CDSCO – IndiaAI Health Innovation Acceleration Hackathon
Offered By - Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Government Of India, MeitY
About the Program
The CDSCO–IndiaAI Health Innovation Acceleration Hackathon is a national-level innovation challenge launched by IndiaAI (under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology – MeitY) in collaboration with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
The program is designed to address critical inefficiencies in India’s regulatory approval ecosystem for drugs, medical devices, and clinical trials. Currently, CDSCO relies heavily on manual, document-intensive workflows, which slows down the approval process and delays the introduction of medical innovations.
This hackathon focuses on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to build end-to-end solutions that can automate regulatory workflows, improve data processing, and enhance decision-making efficiency.
Participants are expected to develop solutions that can integrate with CDSCO’s existing digital platforms such as SUGAM and MD Online, enabling faster, more consistent, and compliant regulatory reviews.
Key problem areas include:
- Automating regulatory document processing and review
- AI-driven classification and completeness checks of submissions
- Summarisation of high-volume regulatory documents
- Detection and anonymisation of sensitive personal and health data (PII/PHI)
- Generating structured reports from unstructured inspection data
A strong emphasis is placed on compliance with regulatory frameworks such as the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023, NDHM, and ICMR guidelines.
This program sits at the intersection of AI, healthcare, and regulatory technology, making it highly relevant for startups building in HealthTech, RegTech, and AI infrastructure.
Offerings / Benefits:
- Opportunity to work on real-world regulatory challenges with CDSCO
- Shortlisting to final on-site development round (top teams)
- Exposure to government stakeholders and regulatory ecosystem
- Potential integration opportunity with national platforms
Sectors Supported:
HealthTech
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Machine Learning
Regulatory Technology (RegTech)
Data Privacy & Compliance
Funding & Benefits
This program offers a combination of financial support, mentorship, and ecosystem access to help startups grow and scale their solutions effectively.
Corporate Partnerships
Market Access
Networking
Beyond funding, programs like this provide credibility, exposure, and strategic support that can significantly accelerate a startup’s growth journey.
Who Can Apply / Eligibility
- Indian companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (with ≥51% Indian ownership)
- DPIIT-recognised startups
- Entities must demonstrate prior development and deployment experience of relevant solutions
- Applicants must provide proof of a proprietary solution (technical documentation, certifications, IP, or patents)
- Experience working with public or private sector deployments is required
Selection Process
- Stage 1: Virtual hackathon where teams develop and submit solutions
- Stage 2: Shortlisting of up to top 10 teams
- Stage 2 (Final): 5-day on-premises development round at CDSCO office, New Delhi
How to Apply
1 – Visit the official IndiaAI competition portal
2 – Register and submit your application through the hackathon page
Provide:
- Details of your solution
- Technical documentation / proof of concept
- Evidence of prior deployment or experience
3 – Submit within the application timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
- Indian companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (with ≥51% Indian ownership)
- DPIIT-recognised startups
- Entities must demonstrate prior development and deployment experience of relevant solutions
- Applicants must provide proof of a proprietary solution (technical documentation, certifications, IP, or patents)
- Experience working with public or private sector deployments is required
Source & Verification
All information is compiled from publicly available sources. Refer to the links below for most accurate & updated details. Disclaimer
- Source 1: aikosh.indiaai.gov.in
- Source 2: www.pib.gov.in
This information is provided for general awareness and does not constitute an endorsement by StartupGrantsHub.com. Exercise due diligence before submitting any personal or sensitive information.