Call for Applications: Design for Bharat Open Challenge (India)

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Design for Bharat Open Challenge invites young Indians aged 18–29 to develop innovative product design solutions for real-world challenges across seven thematic categories. The national challenge provides participants with expert mentoring and evaluation to help transform their ideas into practical solutions aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

About the Design for Bharat Open Challenge

The Design for Bharat Open Challenge is a national innovation platform under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD). The initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, with the aim of encouraging young Indians to develop creative and practical solutions to pressing challenges. The challenge focuses specifically on product design, encouraging participants to move beyond ideas and develop tangible solutions that can address real-world needs. Purpose of the Challenge The challenge aims to foster innovation and creative problem-solving among India’s youth. Participants are encouraged to identify important challenges and develop product design solutions that can contribute to India’s development.

The initiative seeks to:

- Encourage innovation among young Indians. - Promote practical product design solutions. - Address real-world challenges. - Develop implementable ideas. - Connect young innovators with expert mentors. - Strengthen youth participation in nation-building. - Contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Seven Thematic Categories Participants can develop product design solutions addressing challenges across seven thematic categories. The categories provide a framework for young innovators to identify real-world problems and develop relevant, innovative products. Applicants should select a category that best matches the challenge their proposed product aims to address. From Ideas to Implementable Solutions The Design for Bharat Open Challenge is intended to help participants move their ideas toward practical implementation. Rather than focusing only on conceptual innovation, participants have the opportunity to refine their product design solutions through expert guidance and evaluation. This can help young innovators improve the practicality, relevance, and potential impact of their ideas. Expert Mentoring and Evaluation

Participants benefit from expert mentoring and evaluation throughout the challenge

The mentoring component can help participants: - Refine their product concepts. - Identify practical improvements. - Strengthen their proposed solutions. - Address real-world implementation challenges. - Develop more effective product designs. Expert evaluation also provides participants with an opportunity to receive feedback on their ideas. Contribution to Viksit Bharat @2047 The challenge supports the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, which seeks to encourage young Indians to contribute to India’s long-term development. By developing innovative products for real-world challenges, participants can contribute their creativity and problem-solving skills to national development priorities. Previous Edition The challenge builds on the momentum generated by its previous edition, which attracted thousands of registrations and hundreds of submissions. The new edition aims to expand participation and encourage more young Indians to develop innovative product design solutions. Who Can Apply? The challenge is open to young Indian students who meet the specified eligibility requirements.

Applicants must:

- Be an Indian citizen. - Be aged 18–29 years. - Be enrolled in a college, university, or recognised academic institution at the time of application. Individual and Team Participation

Participants can take part either individually or as part of a team

Teams can include up to three members. This allows participants to combine different skills and perspectives when developing their product design solutions. Key Details at a Glance

- Challenge: Design for Bharat Open Challenge

- Platform: Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD)

- Led by: Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

- Country: India

- Target participants: Indian youth

- Age: 18–29 years

- Focus: Innovative product design solutions

- Categories: Seven thematic categories

- Participation: Individual or teams

- Maximum team size: 3 members

- Education requirement: Must be enrolled in a college, university, or recognised academic institution

- Support: Expert mentoring and evaluation

- Broader vision: Viksit Bharat @2047

Frequently Asked Questions What is the Design for Bharat Open Challenge? It is a national product design innovation challenge encouraging young Indians to develop practical solutions to real-world problems across seven thematic categories. Who organizes the challenge? The challenge is part of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) and is spearheaded by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Who can participate? Indian citizens aged 18–29 who are enrolled in a college, university, or recognised academic institution at the time of application can participate. Can participants apply individually? Yes. Individual participation is allowed. Can participants form teams? Yes. Participants can participate in teams of up to three members. What should participants develop? Participants should develop innovative product design solutions addressing real-world challenges within one of the seven thematic categories. What support do participants receive? Participants benefit from expert mentoring and evaluation, helping them refine their ideas into more implementable solutions. What is the purpose of the challenge? The challenge aims to foster youth innovation, encourage practical product design, and develop solutions contributing to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. How many thematic categories are included? The challenge covers seven thematic categories for product des