Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has launched Delhi Next, a civic-tech innovation programme designed to bring technology, startups and young innovators together to develop practical solutions for the capital's urban challenges. The initiative, themed 'Code, Create and Change', aims to bridge the gap between innovation and governance by enabling selected ideas to be tested within government departments instead of remaining at the prototype stage.
Unlike conventional hackathons that conclude after announcing winners, Delhi Next has been structured as an implementation-focused programme. The Delhi government has announced that the top 60 civic-tech solutions selected through the initiative will be developed as pilot projects in collaboration with relevant departments. Successful pilots may subsequently be integrated into government systems to improve public service delivery and urban governance.
Technology to Address Everyday Civic Challenges
The programme invites participation from startups, researchers, students, educational institutions and technology innovators across India. Participants have developed solutions addressing a wide range of urban issues including traffic congestion, waterlogging, smart parking, waste management, air pollution, digital governance, citizen grievance redressal, electric vehicle ecosystems and public service delivery. The objective is to identify scalable technology solutions that can improve the quality of life for Delhi's residents.
According to the Chief Minister, governance must increasingly rely on technology, innovation and citizen participation to solve complex urban problems. She described Delhi Next as a platform where government agencies and innovators can collaborate to build practical, long-term solutions rather than isolated technological demonstrations.
Support Beyond the Competition
The innovation programme was conducted in multiple stages, beginning with nationwide outreach that reached more than one crore young people. More than 2.5 lakh participants registered, while over 5,000 technical proposals were evaluated before shortlisted teams advanced to the final stage. The top 60 teams will now receive departmental mentorship, technical guidance and opportunities to pilot their innovations within government agencies.
Each selected team will be connected with the relevant government department to refine and test its solution. The programme also provides a roadmap for pilot implementation and future integration into public administration if the proposed technology proves effective.
- Programme: Delhi Next – Code, Create and Change
- Objective: Develop technology solutions for civic challenges
- Pilot projects: 60 selected innovations
- Participants: Startups, researchers, students and innovators
- Focus areas: Traffic, waste management, air pollution, governance, EVs and public services
Towards a Civic-Tech Capital
The Delhi government has positioned Delhi Next as a long-term initiative to strengthen digital governance and encourage collaboration between public institutions and the innovation ecosystem. By directly linking innovators with government departments, the programme aims to accelerate the adoption of technology in solving real-world civic issues.
If successfully implemented, the selected projects could improve service delivery, enhance transparency and strengthen citizen engagement across multiple sectors. The initiative also reflects the government's broader ambition of establishing Delhi as India's civic-tech capital through sustained innovation, data-driven governance and partnerships with startups and academic institutions.
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