The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition has emerged as a premier youth innovation initiative under the Viksit Bharat framework, challenging young creative minds to design practical solutions for grassroots development. The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition is a flagship innovation and design challenge hosted on the MY Bharat Portal. Centred around the theme of “Duality (Dwividhita)”, the competition aims to bridge traditional craftsmanship with modern technology and scale sustainable interventions across India. Various other competitions have also been organised under the Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan.
Domains
Challenge 1: Design for Bharat (DfB) Open Challenge
Under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition, various students will get an opportunity to showcase their work, including young professionals and designers, to conceptualise user-centric products, systems, and digital frameworks across seven critical domains:
| Category & Code Name | Focus Area & Description |
| Smart Agriculture & Agri-Tech (Krishi) | Equipment, tools, and smart tech systems empowering smallholder farmers and optimising agricultural productivity. |
| Accessible Healthcare & Assistive Tech (Swasthya) | Affordable medical devices, diagnostic tools, and assistive gear for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (Divyangjan). |
| Sustainable Clean Energy & Mobility (Paryavaran) | Off-grid green energy solutions, eco-friendly transit, and clean power devices for domestic or public use. |
| Rural Housing & Climate-Resilient Infrastructure (Vikas) | Modular, low-cost, and deployable structural materials and housing solutions for rural development and disaster relief. |
| Waste-to-Wealth & Circular Economy (Swachh Bharat) | Micro-industrial machinery, community-level upcycling equipment, and systems for processing local waste. |
| Next-Gen Handicrafts & Artisanal Tooling (Vocal for Local) | Redesigned production tools, processing machinery, and sustainable packaging for rural artisans, weavers, and self-help groups. |
| Next-Gen Civic Utilities & Disaster Resilience (Jan Raksha) | Specialized safety gear, emergency products, and civic equipment for municipal workers and climate-disaster response teams. |
Challenge 2: Design for Bharat (DfB) Graduation Project Challenge
The National Thesis Showcase recognises exceptional design thesis and graduation projects developed by recent design graduates. It provides national visibility, connects academic research with real-world challenges, and highlights the journey from research to finished, people-centred product design.
Eligibility Criteria
| Parameter | Challenge 1: Open Challenge | Challenge 2: Graduation Project Challenge |
| Age Limit | 18–29 years (Indian citizens) | 18–29 years (Indian citizens) |
| Academic Requirement | Enrolled in a college/university/recognized academic institution at the time of application. | Completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in design or a closely related discipline in the 2025 or 2026 academic session. |
| Project Nature | Tangible product design solution addressing 1 of 7 categories. | Academic thesis or graduation project completed during the 2025 or 2026 academic year (subject to institutional certification). |
| Team Structure | Individual or team (maximum 3 members). | Individual thesis projects only. |
Selection Process
Challenge 1: Open Challenge (3 Stages)
- Stage 1 (Compete – State/UT Level): Register and submit entries on the portal. Entries are evaluated by State/UT expert panels. Top state entries advance, and state winners are felicitated locally.
- Stage 2 (National Mentorship): Selected entries undergo national review for innovation, usability, feasibility, and impact. 36 national finalists receive online mentorship to refine their projects for public presentation.
- Stage 3 (National Showcase & Felicitation): Finalists travel to New Delhi for in-person mentoring and present their designs at the national showcase during VBYLD 2027 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Challenge 2: Graduation Project Challenge (3 Stages)
- Stage 1 (Submission & Evaluation): Submit thesis projects via the portal for evaluation by a panel of design experts against set competition criteria.
- Stage 2 (National Selection & Mentoring): A maximum of 20 projects are shortlisted and undergo virtual mentoring for exhibition readiness review and national submission verification.
- Stage 3 (National Jury & Showcase): Shortlisted participants receive in-person mentoring in New Delhi, present their work at Bharat Mandapam, and compete before the National Grand Design Jury for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize awards.
How to Apply for the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat Competition?
- Register or log in using your credentials on the MY Bharat Portal (Given below).
- Navigate to the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition section and choose either Challenge 1 (Open Challenge) or Challenge 2 (Graduation Projects Challenge).
- Fill out all required individual or team personal details, institutional background, and project information.
- Upload all required digital project portfolios, concept notes, presentation boards, and media files according to your chosen challenge’s technical specifications.
- Review your details, submit the mandatory originality declaration, and retain your application reference number for tracking and future correspondence.
Detailed Submission & Technical Specifications by Track
Challenge 1: Design for Bharat — Open Challenge
All submissions must be in digital format. Applicants must upload a structured proposal comprising a concept note, a main visual hero shot, process boards, and technical details across up to 7 posters.
Submission Components
- Concept Note (Max 500 words): A brief description outlining the larger concept, vision, impact, core functionality, and real-world potential of the design.
- Poster 1 — Concept Note: Visuals highlighting the primary function, purpose, or core problem the design addresses.
- Poster 2 — Main Visual: Central image, high-resolution render, sketch, or prototype photograph featuring a clean layout, minimal text, and a prominent hero shot of the concept.
- Posters 3–5 — Detailed Description & Process: Comprehensive visual representation of the design lifecycle, including background research, user needs, ideation, flowcharts, prototyping stages, features, usability, and benefits.
- Posters 6–7 — Supplementary Information: Technical breakdown emphasizing sustainability (materials, eco-conscious approach, energy efficiency) or technology integration (IoT, AI, scalability, and system architecture).
