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BHUMI - BSF GRAND CHALLENGE

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BHUMI - BSF GRAND CHALLENGE

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The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) in partnership with Border Security Forces (BSF) announces the launch of BHUMI (BSF HIGH-TECH UNDERTAKING FOR MAXIMIZING INNOVATION) Grand Challenge to identify impactful solutions from startups to address the problem statements identified by BSF.

ABOUT THIS APPLICATION

Background: To leverage the innovations created by the Indian entrepreneurs and to build on the mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Border Security Force (BSF) seeks to organize Hackathons with Indian startups and premier Institutions for cost effective solutions to strengthen the border security scenario. In compliance to the directions, Ministry of Electronics & IT Startup Hub (MeitY Startup Hub) is collaborating with BSF to provide access to the platform, resources, startups, and institutions which can be engaged in this process of solution identification based on problem statements as provided by BSF.

The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) in partnership with Border Security Force (BSF) announces the launch of Grand Challenge to identify impactful solutions from startups to address the problem statements identified by BSF.

Phase – I of Grand Challenge

Phase-IProblem Statement

The problem statement provided by the Border Security Force includes three(03) areas of focus and technology development for charting out an effective indigenous solution to BSF specific problems in order to improve overall border security scenario:

#	Problem Statement	Description
1	System to detect the presence of electronic devices	The detection of electronic devices, especially mobile phones in odd timing and the specific area will be helpful in the prevention of trans border crime.
2	Detection of tunnels or underground activities	The detection of underground activities or tunnels in the border area will be helpful to minimize/ mitigate border crimes.
3	Border Security Force is deployed in far-flung areas and working in difficult and undulating terrain; including some long stretches full of shadow area, where no communication is available. This lack of alternative communication systems directly affects the efficacy of the operations and routine border domination	Portable (preferably manpack), encrypted tactical(different from normally available networks) hyperlocal mobile communication network with data connectivity. It will have its own tower acting as BTS in its area, including the capability of integration with BOP, BN HQ, Sector HQ etc. with available commercial/alternative network.
4	Anti Drone Technology	To stop menace of Drones for Narco Terrorism and attack on Vital Installations.

The proposed Grand Challenge with three(03) pre-identified problem statements tries to tackle challenges relating to detecting presence of electronic devices, tunnel or underground activities and lack of alternative communication systems directly affecting the efficacy of the operations and routine border domination.

Scope of Work

The solutions developed by the interested entities will be used to augment, improve and scale the Border security scenario. The technologies solutions for The Grand Challenge for Strengthening Border Securities would be broadly categorized into the aforesaid three (03) major thrust/ focal areas, as provided by BSF.

It is also proposed that for long term consideration, a comprehensive framework to strengthen the border security scenario, new set of different problem statement may be conducted in Phase-2 at a later date post completion of Phase-1.

Grand Challenge Implementation Mechanism

The Grand Challenge for Strengthening Border Security is to be launched on the MSH platform and links also parallelly provided on the websites of MyGov, Startup India and Invest India as well as on other IT/Telecom related platforms. The applications received online against each thrust area will be scrutinized as per following procedure:

1. The applications would be scrutinized using a pre-provided template by committee having expertise on the relevant domain area.

2. Based on the initial scrutiny, the committee will further provide the list of top 25 applicants who will pitch their solutions before a Jury comprising of experts in the area of defense, security, infrastructure, IT and Telecom etc. especially constituted to adjudicate the contestants.

3. The Jury would shortlist the top 03 applicants in each problem statement area who will be showing the efficacy of their respective solutions for possible integration in providing cost effective solutions to BSF. Each shortlisted applicant for the said activity will be rewarded with Rs. 10 Lakh each for covering their Logistical needs and product development/integration needs

4. Prior to this, NCETIS may be entrusted to perform functional/scalability/security testing of the solutions in collaboration with and under the guidance of BSF

5. Subsequent to the successful testing of the solution, the Jury will select top 1 contestant from each thrust area. Top 1 contestants from three areas will be rewarded with Rs. 25 Lakh along with potential work order as per the terms and conditions agreed upon by BSF and the winner startups

6. This procedure will be replicated for each of the thrust areas (three thrust areas).

Resultant IPR:

The rights for the resultant IPR that is created or developed or otherwise resulting directly or indirectly from the winner of the challenge will rest with Border Security Force, Government of India. For further leveraging the solutions, BSF will at its discretion can further provision the said IP to any entity/country engaged in implementing the cost effective solutions for border security scenario. The IPR rights for the solution provisioned by the challenge winner(s) will rest with the Border Security Force, Government of India. However, the base IP on which the dedicated solution for border security has been developed by the challenge winner will still rest with the original winner of the said IP and it can be used for purposes other than border security related applications.

