Delhi to Host Event at IIT-Delhi to Shortlist Clean-Air Technologies
In a significant move to combat air pollution, the Delhi government is set to host an “innovation showcase” at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in the last week of December 2025. This event is part of the city’s ongoing Innovation Challenge aimed at identifying scalable technologies that can effectively reduce particulate pollution.
Overview of the Event
The showcase will be open to the public, allowing citizens, students, alumni, and government representatives to attend. An expert panel, known as the Innovation Technical Evaluation Committee (ITEC), will be responsible for shortlisting viable and scalable solutions that can tackle the pressing issue of air pollution in Delhi.
Purpose and Goals
The primary objective of this event is to find innovative solutions that can help reduce particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels in the capital. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa emphasized that this phase of the challenge is where “ideas will meet reality.” The government is seeking evidence-based solutions that can swiftly transition from the trial stage to practical deployment.
Event Details
During the showcase, teams that have been shortlisted will have the opportunity to demonstrate their working prototypes before the ITEC. This evaluation phase is crucial, as it will determine which projects are ready for field trials and lab testing.
Panel Composition
The ITEC is an eight-member committee led by Professor Sagnik Dey from IIT Delhi. The committee includes scientists, professors, and subject matter experts tasked with identifying practical, low-cost, and deployment-ready solutions. Their focus will be on technologies that can effectively cut down on PM2.5 and PM10 levels in Delhi.
Screening Process
In the initial screening round, nearly 300 proposals were evaluated. The shortlisted teams will now be invited to present their innovations. Each innovator will make a structured pitch and physically demonstrate their model to the committee. The ITEC will assess each proposal based on several criteria:
- Technology readiness
- Cost-effectiveness
- Legal compliance
- Adaptability to Delhi’s pollution patterns
Categories of Innovations
The innovations presented will fall into two broad categories:
- Reducing or capturing particulate emissions from BS-IV or older vehicles
- Removing PM2.5 and PM10 from ambient air
Incentives for Winning Projects
Projects that successfully meet the required thresholds will proceed to field trials and lab testing, with costs covered by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) as per established guidelines. Additionally, projects that are backed by test reports may advance directly to a final integrated review for potential citywide adoption.
Financial Support
Winning projects will be eligible for various incentives from the DPCC. These include:
- A grant of ₹5 lakh after successful evaluation by the ITEC
- An additional ₹50 lakh for solutions verified by NPL-equivalent labs and recommended for government use
Public Engagement and Transparency
The event is designed to be transparent, allowing the public to view and engage with the innovations being presented. Officials have stated that this initiative aims to build trust in how technologies are selected, funded, and deployed to address Delhi’s pollution problem.
Conclusion
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has called this initiative part of a broader clean-air strategy and aligned with the chief minister’s vision for Delhi. He has encouraged the public to attend the event and support the city’s clean-air mission, highlighting the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on the latest news updates as of December 12, 2025.
