Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition 2026: Application portal closes soon; Apply now
Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition under VBYLD 2027 is open for students aged 18 to 29. Check eligibility, dates and prizes.
The Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition has been opened for college students who want to build technology-driven solutions for social good. The initiative is part of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD 2027) and is meant to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation.
The competition is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS), with IIT Bombay as the National Knowledge Partner. Registration and submission of entries are open from 1st September 2026 to 15th October 2026 on the MY Bharat Portal, and the top five teams at the national showcase will receive cash prizes of up to ₹75,000. Similar competitions are being organised at state level as well.
Table of Contents
Partners and Governance
The Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition brings together four key stakeholders, as listed below.
| Partner | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS) | Organiser and policy leadership |
| IIT Bombay | National Knowledge Partner for mentoring and technical guidance |
| State Nodal Institutions (SNI) | Managing state-level hackathons and mentorship |
| MY Bharat Portal | Registration and programme management |
Themes and Problem Areas
The overall vision of the programme is “Think Global, Hack Local – Technology for Social Transformation.” The eleven themes are indicative in nature, and participants are encouraged to adapt their ideas to state-specific issues and align them with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
| Theme | Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Rural Development & Livelihoods | Smart agriculture, rural employment platforms, women entrepreneurs, supply chain optimisation |
| Education & Skill Development | Remote learning, personalised education, vocational training, bridging the skills gap |
| Healthcare, Wellbeing & Service Delivery | Preventive care, telemedicine, mental health support, maternal care, portable diagnostics |
| Governance & Civic Technology | Smarter cities, urban mobility, traffic and waste management, participatory governance |
| Environment & Sustainability | Climate resilience, air and water quality, renewable energy, circular economy |
| Digital Inclusion | Accessibility, affordable internet, digital literacy, inclusive e-governance |
| AI, GIS & Emerging Technologies | Decision support systems, geospatial solutions, predictive models |
| Digital Safety & Cyber Fraud Awareness | Scam detection, fraud reporting, phishing awareness, online safety |
| Elderly Care & Healthy Ageing | Community support, emergency assistance, health reminders, pensions and welfare schemes |
| Assistive Technology & Accessibility | Sign language, screen readers, regional languages, inclusive digital services |
| Disaster Mitigation, Kumbh Mela | Health screening, crowd management, GIS-based risk mapping, emergency support |
Cash Prizes and Rewards
The top five teams selected at the national showcase will receive the following cash prizes under Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| First Prize | ₹75,000 |
| Second Prize | ₹50,000 |
| Third Prize | ₹25,000 |
| Fourth Prize | ₹15,000 |
| Fifth Prize | ₹15,000 |
Apart from the cash prizes, the following benefits are also offered:
- Certificate of Excellence for all national finalists
- Recognition certificates for mentors and coordinators
- Direct linkages to Startup India and incubation programmes
- Networking opportunities with industry leaders and policymakers
- Media coverage and recognition at the national level
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying under Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition must meet all the conditions given below
- Citizenship: Open only to Indian nationals.
- Age: Students aged 18 to 29 years as of 17th August 2026.
- Institution: Candidates must be currently enrolled in an AICTE-registered higher education institution (college, university or polytechnic).
- Registration: All team members must register individually on the MY Bharat Portal.
- Team Composition: A team can have up to three students. Members may be from the same institution or from different institutions.
- Team Lead: One member must be designated as the Team Lead, who will be responsible for submitting the entry and all documents.
Also Read: Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Design for Bharat Competition 2026: Application portal closes soon; Apply now
Selection Process
The selection process for Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition has four stages, taking teams from the state level to national recognition.
- Stage 1: Registration and submission of the idea.
- Stage 2: State-level hackathon with mentoring and jury evaluation. Three teams are shortlisted to the next round.
- Stage 3: IIT Bombay screening to select the top teams from each State/UT. National finalists move to the next round and receive mentoring from IIT Bombay.
