Govt Rolls Out Rs 2.3 Crore Start-Up Challenge to Spark Rooftop Solar & Green Energy Innovation
- Rs 2.3 Cr prize pool to support rooftop solar and distributed renewable energy innovations.
- Focus areas: Affordability, Resilience, Inclusivity, and Environmental Sustainability.
- Winners get cash prizes, incubation support, mentorship, and pilot opportunities.
In a significant thrust towards eco-friendly energy solutions, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced the Innovative Projects Start-Up Challenge, a countrywide programme to drive developments in rooftop solar and distributed renewable energy technologies.
This start-up challenge aims to find breakthrough innovations and transformational ideas that can redefine India's decentralized clean energy space. Available to Indian startups and innovators, the competition is centered around four critical themes: Affordability, Resilience, Inclusivity, and Environmental Sustainability.
The program provides a prize purse of Rs 2.3 crore, with high rewards to incentivize innovation. The winner of the first prize receives Rs 1 crore, the second receives Rs 50 lakh, and the third Rs 30 lakh, while ten consolation prize winners receive Rs 5 lakh each. But the advantages do not end there shortlisted participants also get incubation support, expert mentorship, and pilot implementation opportunities, giving them a springboard to implement at scale in real-world environments.
The government wants to leverage this challenge not only to identify potential technologies but also to create a pipeline of entrepreneurs who are willing to drive India's renewable energy objectives.
Eligible candidates can submit proposals on the Startup India portal, and the application deadline is August 20, 2025.
Through this challenge, the MNRE reaffirms its dedication to enabling innovation in clean energy and bringing India closer to realizing its net-zero vision.