Technical Specifications (Open Challenge)
- Platform: Digital submission via the MY Bharat portal.
- Poster Limit: Maximum of 7 posters.
- File Format: JPG
- Resolution: 300 DPI
- File Size Limit: Maximum 20 MB per poster.
- Declaration: Submission of an originality declaration and display consent for official exhibitions/publications.
Challenge 2: Design for Bharat — Graduation Projects Challenge
A graduation or thesis project is developed within an academic institution through student work, faculty supervision, and institutional facilities. Every entry must explicitly acknowledge the academic context (student designer, institution, department, and supervisors) and must not be presented as independent work.
Required Project Metadata
- Title of the graduation/thesis project
- Name of the participant/team members
- Name of the guide(s) / supervisor(s)
- Qualifying degree title
- Department name
- Name of the Institution / University
- Name of industry sponsors or external mentors (if applicable)
Submission Deliverables & Technical Specifications (Graduation Challenge)
| Deliverable | Technical Specifications & Guidelines |
| Portfolio | • Format: PDF • Sheet Size: A3 Landscape (420 x 297 mm) • Sheet Count: Maximum 12 sheets • File Size Limit: Maximum 50 MB |
| Key Poster | • Format: Single concise visual summary for screening/display • Layout: A3 Portrait poster with project title • Resolution: Minimum 1920 x 1080 px, 300 DPI • File Size Limit: Maximum 10 MB |
| Digital Presentation | • Format: PDF or digital presentation slides • Slide Count: 15–25 slides |
| Video Presentation (Optional) | • Format: MP4 video (1920 x 1080 resolution) • Duration: 60–120 seconds • File Size Limit: Maximum 500 MB |
General Submission Guidance (Graduation Challenge)
- Academic Scope: The thesis or graduation project must have been completed during the 2025–2026 academic year.
- Attribution: Clearly identify individual contributions in team-based projects where applicable.
- Institutional Verification: Provide formal institutional certification confirming thesis completion and supervisor endorsement.
- Originality: All content must be original, supported by high-resolution visuals and concise descriptive text.
- Declaration: Participants must submit a declaration confirming originality and consenting to public display in VBYLD exhibitions and official publications.
Rewards
The rewards, financial incentives, and recognition perks for finalists in the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition include:
- Cash Prizes for Winners: National Grand Design Jury awardees receive cash prize money across top placements:
- 1st Prize Winner: ₹1,50,000
- 2nd Prize Winner: ₹1,00,000
- 3rd Prize Winner: ₹75,000
- Incubation & Prototype Grants: Direct access to seed funding, cash grants, or institutional incubation support to transition winning design concepts and thesis projects into market-ready physical prototypes.
- National Mentorship Program: Specialised virtual and in-person design mentorship from leading industry experts and academic panels prior to the grand showcase in New Delhi.
- National Exhibition Showcase: Invited participation to present and showcase live product designs before government officials, industry leaders, and a national jury at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
- State & National Level Felicitation: Official awards, trophies, and certificates of excellence issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, celebrating state winners and national finalists.
Important Dates
| Event/ Phase | Challenge 1: Open Challenge | Challenge 2: Graduation Project Challenge |
| Call for Entries Launch | September 2, 2026 | September 2, 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | October 15, 2026 | October 15, 2026 |
| State Level Results/ Pre-Screening | Oct 16 – Oct 30, 2026 | October 25, 2026 (Pre-Screening) |
| State Award Ceremony/ Shortlisting | Oct 31 – Nov 15, 2026 | November 9, 2026 (Final 20 Shortlist) |
| National Mentoring (Online / Virtual) | Nov 21 – Dec 15, 2026 | Nov 14 – Nov 28, 2026 |
| Final Exhibition Collateral Submission | — | December 18, 2026 |
| National Mentoring (In-Person, New Delhi) | Jan 4 – Jan 9, 2027 | January 2027 (Pre-Showcase) |
| National Judging/ Jury Round | Jan 10 – Jan 11, 2027 | Jan 10 – Jan 11, 2027 |
| National Showcase & Award Ceremony | January 12, 2027 | January 12, 2027 |
Important Link
| Official link – Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat Competition |
| Application link – Challenge 1 |
| Application link – Challenge 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the primary objective of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition?
The competition seeks to engage young innovators to solve grassroots developmental problems through human-centered design, sustainable engineering, and tech-driven solutions under the Viksit Bharat vision.
Q2: Who is eligible to participate in the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition?
Any young Indian citizen aged between 18 and 29 years, including students and graduates from design, engineering, and allied technology fields, can participate either individually or in teams of up to three members.
Q3: Can we submit multiple entries under different categories?
Participants are generally restricted to one primary submission per individual or team to ensure focused, high-quality conceptualisation, though cross-disciplinary team formation is encouraged.
Q4: What deliverables are required during the initial submission stage?
Applicants must submit a detailed project concept note (within 500 words) explaining the problem statement, user research, and proposed solution, accompanied by professional design boards, CAD renders, or visual sketches.
Q5: Are there any registration fees for the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat competition?
No, registration and submission on the official MY Bharat portal are completely free of charge.
Q6: What benefits do winners receive?
Finalists receive expert national-level mentorship, cash grants or incubation support for prototype development, and the prestigious opportunity to showcase their innovations at a national exhibition venue.
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