Zero Prize – For a Pollution-Free India
School of Policy & Governance (SPG)
📌About the Event
The Zero Prize – For a Pollution-Free India is a national environmental innovation challenge convened by the School of Policy & Governance (SPG). With a total prize pool of ₹5 crore, it rewards solutions that demonstrate measurable and independently verified reductions in air, water, and land pollution. Unlike idea-based competitions, the Zero Prize focuses on real-world results, scientific validation, scalability, and practical environmental impact.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Mode of Conduct: Online application followed by real-world pilot implementation, independent verification, evaluation, and a finalist pitch/awards stage.
- Level: National.
- Focus Areas:
- Air Quality
- Water Pollution
- Land/Waste Pollution
- Applications are submitted through the official Zero Prize portal.
- Shortlisted teams must demonstrate their solutions under real urban or peri-urban conditions.
- Pilot results are independently monitored and scientifically verified before final selection
📅 Important Dates
- Extended Application Deadline: 13 September 2026
- Baseline Establishment & Pilot Approvals: September–October 2026
- Pilot Implementation, Monitoring & Data Submission: November–December 2026
- Evaluation & Finalist Selection: January–February 2027
- Finalist Pitch Day & Awards Ceremony: March 2027
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibilty:
- Solutions must directly address air, water, or land pollution.
- Eligible approaches may include:
- Technology or engineered solutions
- Process improvements
- Community and behaviour-change interventions
- Nature-based solutions
- Recycling and circular-economy models
- Digital or AI-enabled pollution monitoring/reduction systems
- Decentralised or frugal innovations
- Solutions should be sufficiently developed to demonstrate measurable, independently verifiable real-world impact.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Total Prize Pool: ₹5 Crore
- Air Quality Challenge: ₹1 Crore
- Target: verified 15–25% reduction in population-weighted PM₂.₅ exposure within the defined pilot area.
- Water Pollution Challenge: ₹1 Crore
- Target: verified 20–30% reduction in wastewater pollution load.
- Land Pollution Challenge: ₹1 Crore
- Target: reduce, recycle or sustainably prevent 15,000 tonnes of waste from reaching landfills over three years.