Data Privacy

The data generated in the process of using the shortlisted challenges will be treated as per the provision of the existing legal framework/provisions of the country and will rest with the control of BSF.

ELIGIBILTY

Eligibility Standards

The Indian Tech start-ups, MSMEs, Companies, LLPs registered in India under Companies Act can apply. The entity must have 51% or more shareholding with Indian citizen or person of Indian origin and should be domiciled in India. The applicant’s entity should not be a subsidiary company of any foreign corporation.

Further to encourage participation from academia and industry, participating teams not mandatorily registered as Companies/ startups/ MSMEs/ LLPs can also apply for the Grand Challenge for Strengthening Border Security. However, the teams making it to the Stage-2, will be required to apply for registration as Indian Startups/ Company/ MSMEs/ LLPs. It will be expected that by the time of selection at the final stage, necessary registration has been completed.

1. Eligibility Criteria for Start-ups:

For wide coverage and maximum participation across all levels startups are encouraged to apply with the following conditions are to be met.

I. Startups: Applicants willing to propose and develop solutions must be:

· A Startup incorporated as a private or public limited under the Companies Act, 2013 or the previous Act 1956.

· Should have recognition of under the latest notification of DIPP available at http://startupindia.gov.in.

· The Indian Tech start-ups, MSMEs, Companies, LLPs registered in India under Companies Act can apply. The entity must have 51% or more shareholding with Indian citizen or person of Indian origin and should be domiciled in India. The applicant’s entity should not be a subsidiary company of any foreign corporation.

· Further to encourage participation from academia and industry, participating teams not mandatorily registered as Companies/ startups/ MSMEs/ LLPs can also apply for the Grand Challenge for Strengthening Border Security. However, the teams making it to the Stage-2, will be required to apply for registration as Indian Startups/ Company/ MSMEs/ LLPs. It will be expected that by the time of selection at the final stage, necessary registration has been completed.

II. Also, the applicant would be required to furnish the proof of such registrations and necessary balance sheets.

III. The applicant should have product in the market and existing customers. The scheme does not envisage to support ideation stage startups.

Duration and Expected Timelines

This is short duration challenge of 75 days consisting of the following timelines

S/N	Activities	Timeline (in weeks)	Timeline
1.	Approval of the Grand challenge	Date of Approval	30-06-2021
2.	Launch of Call for Proposals		02-07-2021
3.	Last date of submission of proposals		07-08-2021
4.	Preliminary shortlisting of proposals		17-08-2021
5.	Pitching/Presentation Round and Approval of Jury for moving shortlisted startups/products for validation round		20-08-2021
6.	Validation Round (Deeper analysis of the shortlisted startups/products by Technical Experts from BSF for validating the product deployment potential)		27-08-2021
7.	Prototype scale-up to deployable product/solution with functionality/user worthiness/ security robustness testing and regulatory approval (if any) carried out by designated agencies		07-09-2021
8.	Deployed Solutions further scrutinized by Jury		07-10-2021
9.	Winner Announced		21-10-2021

Implementing Agencies

MeitY Startup Hub will be the executing agency for running the challenge. The Border Security force will work closely with MeitY Startup Hub and provide the problem statement and institute awards to the winners. They will also provide necessary support, infrastructure, technological integration, and resources needed by startups for demonstrating the efficacy of the solution envisaged to be developed under the Challenge.

Expected Outcomes

Through the successful execution of this Challenge, solutions will be identified as per the problems statements provided by BSF. The development, deployment, and integration of these solutions for strengthening the border security will be the primary outcome that will be benchmarked and assessed to evaluate the outcome of the Challenge.

· System to detect the presence of electronic devices: The detection of electronic devices, especially mobile phones in odd timing and the specific area will be helpful in the prevention of trans border crime.

· Detection of tunnels or underground activities: The detection of underground activities or tunnels in the border area will be helpful to minimize/ mitigate border crimes.

· The border security force is deployed in far-flung areas and working in difficult and undulating terrain; including some long stretches full of shadow area, where no communication is available. This lack of alternative communication systems directly affects the efficacy of the operations and routine border domination:- Portable (preferably manpack), encrypted tactical(different from normally available networks) mobile communication network with local data connectivity. So that it will have its own tower acting as BTS in its area, including the capability of integration with BOP, BN HQ, Sector HQ etc. with available commercial/alternative network.

Jury

Experts from Academia, user agency (BSF), MeitY, NGOs/Industry etc. will be constituted.

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