6th NHAI Innovation Hackathon — Retroreflectivity Solutions

The 6th NHAI Innovation Hackathon, run by the National Highways Authority of India under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is a technology challenge focused on measuring retroreflectivity of traffic signs, pavement markings, road studs, and delineators on India's national highways. NHAI's current handheld device method (conforming to IRC 67 and IRC 35 standards) is slow and unsafe, forcing operators close to high-speed expressway traffic. The hackathon invites vehicle-mounted or drone-based equipment, AI/ML-driven analysis of camera-collected reflectivity data, or hybrid systems. Solutions must work day/night, dry/wet, with/without street lighting, and in foggy weather. The total prize pool is ₹3,50,000: ₹2,00,000 for first place, ₹1,00,000 for second, and ₹50,000 for third. No equity is taken. Submissions can be a system overview, concept note, mobile application, or working prototype. Open to students, startups, individual innovators, tech enthusiasts, and equipment manufacturers. Evaluation uses four criteria: Innovation Level (30 points), Feasibility (30), Scalability & Sustainability (20), and Presentation & Documentation (20). Beyond prize money, the contest provides a direct line into NHAI's procurement roadmap and a clear deployment pathway across India's 8/6/4-lane highways.

• Open to all; solve highway retroreflectivity challenges for NHAI.
• Total prize pool of ₹3,50,000: ₹2,00,000, ₹1,00,000, and ₹50,000.
• Non-dilutive prize contest — no equity taken.
• Solutions can be vehicle-mounted, drone-based, AI/ML-driven, or hybrid.
• Must operate in various conditions: day/night, dry/wet, with/without lighting, fog.
• Direct line into NHAI's procurement and deployment on national highways.

Open to all: students, startups, individual innovators, technology enthusiasts, and existing equipment manufacturers. Solutions must address retroreflectivity measurement of road signage, pavement markings, road studs, or delineators. Participants bear all costs for developing their solution or proof of concept. DPIIT recognition is not required.

6th NHAI Innovation Hackathon — Retroreflectivity Solutions is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for 6th NHAI Innovation Hackathon — Retroreflectivity Solutions closed on 23 Apr 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

• Cash prizes: ₹2,00,000 (1st), ₹1,00,000 (2nd), and ₹50,000 (3rd).
• Direct line into NHAI's procurement and innovation roadmap.
• Clear deployment pathway across India's national highway network (8/6/4-lane highways).

6th NHAI Innovation Hackathon — Retroreflectivity Solutions is offered by National Highways Authority of India, a government body. As a government-backed competition, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Expert panel from NHAI evaluates submissions on four criteria: Innovation Level (30 points), Feasibility (30 points), Scalability & Sustainability (20 points), and Presentation & Documentation (20 points).

Before you apply to 6th NHAI Innovation Hackathon — Retroreflectivity Solutions, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

6th NHAI Innovation Hackathon — Retroreflectivity Solutions is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹3.5L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.