Sankalp Innovation
Challenge 2026
Building AI Solutions for Real-World India
A national-level AI and innovation challenge hosted at MNNIT Allahabad, Prayagraj during SANKALP 2026. In Association with Medha AI.
Problem Statements — Choose Your Challenge
Build AI solutions aligned with national education reforms and future workforce needs.
AI for Education
Smart Pedagogy Systems
Design AI-powered teaching assistants aligned with NCF 2023 and NEP 2020 to improve classroom learning outcomes.
AI for Skilling
Career Pathway & Credit Mapping
Build AI systems that guide learners through skill pathways and map learning to credit or certification frameworks.
AI for Leadership
Crisis Decision Support Systems
Create AI systems that help leaders evaluate strategies and make ethical decisions during crises.
Timeline & Rounds
Your journey from registration to grand finale
Registration
Jan 15 – 31
Team registration open
Bootcamps
Feb 2-3
Orientation & Technical Deep Dive
Round 1
Feb 12-14
Idea Validation
Round 2
Feb 26-28
Prototype Sprint
Round 3
Mar 10-12
Final Selection
Grand Finale
Mar 17-19
@ MNNIT Allahabad
Important: Category and team details cannot be changed after registration deadline (Jan 31).
Total Prize Pool: ₹1,00,000
Compete for exciting cash prizes and exclusive opportunities
1st Place
Best Innovation
₹50,000
Cash Prize + Benefits
2nd Place
Outstanding Solution
₹30,000
Cash Prize + Benefits
3rd Place
Exceptional Effort
₹20,000
Cash Prize + Benefits
Additional Benefits
Mentorship
Expert guidance from industry leaders
Incubation
Startup acceleration opportunities
Recognition
National-level certification
Winners from any challenge track are eligible. Exceptional projects may receive incubation support and mentorship opportunities.
Judging & Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment framework ensuring fair and rigorous evaluation
Judge Scorecard
Mentor Evaluation
Mentors assess:
- Technical competence
- AI understanding
- Code quality
- Execution discipline
Mentor feedback affects finale eligibility
Grand Finale Workflow
Live demo verification
Technical defense
Impact & policy defense
Stress test challenge
Final scoring
Jury deliberation
Who Can Participate
Open to innovators from all backgrounds and skill levels
College Students
Undergraduate and postgraduate innovators
Startup Teams
Early-stage ventures in EdTech and AI
Individual Developers
Solo hackers with passion for impact
Multidisciplinary Teams
Diverse expertise coming together
Key Requirements
Team size: 2–4 members recommended
Open to all undergraduate & postgraduate students
Individual registrations welcome
Prior hackathon experience not required
About Sankalp Innovation Challenge 2026
Sankalp Innovation Challenge 2026 is a national-level AI and innovation challenge hosted at MNNIT Allahabad during SANKALP 2026. Student teams build deployable AI systems that directly support government programs, public service delivery, and community development.
The challenge focuses on three national priorities: Education, Skill Development, and Leadership & Governance.
Key Focus Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the challenge