Reimagining Health: Healthy Lives, Thriving Communities
Are you ready to create real impact?
The India Innovation Challenge invites high school students across India to become changemakers and design solutions that address one of the world's most critical goals – Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3): Good Health and Wellbeing!
From physical health to mental wellbeing, from prevention to access – this is your opportunity to create innovative, practical solutions that improve lives in your community and beyond.
Health is more than the absence of illness – it is about complete physical, mental, and social well-being.
Across the world and in India, millions continue to face challenges such as:
SDG 3 calls for a future where everyone, everywhere has access to the care, knowledge, and support needed to live a healthy life.
We challenge you to design an original idea, product, or program that promotes overall health and well-being.
Your solution should be:
Your innovation can address one or more of the following:
This is more than a challenge – it’s your chance to:
A healthier world begins with bold ideas and compassionate action.
By reimagining health today, you can help build a future where every individual has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life.
Because healthy lives create thriving communities—and thriving communities shape a better world.
Applications open
Wednesday 1 July 2026
Briefing session 1
Saturday 11 July 2026, 4:30 pm (IST)
Briefing session 2
Saturday 8 August 2026, 4:30 pm (IST)
Q&A session
Sunday 23 August 2026, 4:30 pm (IST)
Submission deadline
Sunday 6 September 2026, 11:59 pm (IST)
Virtual award ceremony
First week of October 2026
Judging criteria
An expert panel from the University of Sydney will evaluate entries from 7 September 2026 onwards based on the following criteria.
Results will be announced during the virtual awards ceremony
If you have any questions or further information, please reach out to:
Ms. Heena Jethanandani
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MosquiPods is a biodegradable, slow-release innovation designed to make mosquito control more effective, affordable and sustainable—helping build healthier, thriving communities.
Students: Ishaan Malpani, Aryan Chhabra and Tanishka Sehgal
Teacher mentor: Ms Simar Kaur
Heritage Xperiential Learning School - Sec 62, Gurgaon
MosquiPods is a biodegradable, slow-release solution for controlling mosquito larvae in stagnant water, making mosquito-borne disease prevention more effective, affordable and sustainable.
While mosquito control often focuses on adult mosquitoes, larvae in stagnant water provide an earlier opportunity for intervention. MosquiPods uses Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a bacterium used for larval control, encapsulated in a biodegradable polymer that regulates its release.
When placed in stagnant water, the pod gradually releases Bti over two to four weeks, reducing the need for repeated applications. As the Bti is depleted, the biodegradable polymer breaks down, leaving no persistent residue.
Early testing of the release rate and larvicidal activity has supported further development. By combining sustained larval control with biodegradable materials, MosquiPods aims to reduce maintenance and costs while minimising environmental impact.
Alignment with SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Supports the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases through accessible, sustainable and community-focused vector control.
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CERVATRACE explores a more accessible and comfortable approach to the early detection of endometrial cancer, putting women’s health and dignity first.
Students: Anwesha Maru and Rifat Fatema Qureshi
Teacher mentor: Ms Jinny Shah
Navrachana Vidyani Vidyalaya, Vadodara
CERVATRACE is a proposed rapid, biomarker-based triage test designed to explore more accessible and comfortable approaches to the early detection of endometrial cancer. The project investigates DNA-methylation markers and candidate protein biomarkers in blood-containing cervicovaginal samples associated with postmenopausal bleeding to identify molecular signals linked to the disease. Beyond the science, CERVATRACE places women’s comfort and dignity at the centre of innovation, incorporating survey feedback and exploring user-friendly sample collection methods.
Aligned with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, the initiative aims to make women’s health information more accessible and affordable while encouraging greater awareness of early warning signs.
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VAANI is an affordable Edge AI device using voice analysis to make neurological risk screening more accessible, affordable and inclusive.
Student: Shubhranshu Jha
Teacher mentor: Ms Mitali Das
Gujarat Public School Atladara, Vadodara
VAANI is a compact, affordable Edge AI device that analyses voice samples for acoustic patterns associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Designed to operate offline on an ESP32, VAANI aims to make preliminary neurological risk screening more accessible, with a target cost below ₹500.
Early prototypes have achieved up to 92.1% accuracy, with preliminary testing on seven individuals. Further clinical validation and collaboration with neurologists are needed to establish its reliability and potential for future diagnostic applications.
Alignment with SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Supports more accessible and affordable neurological health screening through technology-driven innovation.
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A smart pH-sensitive hydrogel patch that changes colour to provide an early warning of potential wound infection, enabling simpler and more proactive wound monitoring.
Students: Xyna Khan, Tanvi Abburi and Pranathi Icchapurapu
Teacher mentor: Mr Raju Durgam
The Shri Ram Universal School, Hyderabad
The pH-Sensitive Hydrogel Patch is a smart wound-monitoring system designed to provide an early warning of potentially worsening infections. The patch uses pH-sensitive materials within a hydrogel that respond to changes in the wound environment by producing a visible colour change.
Designed to be simple, non-invasive and easy to use, the patch enables monitoring without frequent removal of the dressing. Rather than diagnosing infection, it acts as an early-warning indicator, prompting patients or healthcare providers to seek closer examination when concerning changes occur.
By combining wound protection with real-time pH monitoring, the innovation aims to support earlier intervention, better wound management and improved health outcomes.
It aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, by promoting accessible solutions for better health monitoring and care.