The Department of Youth Affairs has opened registrations for the Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge (YEC) 2027. It is a national competition for founders and professionals aged between 18 and 35. Applications close on 15 October 2026 and entry is free.
YEC 2027 runs under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) 2027. That programme is being held as part of the National Youth Festival from 10 to 12 January 2027 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. IIT Kanpur is the knowledge partner, and the challenge is hosted on the MY Bharat portal.
Who can apply, and what they need
There are two tracks. The first is for startup founders aged 18 to 35 with a startup registered under DPIIT, the Companies Act or MSME rules. They must submit a startup certificate, a pitch deck and an idea summary.
Read More: Gurugram Coffee Startup Sorry Sugar Crosses Rs 1 Crore In Its First Month
The second track is for working professionals in the same age group who are employed in government, private companies, NGOs or academia. They need an innovative, scalable solution for social impact along with an employer NOC or ID proof.
Read More: Lumio Raises $12 Mn Series A Led By Blume Ventures
Entries are judged on whether the solution addresses a real social or economic problem. It also has to be technically sound, feasible, scalable and sustainable, with measurable social, economic or environmental impact.
Themes the challenge covers
Ideas must fit one of the focus areas. These include healthcare, with sub-themes such as rural healthcare and disease surveillance, education and digital learning, agriculture technology, and environment and clean energy.
Other themes are women empowerment, governance, accessibility and disaster management. AI solutions form a separate theme, covering public service AI, language tools, decision support and inclusive AI. The ministry has aligned the list with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prizes and how the process runs
Five national winners will take home cash prizes. First place gets Rs 1,50,000, second Rs 1,00,000, third Rs 75,000, fourth Rs 50,000 and fifth Rs 30,000.
The journey has four stages. Registration and submission happen in September and October, followed by regional screening. Shortlisted teams then pitch at regional nodal institutes between October and November.
National finalists get structured mentoring. Online sessions run through November 2026, followed by an offline mentoring bootcamp at IIT Kanpur on 11 and 12 December 2026. They then deliver a three-minute pitch to a national jury at VBYLD 2027.
Every national finalist gets to showcase at the national event, network with policymakers and investors, and receive a certificate of recognition. Selected participants may also get the chance to present their ideas before Union Ministers and, in some cases, the Prime Minister.