Bring Us Real Solutions: Delhi Launches Rs 50 Lakh Clean-Air Challenge

In a bold move to tackle the capital's notorious air quality crisis, the Delhi government has unveiled a nationwide Innovation Challenge inviting affordable, ground-tested technologies to slash particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) emissions from urban hotspots like roads, vehicles, and construction sites. Led by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the initiative crowdsources practical solutions—ranging from dust-suppressing road coatings to vehicle exhaust filters—tailored for Delhi's chaotic conditions.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the contest on Friday, emphasising a pragmatic approach: "Delhi is throwing open its doors to anything that works on the ground." Applications are open until October 31, 2025, via the DPCC portal at www.dpcc.delhigovt.nic.in, welcoming entries from individuals, startups, IITs, research institutes, and companies across India.

Delhi's air pollution, a seasonal scourge exacerbated by stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial dust, routinely catapults the Air Quality Index (AQI) into "severe" territory from October to February, contributing to over 2 million premature deaths annually nationwide, according to a 2024 Lancet study. Despite measures like the odd-even vehicle scheme and Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the city grapples with enforcement gaps and high costs of imported tech.

Sirsa highlighted recent gains—"the highest number of clean-air days in a decade"—attributed to stricter biomass burning curbs and electric vehicle incentives, but stressed that innovation is key to sustainability. "Enforcement alone won't get us there. This is a 24x7 innovation mission," he said, underscoring the need for low-cost, scalable fixes amid budget constraints.

The challenge unfolds in three rigorous stages: an initial DPCC screening for feasibility, followed by expert-led field or lab trials, and culminating in validation by premier national institutions like the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Shortlisted innovations earn Rs 5 lakh post-Stage 2, with top performers securing up to Rs 50 lakh and priority for citywide deployment through government procurement.

Sirsa elaborated, "Bring us what works on the road or at construction and industrial sites. If it cuts PM2.5 or PM10 substantially, installs easily, and stays affordable, we'll back it." This prototype-to-public-good pipeline aims to fast-track viable ideas, potentially integrating them into Delhi's Winter Action Plan for 2026.

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The initiative aligns with India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), targeting a 40% pollution reduction by 2026, and echoes global efforts like Singapore's tech-driven smog solutions. By democratising innovation, Delhi hopes to empower local talent while addressing equity—ensuring relief reaches pollution-burdened informal settlements. As applications flood in, the challenge could spark breakthroughs, transforming prototypes into everyday defences against the invisible haze that chokes the city each Diwali.

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