Zero Prize has officially opened applications for what is being positioned as India’s first national results-based challenge focused on measurable pollution reduction. The initiative aims to identify and accelerate scalable environmental solutions capable of delivering independently verifiable impact across air, water and land pollution.
The ₹5 crore challenge has been conceptualised by the School of Policy and Governance and is chaired by Saket Burman, Vice Chairman of Dabur India Ltd. The programme invites applications from startups, companies, innovators, research institutions, civic organisations and implementation agencies working on advanced environmental technologies, operational models and scalable intervention frameworks.
Applications submitted on or before May 31, 2026, will receive structured feedback from experts to strengthen impact measurement systems, scalability plans and verification methodologies before final evaluation. The final submission deadline has been set for August 31, 2026.
The challenge will assess projects across three core categories. The air pollution segment will focus on solutions capable of measurable reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 emissions. The water pollution category will evaluate innovations supporting wastewater treatment, reuse, oxygenation improvement, biodiversity enhancement and reduction of total solid levels.
The land and waste management category will cover landfill diversion, recycling systems, waste recovery technologies and circular economy interventions. In addition to the primary categories, the initiative will feature special recognition awards including the Youth Innovation Award, Civic Innovation Award and Popular Vote Award, with each carrying prize money of up to ₹10 lakh.
According to the organisers, entries will be evaluated on the basis of measurable environmental outcomes, scalability and independently validated performance under real-world operating conditions. Beyond financial support, the initiative is also designed to function as an accelerator platform by connecting selected participants with corporates, funders, implementation partners and potential customers.
Saket Burman stated that India already possesses strong innovation capabilities in environmental technologies, but there is a growing need for systems that can validate and scale solutions demonstrating measurable impact. He added that the challenge has been designed to shift attention from environmental intent toward verified performance and practical implementation outcomes.
The organisers expect the challenge to attract more than 500 applications from across India, including climate-tech startups, urban innovators, research organisations and waste management companies. Applications will undergo technical assessment and independent evaluation conducted by a Technical Braintrust and advisory board comprising experts from environmental science, policy, industry and sustainability sectors.
The Zero Prize was formally launched earlier this year during Delhi Climate Innovation Week at the India Habitat Centre with participation from policymakers, industry leaders, climate experts and sustainability stakeholders. The initiative aims to support the development of scalable environmental solutions aligned with India’s broader climate, sustainability and urban infrastructure priorities.
