I
Category I
School & Vocational
Eligible Participants:
Students from Class V onwards up to ITI level, participating individually or in teams, with appropriate institutional support.
ELIGIBILITY
II
Category II
Diploma & Higher Education
Eligible Participants:
Students/teams from Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes, including technical and non-technical institutions.
III
Category III
Industry & Government (Open Category)
Eligible Participants:
Open Category: Urban/Rural industries, MSMEs, startups, R&D organisations and Government laboratories, participating individually or through collaborative teams.
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Category
Eligible Participants
I
School & Vocational
Students from Class V onwards up to ITI level, participating individually or in teams, with appropriate institutional support.
II
Diploma & Higher Education
Students/teams from Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes, including technical and non-technical institutions.
III
Industry & Government (Open Category)
Open Category: Urban/Rural industries, MSMEs, startups, R&D organisations and Government laboratories, participating individually or through collaborative teams.
Participation
Individuals, groups/teams and eligible organisations may participate, subject to the specific requirements of each challenge.
Applicability
In general, the same three participant categories will be applicable to both National-Level and Local-Level Challenges, however, may vary depending upon the problem statement.
Northern Region COORDINATION
Participants from Delhi (NCR), Haryana (without Chandigarh), Punjab (without Chandigarh), Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir are eligible to participate under the Northern Region coordinated by DTU.
How to participate
Eligible participants can take part in the Seva First Innovation Challenge (SFIC) 2026 through the structured registration journey, designed to guide them from identifying a challenge to presenting their innovation.
The registration process and key steps are outlined below:
01
Check Eligibility
Confirm your eligibility and select the appropriate regional or participation category.
02
Select Innovation Track
Choose either National Level Innovation or Local Community Level Innovation.
03
Select Theme
Choose the theme that best matches the challenge you wish to address.
04
Select Problem Statement
Select a specific problem statement from the list available under the chosen theme. You may also propose a relevant problem, where permitted.
05
Form Your Team
Create your team and designate a Team Leader.
06
Submit Innovation Proposal
Describe the problem, proposed solution, innovation, technology, beneficiaries, feasibility and expected impact.
01
02
03
04
05
06
01 Check Eligibility
Confirm your eligibility and select the appropriate regional or participation category.
02 Select Innovation Track
Choose either National Level Innovation or Local Community Level Innovation.
03 Select Theme
Choose the theme that best matches the challenge you wish to address.
04 Select Problem Statement
Select a specific problem statement from the list available under the chosen theme. You may also propose a relevant problem, where permitted.
05 Form Your Team
Create your team and designate a Team Leader.
06 Submit Innovation Proposal
Describe the problem, proposed solution, innovation, technology, beneficiaries, feasibility and expected impact.
Submission & Evaluation Guidelines
The initial screening for SEVA 2026 is conducted across Screen-1 and Screen-2, tailored to each participant category. Review the submission requirements, evaluation parameters, and download the prescribed presentation templates below.
Category IClass V onwards up to ITI level
School & Vocational Submission & Evaluation
Applicable for: School students, ITI trainees, and vocational learners
1
Stage 1•Ideation
SCREEN-1
What to Submit / Do
Screen-1: Participants are required to upload a PPT presentation covering the following points:
- 1Problem statement in simple language
- 2Where the problem was observed
- 3Photographs/video/evidence of problem
- 4Who is affected & approximate number affected
- 5Evidence of user/problem interaction
- 6Existing situation/solutions and identified gaps
- 7Proposed solution & what is new about the idea
- 8Sketch / diagram / conceptual model (if possible)
- 9Approximate cost & expected benefit
- 1075-day work plan & milestone schedule
- 11Team composition and member roles
- 12Resource / facility requirements & Entry TRL (if any)
What to Check / Evaluation Rubric
- Problem authenticity & verified evidence
- Innovation & clear differentiation
- Technical soundness & feasibility for school level
- Team capability & mentor/institutional support
- Beneficiary scale & societal impact
- Realism of the 75-day execution plan
2
Stage 2•Pitch & Model
SCREEN-2
What to Submit / Do
Screen-2: Participants are required to submit a maximum 5-minute recorded video pitch along with structured evidence covering the following points:
- 1Explanation of proposed solution
- 2Early prototype / working model / software demo (if available)
- 3Drawings / design sketches
- 4Calculations / simulation (where applicable)
- 5Bill of Materials (BOM) & estimated cost
- 6Team roles & responsibilities
- 775-day milestone chart
- 8Identified technical gaps
- 9Risks and mitigation strategies
What to Check / Evaluation Rubric
- Understanding of the proposed solution & problem context
- Evidence of work already completed
- Problem–solution fit & practical relevance
- Technical / design feasibility
- Cost / BOM / resource realism
- Team capability & execution plan