Apply Now: ThinkSafe – A Road Safety Ideathon (India)

ThinkSafe – A Road Safety Ideathon is a national idea competition inviting Indian students, innovators, and change makers to propose practical, scalable solutions to improve road safety in India. Organised by IIT Madras under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the ideathon focuses on behavioural change, civic responsibility, and low-cost interventions for safer roads.

ThinkSafe – A Road Safety Ideathon Overview

ThinkSafe – A Road Safety Ideathon is a conceptual innovation challenge designed to generate actionable ideas that address India’s most critical road safety and civic behaviour challenges. The initiative emphasises ideation over prototyping, enabling participants to focus on clarity, impact, and scalability of solutions.

Organising Institutions and Governance

The ideathon is organised by the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS), IIT Madras, under the aegis of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India. The programme is implemented in collaboration with MyGov to ensure broad national participation.

Core Objectives of the Ideathon

The ThinkSafe ideathon aims to:

• Promote responsible road behaviour

• Strengthen civic responsibility among road users

• Encourage defensive and preventive driving habits

• Address systemic road safety challenges

• Foster behavioural change at scale

• Support low-cost, high-impact, and scalable interventions

Key Focus Areas and Themes

Ideas should align with one or more of the following:

• Road safety awareness and compliance

• Civic behaviour on roads

• Pedestrian and vulnerable road user safety

• Behavioural nudges and incentives

• Community-driven safety interventions

• Policy, design, or communication-based solutions

Who Is Eligible to Participate

The ideathon is open to:

• Indian citizens from any discipline or background

• Students, innovators, and change makers

• Individual participants or teams

• Participants below 18 years with mandatory parental or guardian consent

There is no requirement for prior experience in road safety or technology.

Prize Money and Awards

Cash prizes are awarded to the top three entries:

• First Prize: ₹30,000

• Second Prize: ₹15,000

• Third Prize: ₹10,000

Awards recognise originality, clarity, and potential impact of the proposed ideas.

Nature of the Competition

ThinkSafe is a purely conceptual ideathon:

• No prototype or proof of concept is required

• Evaluation is based on idea quality and presentation

• Emphasis is on feasibility, scalability, and behavioural impact

Submission Requirements and Format

Participants must submit:

• A structured presentation of up to 8 slides

• An explainer video of 5–10 minutes

• A publicly accessible online drive link for the video

All submissions must clearly communicate the idea and its intended impact.

Idea Framework and Methodology

Ideas must follow the 4W1H framework:

• What: Define the specific road safety or civic behaviour problem

• Why: Explain why the problem matters and who it affects

• Who: Identify the target group benefiting from the solution

• Where: Describe the context or setting of implementation

• How: Explain the working methodology using flowcharts or visuals

The solution must be:

• Practical and implementable

• Low-cost and resource-efficient

• High-impact and outcome-oriented

• Scalable and sustainable

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

Submissions are evaluated by a jury based on:

• Clarity and depth of problem understanding

• Originality and innovation in approach

• User-centric design and inclusivity

• Scalability and long-term sustainability

• Potential for measurable road safety and behavioural outcomes

• Cost-effectiveness of the proposed intervention

• Compliance with submission and presentation guidelines

How to Participate

Participants should follow these steps:

1. Identify a clear road safety or civic behaviour challenge

2. Develop a practical and scalable solution concept

3. Structure the idea using the 4W1H methodology

4. Prepare a concise slide deck of up to 8 slides

5. Record a 5–10 minute explainer video

6. Upload the video to an online drive with public access

7. Submit all required materials through the official platform

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Participants should avoid:

• Vague problem statements without context

• High-cost or unrealistic solutions

• Lack of behavioural change focus

• Ignoring scalability and sustainability

• Exceeding slide or video duration limits

• Poorly structured or unclear presentations

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a prototype required for ThinkSafe

No. The ideathon is entirely conceptual, and no prototype is needed.

Who can participate in the ideathon

Any Indian citizen, including students and professionals, can participate.

Can minors apply

Yes. Participants under 18 years must provide parental or guardian consent.

What is the required presentation format

A maximum of 8 slides along with a 5–10 minute explainer video is required.

How are ideas evaluated

Ideas are judged on clarity, originality, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and potential road safety impact.

Are team submissions allowed

Yes. Participants may apply individually or as part of a team.

Conclusion

ThinkSafe – A Road Safety Ideathon provides a national platform for citizens to shape safer roads through innovative thinking. By focusing on behavioural change, practicality, and scalability, the initiative encourages ideas that can realistically improve road safety outcomes across India.