NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge 2026
By NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL)
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Quick Answer
An India-wide grand challenge inviting students, startups, and enterprises to build innovative digital twin solutions for India's logistics sector, offering cash prizes and access to key datasets.
- Funding amount
- ₹3L – ₹5L
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- 24d — 14 Nov 2026
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
About this competition
The NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge, an initiative by NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL) in partnership with National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) and DPIIT Startup India, aims to revolutionize India's logistics sector through advanced Digital Twin technology. A Digital Twin is a real-time virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system, enabling continuous monitoring, predictive analytics, scenario simulation, and dynamic optimization. This challenge seeks to leverage the transformative potential of Digital Twins across critical logistics domains such as port operations, freight corridors, warehousing, multimodal hubs, and extensive supply chain networks, facilitating data-driven decision-making at scale. The Grand Challenge invites a diverse group of participants, including students, innovators, startups, enterprises, research institutions, and academia, from across India. The core objective is to harness data and sophisticated modeling techniques to build intelligent digital replicas of India's vast logistics infrastructure. This initiative is designed to enable smarter simulation, enhance predictive planning, and optimize operations throughout the entire supply chain, addressing real-world logistics bottlenecks and fostering innovation in this crucial sector. The program specifically targets solutions that can be scaled and deployed to create a robust repository of functional digital twin prototypes.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Co-organizer
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)New Delhi · Delhi · India
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is part of India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its Startup India section runs the Startup India initiative, launched on 16 January 2016, and issues the DPIIT startup recognition certificate that most…
Learn moreStartup India is an e-platform and an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) designed to connect startups and entrepreneurs with investors, incubators, and other ecosystem stakeholders. Operating as a national facilitator, it offers a…
Learn morePrizes & Awards
- Amount
- ₹3L – ₹5L
What You Get
Participants in the NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge stand to gain significant benefits, including substantial cash prizes to fuel their innovative projects. The top team overall will be awarded a Grand Prize of ₹5,00,000, while the best team in each of the five focus sectors will receive ₹3,00,000. Beyond the financial awards, participants will receive invaluable access to simulated logistics datasets and ULIP APIs, providing essential resources for developing and testing their Digital Twin solutions. This access allows teams to work with realistic data environments, enhancing the practical applicability and accuracy of their prototypes. The challenge also offers a platform for national recognition for outstanding solutions, connecting innovators with key industry players and government bodies involved in India's logistics transformation, thereby fostering potential future collaborations and deployment opportunities.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Duration
- 3 months
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Applications undergo a multi-stage evaluation process. Initially, a Screening Committee assesses submitted Concept Notes for their innovation, technical strength, and relevance to India's logistics bottlenecks. Shortlisted teams then proceed to develop detailed ideas and subsequently, prototypes or Proof-of-Concepts (PoCs). The final evaluation involves a virtual demonstration of the working prototype to a Grand Jury. The indicative evaluation framework for the final stage includes criteria such as Prototype Readiness (20%), Innovation (15%), Data Use and Integration (10%), Technical Strength and Scalability (15%), Market Readiness (20%), and Pitch and Q&A (20%). This comprehensive assessment ensures that solutions are not only innovative but also technically robust, data-driven, and market-ready.
Application Process
- 1
Register & Submit Concept Note
Teams register on the portal and submit a Concept Note outlining their Digital Twin solution.
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in the NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge?
The Grand Challenge is open to students, startups, enterprises, academia, research institutions, innovators and other eligible participants. Participation is open across India only.
What are the eligibility criteria for team composition?
Each team shall comprise a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 members. At least one team member must have demonstrated technical capability in Data Engineering, AI/ML, GIS, Modeling/Simulation or software development. Teams may comprise members, including eligible students, startups, academic/research institutions, enterprises, and other eligible entities.
Is there any participation or registration fee?
There is no participation fee.
How can participants register and participate?
Participants can register through the dedicated NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge portal - https://digitwingrandchallenge.nldsl.in/
What are the awards under the Grand Challenge?
The total indicative award pool is ₹20,00,000+, comprising: Grand Prize: ₹5 lakh and Five Category Awards: ₹3 lakh each.
Will teams retain intellectual property (IP) rights to their solutions?
While not explicitly stated, in most grand challenges of this nature, participating teams typically retain the intellectual property rights to the solutions they develop. The organizers are primarily interested in identifying and nurturing innovative solutions for the logistics sector.
What kind of support is available to participating teams?
Teams will receive access to simulated logistics datasets and ULIP APIs to aid in the development of their Digital Twin solutions. There is also a dedicated support email for inquiries throughout the challenge.
What happens after the challenge concludes?
Beyond the cash prizes and recognition, the challenge aims to identify prospective technology solution providers associated with shortlisted solutions for potential consideration in future Digital Twin initiatives of NICDC and NLDSL, potentially leading to deployment opportunities.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