- Stage 4: National showcase of the finalists in New Delhi in January 2027, where the top five teams are selected for awards.
Evaluation Criteria
Expert juries of the Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition will assess every solution on seven parameters.
| Parameter | What the Jury Looks For |
|---|---|
| Relevance | Alignment with themes and real-world problems |
| Technical Strength | Code quality, architecture, scalability |
| Functionality | Working prototype, features, user experience |
| Creativity | Innovation, uniqueness of approach |
| Social Cause Impact | Potential to create meaningful change |
| Presentation | Clarity, communication, demo quality |
| Teamwork | Collaboration, role distribution |
Documents and Items Required
The Team Lead must submit the following items online.
- Problem Statement: A state-specific problem statement with target beneficiary identification and current gaps.
- Presentation Deck: A concise 6 to 7 slide proposal covering the problem, solution, impact and implementation.
- Working Prototype: A link to the code repository (GitHub/ GitLab) or public source code.
- Demo Video: A short video of 3 to 5 minutes showing the team, problem context, prototype, user interaction and impact.
- Team Self-Declaration: Team and member details, a signed self-certification and ID proof of every team member.
Steps to Apply
- Visit the application portal by clicking on the link given below in the “Important Links” section.
- Check the eligibility criteria and register on the MY Bharat Portal. Every team member must register individually.
- Form a team of up to three students and designate one member as the Team Lead.
- Understand the theme and prepare your solution along with the required documents.
- The Team Lead should submit the problem statement, presentation deck, prototype link, demo video and team self-declaration online.
- Wait for the selection stages and showcase your innovation if shortlisted.
Mentorship and Support
- Teams shortlisted at the state level will receive guidance from domain mentors, coordinated by the State Nodal Coordinator. This covers technical guidance, feedback on prototypes, industry best practices and help in refining the pitch and presentation.
- At the national level, IIT Bombay will mentor only the 36 finalist teams through virtual office hours, online sessions, learning resources and offline support at the venue in Delhi.
Intellectual Property Rights
- All intellectual property rights in the submitted solutions remain with the participating teams, and ownership is not transferred to MoYAS or IIT Bombay.
- However, the organisers may display, publish or promote entries with due credit, and submitted code may be open-sourced under a licence such as MIT, Apache 2.0 or GPL.
- Participants also grant the organisers a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use the submitted materials for promotion, education and communication related to HSC and VBYLD.
Key Dates
| Events | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Registration and submission of entries | 1st September 2026 to 15th October 2026 |
| State-level hackathons and demonstrations | 16th October 2026 to 30th November 2026 |
| Shortlisting of national finalists | 1st December 2026 to 15th December 2026 |
| Virtual mentoring of national finalists by IIT Bombay | 16th December 2026 to 9th January 2027 |
| National showcase at VBYLD 2027 | 10th January 2027 to 12th January 2027 |
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Hack for Social Cause Competition?
It is an initiative under VBYLD 2027 that encourages youth aged 18 to 29 to build scalable, technology-driven solutions for social good. It is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports with IIT Bombay as the National Knowledge Partner.
Who can participate in the competition?
Only Indian nationals aged 18 to 29 years as of 17th August 2026 can participate. They must be currently enrolled in an AICTE-registered college, university or polytechnic.
How many members can be in a team?
A team can have up to three students, from the same or different institutions. One member must be the Team Lead, who submits the entry and all documents, while every member must register individually on the MY Bharat Portal.
What is the last date to register?
Registration and submission of entries will continue till 15th October 2026 on the MY Bharat Portal.
What is the prize money for the winners?
The first prize is ₹75,000, the second is ₹50,000, the third is ₹25,000, and the fourth and fifth prizes are ₹15,000 each. All national finalists will also receive a Certificate of Excellence.
Where will the national showcase be held?
The national showcase will be held in New Delhi from 10th to 12th January 2027 as part of VBYLD 2027. Finalists will present their solutions through stalls and pitch evaluation.
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