Maharashtra is expanding outreach for the Seva First Innovation Challenge, with Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha seeking greater participation from rural students and young innovators. According to the department, more than 3,000 participants from Maharashtra had registered, while registrations across Goa, Diu-Daman and Chhattisgarh exceeded 6,000. The competition invites ideas spanning agriculture, healthcare, artificial intelligence, education, environment and other public-interest sectors. Partnerships with Srujan Trust and Vigyan Bharati Konkan Prant are intended to broaden participation ahead of the October 17, 2026, deadline.
Seva First Innovation Challenge Draws Strong Youth Response in Maharashtra, Mangal Prabhat Lodha Eyes Registration Record
Maharashtra is expanding rural outreach for the Seva First Innovation Challenge, with Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha saying institutional partnerships could drive record youth participation.
On October 10, Maharashtra’s Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department said the Seva First Innovation Challenge had received strong participation from students and young innovators.
The multi-state competition is being organised under the nationwide Seva Sankalp Abhiyan launched by the Central Skill Development Department to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
In Maharashtra, the initiative is being implemented under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with online applications open from September 21 through October 17, 2026, across the state.
Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the state is working to increase participation from rural students, following specific directions issued by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis personally.
The competition is open to innovators, students, student groups, researchers, professors, startups, MSMEs, companies, social organisations, educational institutions, research institutions and other innovation teams statewide.
Participants can submit ideas addressing agriculture, healthcare, women’s safety, urban development, environment, defence, artificial intelligence, education and employability, alongside other identified public-interest challenges across sectors.
Lodha said there is no age limit for the Seva First Innovation Challenge, allowing individuals from different backgrounds to present creative solutions on a statewide platform.
He added that the government wants maximum student participation, particularly from rural Maharashtra, where outreach efforts are being expanded through institutional partnerships and awareness campaigns.
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Seva First Innovation Challenge registrations cross thousands
According to Lodha, more than 3,000 students and young people from Maharashtra have registered so far, while registrations from Goa, Diu-Daman and Chhattisgarh exceed 6,000.
He said the response from rural students and youth has also been encouraging, with growing interest in using innovation and research to turn practical ideas into projects.
Applicants can register through the official Seva First Innovation Challenge portal and submit their projects online, with the entire application and evaluation-related submission process conducted digitally.
In the first stage, participants provide registration details; during project submission, they must enter Aadhaar-linked personal information and project details, according to the department’s application guidance.
The portal also provides a chatbot facility to address participant queries, while applicants may access the website directly or use the designated QR code for registration.
To widen participation, the Skill Development Department signed two memoranda of understanding at Mantralaya with Srujan Trust, Pune, and Vigyan Bharati Konkan Prant representatives today.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the partnerships could help create a world record in youth registrations, though the target remains an official expectation rather than a verified outcome.
Under the agreements, both organisations will promote the Seva First Innovation Challenge and encourage wider participation, especially among students and young people from rural areas.
Srujan Trust and Vigyan Bharati to expand rural outreach
Vigyan Bharati Konkan Prant will guide students on preparing project reports and meeting competition requirements, while Srujan Trust will focus on extensive outreach and mobilisation.
Srujan Trust also organises the annual DIPEX initiative for young people working in innovation, startups and entrepreneurship, giving it access to a broad participant network.
Those present at the signing included Srujan Trust trustee Deepak Mukadam, Maharashtra State Skills University Vice-Chancellor Dr Apoorva Palkar and Srujan Trust’s Dr Amit Nehte.
For Maharashtra, the challenge now lies in converting registration momentum into credible, well-supported projects while ensuring rural participants receive equal access to mentoring, infrastructure and visibility.
Sprouts News will continue tracking participation figures, project quality and the department’s world-record claim as the October 17 application deadline approaches across participating states and territories.
