In a bid to encourage wider participation in efforts to combat the capital’s air pollution, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has extended the proposal submission deadline for Delhi’s Innovation Challenge by 15 days.
Announcing the extension, Sirsa said, “The key is participation. Extending the date allows everyone to join, test, and showcase their solutions. Delhi’s air belongs to all of us, so everyone’s idea matters.”
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The earlier deadline of October 31 has now been extended to November 15, following requests from participants and an influx of queries. Officials said that all participant emails were addressed within six hours of receipt.
The Delhi Innovation Challenge, designed to find practical solutions for reducing air pollution across the capital, has already drawn 48 proposals from across the country—30 from Delhi-NCR and 18 from states including Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
About two-thirds of the entries focus on improving city air quality, while the rest target vehicle emission reduction.
All submissions are being publicly shared on Manthan.gov.in, a national portal for scientific ideas, according to an official statement.
The challenge seeks actionable, affordable interventions to lower PM2.5 and PM10 levels. Proposals will be evaluated through a three-stage process: digital screening by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), expert review, and field trials. Shortlisted teams will receive ₹5 lakh each for pilot testing, and successful citywide solutions will be awarded ₹50 lakh after verification by national laboratories.
An expert technical committee has been constituted to assess entries and ensure scientific rigor. Officials emphasized that the initiative aims to attract contributions from startups, research institutions, and individual innovators, including those from smaller towns.
The initiative underscores the government’s intent to involve citizens and experts directly in addressing Delhi’s chronic air pollution—one of the city’s most pressing public health challenges—rather than relying solely on administrative interventions.
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