DDWS Innovation Challenge 2025–26
By Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation
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Quick Answer
A national innovation challenge by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation and IIT Madras to support and scale innovative technological solutions for drinking water quality and sanitation in …
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹3L
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 7 February 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The DDWS Innovation Challenge 2025–26 is a national-level innovation initiative launched by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, in collaboration with IIT Madras. The program aims to identify, support, and scale innovative technological solutions addressing critical challenges in drinking water quality and sanitation across India, with a strong focus on rural and decentralized contexts.
The challenge is structured around two focused tracks. Track 1 concentrates on the development of portable water testing devices capable of detecting chemical and bacteriological parameters, enabling accurate assessment of drinking water quality at the source. Solutions are expected to provide digital outputs, support data transmission through mobile or SIM-enabled systems, and offer actionable insights on water safety. Track 2 focuses on sanitation through the development of small-scale, cost-effective, and sustainable plastic waste disposal systems, particularly for managing multi-layered plastics at the rural level.
Selected innovators will receive national-level visibility, structured mentorship from IIT Madras faculty and domain experts, opportunities for field trials, and incubation and proof-of-concept support. The program is designed not only as a cash award challenge but also as a pathway for real-world validation, adoption, and scale-up of impactful solutions aligned with national missions such as Jal Jeevan Mission.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) operates under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Originally formed in 1999 under the Ministry of Rural Development, it became the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2011 before being merged into the…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹3L
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Selected innovators receive a cash grant of up to ₹3,00,000, along with structured mentorship, field trial opportunities, incubation support, and proof-of-concept assistance to validate and scale their solutions.
Application Process
- 1
Online Application Registration
Register and submit your application through the official DDWS Innovation Challenge portal. Registration opens on 29th December 2025 and closes on 7th February 2026.
You
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
