The 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge' for Indian Techies: Topics, Important Dates, Eligibility and Awards

PM Modi announced the new Digital India Challenge on Saturday. The MeitY has further named it the "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge". It aims to improve the Indian app ecosystem. This innovation challenge is also in partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission and government think-tank Niti Aayog.

About the challenge

MeitY in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission – Niti Aayog launched Digital India Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Innovate Challenge. It aims to identify the best Indian Apps that citizens are already using and have the potential to scale. Further, with the Mantra of Make In India, the goal is to make these apps world-class.

This Innovation Challenge has various cash awards and incentives for the best developers. MeitY will also feature them to create an ecosystem for Indian entrepreneurs and startups. They will get incentives to ideate, incubate, build, nurture and sustain tech solutions for India and the world.

The last date to apply is July 18.

Categories

The 8 broad categories of this challenge are:

• Office Productivity & Work from Home
• Social Networking
• E-Learning
• Entertainment
• Health & Wellness
• Business including Agritech and Fintech
• News
• Games

In Track 1 of the challenge, the government will identify the best Indian apps that citizens are using already and have the potential to scale and become world-class apps. Further, in Track 2 will identify companies and entrepreneurs who can build apps for the country. It will also help with ideation, incubation, prototyping and roll out along with market access.

Eligibility

The contest is open to Indian Citizens only.

Awards

Post evaluation, these apps will get awards and features on “leaderboards for information of citizens". The government has allocated ₹20 lakh, ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh for the first, second and third-placed apps in each category. There may also be sub-categories, where winners will get ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh and ₹2 lakh for first, second and third position, respectively.

Important Dates

Launch of Innovation Challenge: 4th July 2020, on innovate.mygov.in

Last date for Submission: 18th July 2020 at 5:30 P.M

Screening of Entries Received: 20th to 24th July 2020

Evaluation by the Jury: 27th July to 3rd August 2020

Final Announcement: 7th August 2020

Read more on the official website of the MyGov Innovation Challenge.