EnvironmentSaturday, 28 February 2026·The Hindu
India unveils Zero Prize, first results-based environmental award
The Zero Prize is India’s first results-based environmental award with a ₹5 crore corpus.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In February 2026, the Government of India launched the Zero Prize, described as the country’s first results-based environmental award, with a total corpus of ₹5 crore and ₹1 crore prize in each of 3 categories.
Key specifics
- The 3 categories are Air Pollution, Water Pollution, and Land/Soil Pollution.
- Each category carries ₹1 crore, making the prize money ₹3 crore out of the ₹5 crore corpus.
- Verification is based on third-party audits and scientific monitoring of measurable outcomes.
- The award is linked to Mission LiFE, Swachh Bharat, and India’s net-zero ambitions.
- Eligibility includes PSUs, private companies, urban local bodies, NGOs, research institutions, startups, and community groups.
Exam lens
Environment MCQ focus: Zero Prize, ₹5 crore corpus, 3 categories, Mission LiFE, third-party audits — a likely TNPSC question on outcome-based environmental governance.