DDWS Innovation Challenge 2025–26

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.