Overview
- Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the Seva First Innovation Challenge at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru on Friday, with IISc designated as the South Zone nodal institute.
- Official registration opened on September 25 and runs until October 24, with a National Finale scheduled in New Delhi from December 10 to 17.
- The challenge invites participants at three levels—Junior (school students), Technical (ITIs and polytechnics) and Open (colleges, universities and independent innovators)—to develop solutions for local community problems.
- Organisers say teams will receive academic and industry mentorship, access to laboratories and fabrication facilities, testing and incubation support, seed and pilot funding, and guidance on intellectual property and field trials.
- The BJP is promoting the rollout as part of its Seva Sankalp Abhiyan to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years in public life, with zonal launches already held from September 18 and iHub Gujarat named as a nodal body for one zone.