1. What Types of Solutions Are Eligible?
Your solution must directly address Air, Water, or Land pollution through:
- •Technologies, devices, or engineered solutions
- •Systems or process improvements
- •Community-driven or behaviour-change interventions
- •Nature-based solutions
- •Waste management, recycling or circularity models
- •Digital / AI-enabled monitoring and reduction systems
- •Decentralised, low-cost, frugal innovations
- •Any solution that can show measurable pollution reduction within 12 months
If your solution reduces pollution in a scientifically measurable way, you can apply.
2. The Zero Prize Evaluation Journey
A 5-step, transparent and science-led process
Stage 1: Eligibility & Technical Screening
Your application is checked for:
- •Alignment with Air / Water / Land categories
- •Technical feasibility
- •Ability to deliver measurable impact within 12 months
- •Readiness for third-party verification
Only eligible, ready-to-pilot solutions move ahead.
Stage 2: Shortlisting by Expert Panel
A panel of technical experts, comprising environmental scientists, engineers, policy experts, and practitioners, reviews:
- •Uniqueness of Innovation
- •Scientific soundness
- •Feasibility in real-world India
- •Scalability and replicability potential
Shortlisted teams advance to pilot testing.
Stage 3: Real-World Pilot Implementation
This is the heart of the Zero Prize. Shortlisted teams deploy their solutions in real urban or peri-urban conditions. Pilot sites are monitored by independent, accredited agencies, depending on your category:
- Air:Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) grade continuous monitors or equivalent
- Water:National Mission for Clean Ganga / CPCB-accredited laboratories or equivalent
- Land:CPCB empanelled waste auditors and digital traceability tools or equivalent
All pilots follow approved monitoring protocols.
Stage 4: Verified Environmental Impact
Only solutions with scientifically verified pollution reduction are considered for the final award. Verification includes:
- •Baseline vs post-intervention comparison
- •Control site comparison (where applicable)
- •Meteorology-adjusted data for Air
- •Third-party laboratory analysis for Water
- •Weight-based, traceability-backed audits for Land
Every verified result is documented transparently.
Stage 5: Final Jury Review & Awards
A high-level jury reviews verified pilots. Jury members will include:
- •Environmental scientists
- •Monitoring and verification agencies
- •Policy experts and Urban Local Body/governance leaders
- •Venture capital/business leaders (for economic viability)
Only solutions that show real, attributable, third-party-verified impact become winners.
3. How Your Solution Will Be Scored
Each solution is evaluated on seven criteria, with the following weightages:
(1) Scientifically Verified Environmental Impact (40%)
This is the most important criterion. Your solution must show real, measurable, scientifically validated improvement in pollution levels.
For Air Solutions:
- •Reduction in PM₂.₅ using CPCB-grade monitors
- •Meteorology adjusted results (temperature, Relative Humidity (RH), wind, Boundary Layer Height (BLH)
- •Baseline + control site comparison
- •Clear documentation of the deployment area
For Water Solutions:
- •Reduction in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), coliform, and Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
- •Testing through accredited labs
- •Upstream downstream sampling
- •Compliance with National Green Tribunal (NGT) /state Pollution Control Board (PCB) norms
We will also assess, across the board:
- •Engineering / scientific robustness
- •Clarity of processes and documentation
- •Accuracy and calibration of monitoring instruments
- •Compliance with required protocols
- •Novelty and creativity
- •Breakthrough potential
(2) Implementation Feasibility (20%)
Your solution must:
- •Be deployable in shorter timeframes
- •Operate reliably in real-world Indian conditions
- •Have manageable maintenance requirements
- •Meet regulatory and statutory norms
(3) Economic Viability, Scalability and Replicability (40%)
We look at:
- •Cost per unit of pollution reduction
- •Total cost of ownership
- •Potential for adoption by Urban Local Bodies, states, or the private sector
- •Market-readiness and commercial potential
We evaluate whether your idea can grow:
- •Across different cities, climates, and geographies
- •Without heavy dependence on hyper-local conditions
- •National policy alignment - National Clean Air Program, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022
4. What You Must Submit (Category-Wise Checklists)
AIR SOLUTIONS – Required Submission Materials
- •Description of technology/process
- •Baseline monitoring plan
- •Control site proposal Deployment map
- •Monitor type & calibration plan
- •Safety and regulatory clearances
WATER SOLUTIONS – Required Submission Materials
- •Description of intervention
- •Target pollutant + expected reduction
- •Lab testing plan (accredited labs only)
- •Upstream-downstream sampling strategy
- •Compliance with statutory norms
LAND SOLUTIONS – Required Submission Materials
- •Type of waste targeted
- •Baseline waste quantity assessment
- •Audit methodology (CPCB empanelled)
- •Traceability/digital tracking approach
- •Recycling/diversion documentation plan
For all 3 categories, we will also require a mini-business plan, including but not limited to:
- •Total Cost of Ownership
- •Go-to-market approach (including Target audience and Monetisation plan)
- •Revenues (if any)
- •Details of the pilot (if any)
- •Details of the team
5. Transparency & Data Integrity
All winning solutions must share:
- •Verified datasets
- •Monitoring protocols
- •Traceability and audit documentation
A public dashboard will display verified impact from finalist teams. We can support you with feedback on what would constitute verified data or audit documentation.
6. Special Commendation Awards
In addition to the main Air, Water, and Land prizes, the Zero Prize will also recognise:
- •Popular Vote Award
- •Best College Entry
- •Best School (U18) Entry
- •Special Jury Commendations (up to 3)
- •Best Large-Company Engagement for the Environment
These awards celebrate innovation, youth engagement, and institutional leadership.
Advice for Applicants
To strengthen your application:
- •Be specific about how your solution reduces pollution
- •Show clear, measurable outputs
- •Provide simple visuals or deployment maps
- •Explain the feasibility in real-world Indian conditions
- •If your solution is low-tech or community-based, highlight behavioural impact and measurable outcomes
- •Outline economic viability and scalability
The Zero Prize rewards impact, not complexity.