India / Govt launches 15 challenges for startups, MSMEs for grant of ₹50L each

New Delhi: In the push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and reducing India’s dependence on input imports, the government think tank NITI Aayog announced 15 new challenges for India’s startup and MSME ecosystem to address.

Five ministries — the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Food Processing Industries — have announced three challenges each for the sectors that they operate in.

“The MSME sector plays a very critical role. It’s a vibrant sector, it’s one of the fastest growing sectors and it plays a critical role in Atma Nirbhar Bharat which is being envisioned by the honorable PM,” said R Ramanan, the mission director of the Atal Innovation Mission during the press conference.

He explained that each challenge will have two winners, each eligible for a grant of up to ₹50 lakh, which will be given in three tranches. Only projects which are in advanced stages of research and development or have an initial prototype will be selected.

Here’s the full list of challenges put out for startups and MSMEs to address in the ARISE Atal New India Challenges:

ISRO

Propulsion: Green propellants, electric propulsion and advanced air-breathing.

Geo spatial information: Using ML/AI useful in crop monitoring, weather forecasting, and program evaluations.

Robotics/AR/VR: To support space exploration and outer space monitoring.

Ministry of Defence

AI-based predictive models: AI-based predictive maintenance of plant machinery.

Auto stabiliser system: Design and development of latest technology auto stabiliser system as form, fit & function (FFF) replacement of existing auto stabiliser system.

Communication modems: Wide band HD data communication modem with 4G automatic link establishment data throughputs of the order of 120 kbps.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries

Waste to wealth: Effective utilisation of commercial food processing industry waste streams.

Alternative food packaging materials: Against the use of single use plastic — materials from food waste to bio-sources.

Machines for indigenous food products: Optimised processing conditions and machinery for bulk production of native Indian products.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Health data analytics: Use of data analytics to identify early breakout of epidemics based on the historic curve and data.

AI solutions: AI-based solutions for antimicrobials resistance (AMR) surveillance.

Health care monitoring: Monitoring the logistics of cold chains in immunisation program.

Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs

Project water: Water pressure sensing systems to monitor leakage, illegal activity and help manage planned pressure in water supply lines.

Project clean air: Development of smart technology to reduce pollution through construction dust by at least 25%.

Project move: Development of usable smart technology to create a real-time mobility decision support system for Indian cities.