Deadline Date: January 27, 2026
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras, in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti – Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, is launching the DDWS Innovation Challenge under the Har Ghar Jal – Jal Jeevan Mission aligned with the vision of the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen.
The focus areas of the challenge include the Water Quality Sensors Innovation Challenge, which seeks portable devices for monitoring chemical and bacteriological water quality parameters with digital or real-time output, and the Plastic Waste Innovation Challenge, which emphasizes cost-effective, small-scale, and sustainable solutions for plastic waste management, including multilayered plastic waste disposal, to support clean water and sanitation systems. The DDWS Innovation Challenge aims to bring together research-driven innovation and practical deployment to address critical gaps in rural water supply and sanitation systems. By encouraging the development of field-ready technologies, the initiative supports national missions focused on clean drinking water access and improved environmental hygiene.
At IIT Madras, the challenge is being led by Prof. Indumathi M. Nambi, Prof. Pawan Labhasetwar, and Prof. Ligy Philip, who are guiding the initiative through their combined expertise in water, sanitation, and environmental engineering. Their leadership is intended to ensure that innovations emerging from the challenge are technically robust and suitable for real-world application.
Selected teams will benefit from expert mentorship and incubation support, along with a cash grant of ₹3 lakh for winners. The program also offers opportunities for field deployment and scale-up, enabling promising solutions to move beyond the laboratory and contribute directly to national water and sanitation goals.
For more information, visit IIT Madras.
