tested, procured, funded, incubated or deployed to address real-world problems.
- Prize pool
- ₹5 crore across 10 sectors
- Prize structure
- Five winners per sector, with each winner receiving ₹10 lakh
- Application deadline
- October 17, 2026
- Expected applications
- Approximately 1,500 to 2,000
- Expected finalists
- Around 200, or about 20 from each sector
- Final showcase
- December 7, 2026, in Nagpur
- Evaluation criteria
- Problem relevance, innovation, technological maturity, impact, scalability and implementation capability