Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched the website and registration portal for the Seva First Innovation Challenge (SFIC) to encourage young people to identify community problems and develop practical solutions. The initiative is being organised jointly by the Ministry of Education, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and University Grants Commission (UGC), with IISc Bengaluru as the nodal institute. The challenge is open to students from schools, ITIs, polytechnics, colleges and universities across five states and three Union Territories. The challenge aims to encourage students and young innovators to identify problems in their communities and develop practical solutions that can be tested and taken towards implementation. It is open to participants from schools, ITIs, polytechnics, colleges and universities.
Joshi called on startups and industry partners to support young innovators and help turn promising ideas into practical solutions. The national finale of the challenge is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in December. The initiative also builds on efforts to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, including more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, over 17,300 Institutions Innovation Councils and initiatives such as the Smart India Hackathon. Registration for the challenge is scheduled to remain open from September 25 to October 24, 2026.
Joshi said, “Addressed students, young innovators, faculty members, startups and industry representatives, highlighting the importance of connecting Seva with innovation to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges. “Called upon startups and industry partners to mentor young innovators and help promising ideas move from prototypes to real-world solutions, advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” he said.
Focus Areas for Innovation and Service
The upcoming initiative will center on five key themes aimed at fostering innovation linked with community service. During the launch event, Joshi engaged with students, young innovators, faculty members, startups, and industry representatives. He emphasized the critical role of integrating ‘Seva’—or service—into innovative practices to address pressing real-world challenges.
