Arunachal Pradesh government has launched a National Innovation Challenge seeking solutions to local problems from students, professionals, startups and community groups. The challenge will be conducted across five cities, with regional rounds planned in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi.
The Kolkata round will cover West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and the northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh. The programme is being organised as part of events marking 25 years of public service by PM Modi.
Applications opened on October 5. The deadline for submitting inquiries is October 25, while final applications can be submitted until October 30 through the Arunachal Pradesh State Startup Portal.
The challenge is open to school and college students, polytechnic trainees, young professionals, early-stage startups, independent innovators and community groups. Applicants can participate individually or as teams.
It has two categories. The Junior category is open to school, ITI and undergraduate students, while the Open category covers graduates, professionals, startups and community groups.
The selection criteria will differ between the two categories. The Junior category will focus on the quality of the idea and clarity of thinking, while participants in the Open category are expected to present a stronger case for implementation, including a prototype or pilot.
Innovators Three Rounds
Shortlisted applicants will first be invited to Itanagar to present their ideas before a jury. Those selected from the first round will then travel to Kolkata for the next stage, followed by a final round in New Delhi.
The Arunachal Pradesh government will bear travel expenses for selected participants during the competition. The challenge is looking for solutions that can address problems at the level of a state, district, city, village or panchayat.
The organisers are also seeking ideas with a practical route to implementation and the potential to be expanded or replicated in other locations.
Startup Network Programme
The Arunachal Pradesh Innovation & Investment Park, or APIIP, has been designated as the nodal institution for innovation-related activities in the state, including the National Innovation Challenge.
The state also runs the Arunachal Pradesh Entrepreneurship Development Programme (APEDP), an incubation initiative for startups. According to the state government, APEDP has incubated 156 startups so far, while another 100 are currently under incubation.
The government has also said Arunachal Pradesh was rated a ‘Best Performer’ under the Government of India National Startup Ranking Framework, attributing the outcome to initiatives including APIIP and APEDP.
The state government has linked the challenge to the broader expansion of innovation and entrepreneurship in India. It cited an improvement in India rank in the Global Innovation Index from 81st in 2015 to 38th in 2025.
It also said the number of startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has increased from about 350 in 2014 to more than 2.4 lakh in 2025-26.
The challenge is consequently being positioned as a route for young innovators to move beyond identifying problems and develop solutions that can be tested in real settings. The programme covers both early-stage ideas and more developed proposals requiring pilot implementation.
Northeast Regional Round
For Arunachal Pradesh and the wider Northeast, the Kolkata regional round will serve as the main selection stage covering the region. Applicants from the area will therefore compete alongside participants from West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar.
The final stages in Kolkata and New Delhi will give shortlisted participants additional opportunities to present their proposals before juries and other stakeholders. Arunachal government has invited young innovators to participate through the state startup portal.
The challenge will ultimately depend on how many shortlisted ideas move from proposals to pilots and whether those pilots can be implemented beyond their original locations. The state has not disclosed a separate funding pool or the number of projects that will receive funding after the competition.
