Bareilly: Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University (MJPRU), Bareilly, organised an orientation programme for students under the Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026 as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. The initiative seeks to encourage citizens, particularly young people, to contribute to the collective national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Organised by the University Cultural Centre, the programme introduced students to the key aspects of the UP State Innovation Challenge 2026 and highlighted opportunities in innovation, startups and entrepreneurship.
In a message, Vice-Chancellor Prof Anil Kumar Rai encouraged students to participate actively in the challenge. He said creativity, technological skills and problem-solving abilities among students are important drivers of nation-building. He urged students to transform their ideas beyond classrooms and laboratories into practical solutions, projects, startups and social innovations.
Experts explained the objectives, participation process and opportunities under the UP State Innovation Challenge – Seva First Innovation Challenge. Students were informed that they could participate by forming teams according to their interests and expertise, either as team leaders or members. The registration and submission process is online, followed by multiple stages of evaluation and selection.
The programme highlighted that the challenge is open not only to conventional startup ideas but also to research scholars, young innovators, startup founders, professionals, technology developers, social innovators and students working across interdisciplinary fields. Ideas related to education, skill development and other sectors can also be submitted.
Students were encouraged to identify real-world problems around them, understand their root causes and develop practical solutions using technology, research and creative thinking.
Dr Jyoti Pandey, Coordinator, Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, said such competitions provide participants opportunities for recognition, visibility, networking and exposure at national and global levels. She said the Rohilkhand Incubation Foundation (RIF) would provide mentoring and guidance throughout the process, including idea identification, problem analysis, project development, proposal preparation, registration, idea exploration and submission.
The university aims to encourage maximum student participation and help promising ideas reach wider platforms. Through RIF, students will receive support in refining ideas and developing practical and presentable projects, while also being connected with the broader innovation ecosystem, startup networks and national and global opportunities.
The programme was organised through the joint efforts of the University Cultural Centre and RIF. Registrar Mahendra Kumar Singh, Dr Jyoti Pandey, Dr Inderpreet Kaur, Robin, Shubhi and others contributed to its successful organisation.
Report: Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly
