National Innovation Foundation - India

01/06/2026

This summer vacation, go beyond memorising. Think innovation.

Transform your ideas into vibrant poster art with and discover how imagination, science and creativity can shape the future.

Innovate today. Create tomorrow.

Participate Now: https://mygov.in/task/sciquest-summer-exploration-national-poster-competition

Dr Jitendra Singh
National Innovation Foundation - India MyGovIndia
Department of Biotechnology, India CSIR, India Ministry of Earth Sciences Government of India CBSE Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya -JNV

01/06/2026

26/05/2026

On Day 2 of ImagiNxt 2026, held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, Dr. Vipin Kumar, Chief Scientist at NIF-India, participated as a panelist in the session titled “The Other India Is Already Innovating: Grassroots Innovations Driving Inclusivity and Demand-Driven Solutions.” The panel also featured Prerana Langa, CEO of AKAH, and Osama Manzar, Founder and Director of the Digital Empowerment Foundation, and was moderated by Suchit Nanda, Founder and CEO of Online Services and Advisor to Reliance Foundation.



Dr Jitendra Singh Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Arvind C Ranade MyGovIndia

25/05/2026

The National Innovation Foundation–India (NIF) recently carried out Scouting and Documentation (S&D) activities, along with detailed verification and documentation work, across three villages in Bardhaman and twelve villages in the East Midnapore district of West Bengal.

During the visit, the team interacted with farmers in Basudebpur, Mahishadal, and other parts of East Midnapore to document traditional knowledge, indigenous practices, and locally developed technological solutions. A significant proportion of the participants were women, reflecting their active role in knowledge preservation and innovation. These interactions led to the identification of a promising lead related to an Amaranthus viridis plant variety.

In Palsit village, Bardhaman, a focused group discussion involving three local farmers and a media professional helped uncover valuable traditional agricultural knowledge. The exercise resulted in the identification and documentation of three novel, farmer-developed methods for crop protection against pests and diseases.

Furthermore, as part of the detailed documentation process, seventeen plant samples were collected from traditional healers, contributing to the preservation and validation of indigenous medicinal knowledge.



Dr Jitendra Singh Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Arvind C Ranade MyGovIndia

25/05/2026

On 22/05/2026, the National Innovation Foundation - India (NIF) team visited SMT Manjira Devi University, located at Hitanu, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, to conduct a workshop on “Enhancement of Livelihood and Drudgery Reduction through Grassroots Innovation.” The primary objective of the workshop was to create awareness about innovative technologies and grassroots solutions aimed at improving rural livelihoods and reducing the drudgery faced by farmers and communities in hilly regions.

The workshop witnessed participation from over 70 stakeholders, including the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sub-Divisional Forest Officers (SDOs), Block Development officials, the Vice Chancellor, university faculty, farmers, members of the Bhotiya community, and representatives of various Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Their active engagement contributed to a highly interactive and productive session. The NIF team presented and discussed a range of grassroots technologies and innovations relevant to agriculture, animal husbandry, and rural entrepreneurship.

Participants actively shared their experiences, local challenges, and perspectives on farming and rural development. The session served as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange among farmers, academicians, government officials, and innovators. Farmers and SHG members expressed keen interest in practical, affordable, and locally adaptable technologies that could enhance efficiency and ease their daily work.

The Vice Chancellor and the DFO appreciated the efforts of the NIF team and expressed strong interest in supporting similar initiatives in the future. They highlighted the importance of promoting grassroots innovations and fostering collaborative efforts to empower farmers, strengthen rural livelihoods, and ensure sustainable development in Uttarkashi and surrounding regions.



Dr Jitendra Singh Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Arvind C Ranade MyGovIndia

25/05/2026

Future Scientists, Get Ready!

Your wild ideas can change the world!

