Implementation
From launch to the National Finale
Official launch & portal goes live
19 September 2026
Submission window
19 September – 5 October 2026
State screening by NITs
8 October 2026 onwards
Exhibition, showcase & finale
30 November – 15 December 2026
* Indicative schedule, to be confirmed at the time of formal notification. Zonal rounds, evaluation and shortlisting are scheduled within this window by the Nodal Institute.
Seven stages
How the Challenge moves
- 1
Grand Announcement & Portal Launch
Launch of the Challenge: announcement of the five themes and two tracks, eligibility and guidelines, and the opening of the online submission portal as the single point of registration.
- 2
State-Level Mobilisation
State Governments activate education and skill departments, directorates and district administrations to carry the Challenge to every school, ITI, polytechnic, college and university, supported by a standard IISc outreach toolkit.
- 3
Registration & Submission
Participants register on the portal, select participation level, theme and track, and submit a short, structured concept with supporting material where available.
- 4
State/UT-wise Consolidation
After the portal closes, entries are segregated State/UT-wise and classified theme-wise and track-wise for screening.
- 5
Screening & Shortlisting
NITs and designated technical institutions screen entries against the common evaluation framework: relevance, originality, feasibility, cost, impact, scalability and quality of solution and shortlist the best concepts.
- 6
EXPERT EVALUATION
Expert evaluation, technical assessment and theme-wise, track-wise review of shortlisted entries at IISc Bengaluru; final selection of winners.
Mentoring, Prototyping & Showcase
Winners and shortlisted innovators receive expert mentorship, laboratory and fabrication access, incubation and pilot support, leading to demonstration, showcase and adoption pathways with industry and government.