Kolkata, Sept. 20 -- The West Bengal government on Saturday launched the 'Seva First Innovation Challenge - Eastern Zone', inviting students, researchers, start-ups and innovators from West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand to identify real challenges in their surroundings and develop practical solutions.
The online portal, sficeast.wb.gov.in, was launched at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park in New Town as part of the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan 2026'. The Department of Science & Technology and Biotechnology (DSTBT) is the nodal department and is organising the initiative in association with six other state departments.
The challenge has two categories. School, ITI and polytechnic students and undergraduates can participate in the Junior Category, while graduates, young professionals, researchers, early-stage start-ups, independent innovators and community groups can participate in the Open Category.
Participants will be encouraged to identify problems in villages, towns, schools, workplaces and communities, understand whom they affect, develop solutions and demonstrate their impact through implementation.
The focus areas include healthcare access, agricultural losses, water shortages, mobility, waste management, education, livelihoods, environmental risks and disaster preparedness.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.