Context: Recently, MeitY-NITI launches Digital India AtmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge to realise PM’s vision of Digital India – AtmaNirbhar Bharat
About the challenge

• It is launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission – NITI Aayog
• It is an App Innovation Challenge for Indian tech entrepreneurs and Start-ups.
• It aims to support and build a strong ecosystem for Indian Apps.

This innovation challenge will run in two tracks

1) Promotion of existing apps

• For promotion of existing apps and platforms across the categories of e-learning, work-from-home, gaming, business, entertainment, office utilities, and social networking, the government will provide mentoring, hand-holding and support.
• Track-01 will work in mission mode for identifying good quality apps for the leader-board and shall be completed in around a month.
• Track-01 is being launched in 8 categories: office productivity & work from home; social networking; e-learning; entertainment; health and wellness; business including agri-tech and fin-tech; news; games.

2) Development of new apps

• For incubating new apps and platforms, Track-02 initiative will work to help create new champions in India by providing support in ideation, incubation, prototyping and roll out along with market access.
• This challenge will be jointly hosted by the Government and members of the tech community to make it more holistic.

Expected outcomes of the challenge

• Give better visibility and clarity to existing apps to achieve their goals.
• Create tech products to find solutions to tech conundrums with the help of mentorship, tech support and guidance during the entire life-cycle.
• The Innovation Challenge will be available on the MyGov portal.
• A specific jury for each track with experts from Private Sector & Academia will evaluate the entries received.
• Shortlisted Apps will be given awards & will also feature on Leader boards for the information of citizens.
• The Government will also adopt suitable Apps, guide them to maturity and list on Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
• Some of the key evaluation parameters will include Ease of use (UI/UX), Robustness, Security and Scalability.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• It is Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
• It is launched by the NITI Aayog.

It has two core functions

• Entrepreneurship promotion through Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU), wherein innovators would be supported and mentored to become successful entrepreneurs.
• Innovation promotion: to provide a platform where innovative ideas are generated.