Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026 – Maharashtra Zone

The Seva First Innovation Challenge is an open innovation platform for the Maharashtra Zone, covering Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Goa and Daman & Diu. It invites practical ideas, products, technologies, processes and solutions from citizens, students, researchers, startups, MSMEs, companies and institutions.

• Open to individual innovators, students, student teams, researchers, faculty, informal innovation teams, startups, MSMEs, companies, social enterprises, educational institutions, research institutions and other organizations.
• The solution must align with one of the challenge’s ten sectors and demonstrate credible problem-solution fit.
• The same innovation may be submitted only once and under one primary sector.
• Selected exhibition finalists must be available for final-stage interactions and exhibition requirements.
• Women-led startup status requires women to hold at least 51% equity for more than two months before the application date, but applicants may also enter the General Category.

• ₹10 lakh cash prize for each winner.
• Total allocation of ₹5 crore across 50 awardees.
• Approximately 200 finalists selected for the exhibition stage.
• Zonal recognition and visibility.
• Networking with government, industry, experts and academic institutions.
• Potential pathways for mentorship, prototyping, piloting, incubation and adoption.

• Administrative scrutiny.
• Two independent online evaluations.
• Technical and impact assessment.
• Finalist verification.
• Exhibition-stage participation.
• Final ranking by a Grand Jury.
• Applications are assessed for relevance, originality, feasibility, cost, impact, scalability and solution quality.