Zero Prize launches India’s first results based National Environmental Award

New Delhi: In a major shift toward performance linked climate accountability, the “Zero Prize”was unveiled as India’s first national results-based environmental award that directly links financial incentives to independently verified reductions in air, water, and land pollution.

Announced at the India Habitat Centre, the initiative is convened by the School of Policy and Governance and supported through philanthropic contributions, corporate CSR partnerships, and institutional stakeholders.

The launch event was attended by award-winning actor and environmental advocate Dia Mirza as Chief Guest, alongside policymakers, sustainability leaders, and industry representatives.

With a total corpus of ₹5 crore, the Zero Prize will award ₹1 crore each across three categories, Air, Water, and Land, to solutions that demonstrate scientifically validated pollution reduction within defined geographies.

The Prize is open to startups, NGOs, corporates, municipal bodies, research institutions, and individual innovators across India. Applicants must implement real-world pilots in urban or peri-urban contexts and undergo independent third-party monitoring and validation. Early-stage concepts without measurable on-ground results will not qualify.

Organisers say the Prize aims to address a critical gap in the sustainability ecosystem, where funding often rewards projected outcomes or pilot announcements rather than independently verified environmental performance.

The Zero Prize will recognise only measurable, attributable pollution reduction achieved within clearly defined physical boundaries.

Mr. Saket Burman, Co-Founder of Zero Prize and Vice Chairman of Dabur India Ltd., emphasised the need for field-driven solutions.

“For 140 years, my family has built a legacy on the power of nature through Ayurveda. But today, that very nature is under threat,” he said. “I am proud to support the Zero Prize, a ₹5 Crore national challenge that encourages Indian entrepreneurship and Jugaad to create high-impact, scalable solutions. We are looking for proven innovations that will make India’s air, water, and land measurably cleaner for the next generation. It’s time to move beyond the boardrooms and into the field. No promises. Only results.”

Mr. Ruchir Punjabi, Chair of the School of Policy and Governance, said the Prize aims to mobilise India’s innovation ecosystem to address pollution with urgency and accountability.

“Innovation is often messy, but in the fight against pollution, it needs to be abundant. The Zero Prize is a bridge. By offering India’s first results-based incentive, we are mobilizing the country’s brightest problem-solvers, from tech startups to civic researchers — to tackle our environmental crisis with the same urgency as a unicorn exit. If you have a solution that is science-verified and ready to scale, the stage is yours.”

Applications for the Zero Prize will open in March 2026 and close in August 2026. Winners will be announced in February 2027 following technical evaluation, pilot implementation, and independent validation. The Prize follows a milestone-based disbursement structure tied to successful pilot execution and verified environmental outcomes.

Structured as an annual national initiative, the Zero Prize aligns with major national missions including the National Clean Air Programme, the National Mission for Clean Ganga, and the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, aiming to accelerate measurable, on-ground environmental improvements across the country.

With its performance-linked funding model, the Zero Prize seeks to redefine environmental recognition in India — shifting the focus from intent to impact, and from announcements to verified results.