Bengaluru: Union education minister Pralhad Joshi Friday launched Seva First Innovation Challenge (SFIC), a national innovation initiative that seeks to encourage young people to identify problems in their communities and develop solutions that can be tested, refined and taken towards implementation.Inaugurating SFIC south zone at IISc, Joshi said innovation rooted in the spirit of service could help youngsters contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He launched the SFIC website and registration portal.The challenge will cover five states and three UTs: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. IISc will serve as the south zone nodal institute, supporting technical evaluation and mentorship across the region.The challenge is open to students and young innovators from schools, ITIs, polytechnics, colleges and universities. It has three levels of participation: Junior, technical and open. The open category will include undergraduate and postgraduate students and research scholars, who will be expected to demonstrate prototypes or pilots with a credible pathway to deployment. As per the ministry of education, participants can submit solutions under five themes: clean and sustainable Bharat, prosperous farmers, prosperous Bharat, healthy and inclusive Bharat; educated and skilled Bharat, secure Bharat.Registrations are open till Oct 24. The challenge will culminate in a national finale in New Delhi from Dec 10 to 17.
