NABARD Announces Climate Stack Innovation Challenge Winners

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) announced the final winners of the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge on 10 August 2026. The challenge was organised with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors and used the Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture (DiCRA) framework.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

NABARD was established in 1982 under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981. It is India’s apex development finance institution for agriculture, rural development, and related credit support.

National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge

The National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge was designed around digital tools for climate risk assessment in agriculture. The solutions used satellite data, artificial intelligence, and climate modelling to build applications for rural decision-making.

Winning Solutions and Prize Structure

SatSure Analytics India Private Limited won the first prize of ₹15 lakh for a climate vulnerability index that ranks villages across India by weather risk exposure. EXPERIQS Private Limited won the second prize of ₹10 lakh for a platform that monitors drought conditions and forecasts their impact on crop cycles. VARSAPRADAYA Private Limited won the third prize of ₹5 lakh for a digital engine that provides hazard scoring and irrigation planning inputs.

Selection Process and Use Cases

The winners were selected from more than 150 applications through a multi-stage screening process. The process reduced the field to 20 prototype builders and then to 11 finalists before the final selection.

NABARD Chairman Dr. Shaji Krishnan V. stated that the initiative is linked to digital public infrastructure for resilient farming and for assessing weather-related rural credit risk. The winning teams were also felicitated on 12 July 2026 during the NABARD Foundation Day ceremony.

Important Facts for Exams

• NABARD was set up in 1982 and functions as India’s apex institution for agricultural and rural credit.
• DiCRA stands for Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture.
• Satellite data, artificial intelligence, and climate modelling are key technologies used in the winning solutions.
• The challenge selected 3 winners from more than 150 applications.

Climate Vulnerability Index and Rural Credit

A climate vulnerability index is a tool used to rank locations by exposure to weather-related risks such as drought, flood, and heat stress. Such indices are used in agriculture, insurance, and credit assessment for rural borrowers.