Turn imagination into innovation this summer with

Create, discover & experiment! Unleash your inner inventor and build a stronger

Join the National Poster Competition now! 👉 https://www.mygov.in/task/sciquest-summer-exploration-national-poster-competition

Dr Jitendra Singh
National Innovation Foundation - India MyGovIndia
Department of Biotechnology, India CSIR, India Ministry of Earth Sciences Government of India CBSE Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya -JNV

22/05/2026

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, visited the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) stall and interacted with grassroots innovators during ImagiNxt 2026 on May 22, 2026, at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The two-day program was inaugurated earlier today by Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. ImagiNxt is a Festival of Technology and Innovation is being organized with the objective of enabling innovation-led nation-building.



Dr Jitendra Singh Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Arvind C Ranade MyGovIndia Devendra Fadnavis

22/05/2026

The National Innovation Foundation - India (NIF) team conducted a field visit to the villages of Dhauntri, Chaurangikhaal, Bhetiyara, Bheintgaon, and Lamgaon as part of its grassroots innovation and capacity-building initiatives.

At Government Adarsh Inter College, Dhauntri, the team engaged with students through a capacity-building programme focused on fostering innovation and creativity. An idea competition was organised, encouraging students to identify local challenges and propose innovative solutions. The team also conducted a training session on scouting grassroots innovations and documenting new practices from their surroundings. The school principal and staff actively participated and expressed keen interest in promoting innovation-driven learning.

In Bhetiyara village, a Farmers’ Field School was organised, where discussions focused on the effective utilisation of locally available resources for animal husbandry and sustainable agriculture. Farmers shared their experiences and highlighted key challenges, including the continued reliance on manual paddy transplantation, which is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and causes significant drudgery, particularly for women. These interactions provided valuable insights into field-level challenges and potential areas for technological intervention.

The visit also included scouting activities in Chaurangikhaal, where the team interacted with local fabricators to understand their innovative capabilities, traditional techniques, and locally developed tools.

Overall, the field visit served as an effective platform for knowledge exchange, identification of grassroots innovations, and strengthening community participation in innovation-led rural development initiatives.



Dr Jitendra Singh Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Arvind C Ranade MyGovIndia

22/05/2026

A Technology Dissemination and Innovation Sensitization session was conducted by National Innovation Foundation - India (NIF) in collaboration with Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Jammu, with participation from over 50 students and staff members. The programme aimed to introduce grassroots technologies developed by innovators from across the country, highlighting their potential for technological intervention and wider dissemination.

The session also focused on raising awareness about the support mechanisms offered NIF for student- and youth-led innovations, including opportunities for recognition, value addition, and incubation support.

During the interaction, several NIF-supported grassroots technologies and farmer-developed varieties were showcased. These included the Spade Cum Hoe, Garbage Picking Device, Sanitary Napkin Making Machine, Pole Pro, Mini Load Carrier with Multi-directional Unloading System, and various farmer varieties from across India, including Jammu & Kashmir.

The ITI faculty expressed particular interest in the Sanitary Napkin Making Machine, exploring the possibility of introducing a course on hygiene management and sanitary napkin production. This intervention was discussed as a potential livelihood generation opportunity for pass-out trainees, with a focus on promoting entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and the local dissemination of affordable hygiene solutions.



Dr Jitendra Singh Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Arvind C Ranade MyGovIndia

21/05/2026

A meeting was held with Dr. Anil Gupta, Director Agriculture, Jammu, to explore opportunities for collaboration in supporting and disseminating agricultural innovations in the Jammu region through convergence with relevant schemes and programmes of the Directorate of Agriculture.

During the interaction, a range of innovative technologies and farmer-developed varieties supported by National Innovation Foundation - India (NIF) were discussed for potential field-level adoption. These included notable farmer varieties such as HRMN-99 apple, Sona-40 onion, Sandip Piyaz, a wheat variety, Sandip onion, and Nath Jumboo seedless grapes, along with grassroots innovations such as the Spade Cum Hoe, Cow Dung Pot Making Machine, Organic Manure Making Machine, and other high-potential agricultural solutions.

The proposed institutional collaboration is expected to facilitate the effective transfer, scaling, and adoption of proven agricultural innovations, thereby contributing to the socio-economic upliftment of farmers and agri-based entrepreneurs in the region.



Dr Jitendra Singh Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Arvind C Ranade MyGovIndia