Got A Fix For Delhi's Air? Win Rs 50 Lakh In New Clean-Air Innovation Challenge

Delhi is turning to innovators for its next clean-air breakthrough. The Delhi government on Friday launched a first-of-its-kind Innovation Challenge, with cash rewards of up to Rs 50 lakh for researchers and innovators, to crowdsource affordable technologies that can directly cut particulate pollution from roads, vehicles, and construction sites.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will lead the citywide hunt for deployable, low-cost solutions, from dust-trapping road coatings to exhaust-capture devices, that can work in the city's extreme weather conditions. 

Announcing the initiative, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Delhi is "throwing open its doors to anything that works on the ground."

"Bring us what works on the road or at construction and industrial sites. If it cuts PM2.5 or PM10 substantially, installs easily, and stays affordable, we'll back it," he said.

The competition has a three-stage evaluation: initial screening by the DPCC, expert field or lab trials, and final validation by national labs like the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). 

Innovation is the only solution!

To tackle air pollution in Delhi, DPCC has launched an 'Innovation Challenge', inviting participants from across the country to share their innovative ideas that can help improve Delhi's air quality.

This challenge focuses on ambient air and… pic.twitter.com/upB707eM04

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 10, 2025

Projects shortlisted after the second stage will receive a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh, while those recommended to the Delhi government after final testing will receive Rs 50 lakh each.

Sirsa said Delhi has seen "the highest number of clean-air days in a decade," but the city's goal is "every day to be a clean-air day."

"Enforcement alone won't get us there. This is a 24x7 innovation mission," he added.

Applications are open to individuals, startups, IITs, research institutes, and companies across India until October 31, 2025, at www.dpcc.delhigovt.nic.in

"If a solution can cut PM, fit Delhi's budget, and install easily, we'll take it from trial to citywide use. That's how prototypes become public goods, fast, and where people need relief the most," Sirsa said.