About the Challenge
A DigiTwin is a real-time virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system that enables continuous monitoring, predictive analytics, scenario simulation, and dynamic optimisation. In the logistics domain, DigiTwins present transformative potential across port operations, freight corridors, warehousing, multimodal hubs, and supply chain networks by enabling data-driven decision-making at scale.
The NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge invites students, innovators, startups and industry partners to harness data and build intelligent digital replicas of India's logistics infrastructure enabling smarter simulation, predictive planning and operations optimization across the supply chain.
Freight Transport Model for India
A Freight Transport Model is a mathematical representation of freight demand and the transport system. It estimates how much freight each region produces and consumes, where it moves, which mode it uses and which route it takes, and tests the effect of new infrastructure, services and policies before they are implemented.
Why Participate
Identify
Discover and nurture high-impact DigiTwin and freight modelling solutions addressing real-world logistics bottlenecks in India.
Build
Develop a robust repository of functional, scalable, and deployment-ready DigiTwin solutions and freight model prototypes.
Enlist
Identify prospective technology solution providers associated with shortlisted solutions for potential consideration in future initiatives of NICDC and NLDSL.
Award
Win exciting prizes and recognition for outstanding solutions in either theme.
Focus Sectors
Participants may develop DigiTwin solutions across the five curated focus sectors below, or take the Open Category for innovative applications in related logistics, infrastructure, mobility, or supply-chain domains.
SECTOR 01Multimodal Logistics (Port, Rail & Road)
Multimodal Logistics (Port, Rail & Road)
Twins for container terminals, vessel turnaround, Dedicated Freight Corridors and road-rail intermodal movement.
- Real-time twin of container terminal ops (berth allocation, crane scheduling, gate management)
- Vessel movement simulation & turnaround optimisation
- Predictive congestion/dwell-time modelling at EXIM ports
SECTOR 02Industrial Corridor, Parks & Warehousing
Industrial Corridor, Parks & Warehousing
Virtual replicas of industrial corridors, MMLPs and smart warehouses, from factory gate to dock door.
- Virtual replica of MMLPs for capacity planning
- Smart warehouse twins (inventory flow, pick-pack-ship, space utilisation)
- Automated dock scheduling & yard management
SECTOR 03Mining & Mineral Sectors
Mining & Mineral Sectors
Pit-to-port twins for ore and mineral evacuation, stockyards and bulk rail-road dispatch.
- Mine-to-port ore/mineral movement twins
- Rail-road evacuation & yard optimisation
- Stockyard monitoring & dispatch
SECTOR 04Urban Mobility & Energy Logistics (EV Ecosystem)
Urban Mobility & Energy Logistics (EV Ecosystem)
City logistics twin (traffic flow, delivery routes, congestion windows); EV fleet and charging-infrastructure simulation; hyperlocal demand forecasting; EV battery supply chain and renewable energy grid-asset movement planning.
- Urban freight route optimisation & congestion windows
- EV commercial fleet charging & grid load balancing
- Hyperlocal micro-fulfilment delivery forecasting
SECTOR 05Supply Chain Logistics (Pharma, Healthcare, Agriculture)
Supply Chain Logistics (Pharma, Healthcare, Agriculture)
End-to-end visibility and cold-chain integrity for medicines, medical supplies and farm produce.
- End-to-end supply chain twin with disruption simulation
- Cold-chain twins for vaccines/pharma
- Medical-equipment inventory optimisation
SECTOR 06Open Category (Beyond Focus Sectors)
Open Category (Beyond Focus Sectors)
DigiTwin ideas for logistics, infrastructure, mobility or supply-chain problems outside the five focus sectors.
- Cross-sector national logistics network twins
- Aviation, inland waterway and coastal shipping logistics
- Disaster-response and humanitarian logistics
How It Works
Same process for both themes.
- 1
Registration & Concept Note Submission
- 2
Detailed Idea Submission
- 3
Virtual Prototype Demonstration
- 4
Finale & Award Announcement
Eligibility
Answer three questions to find out. Same criteria for both themes.
How many people are on your team?
Does someone on your team work with Data Engineering, AI/ML, GIS, Modeling/Simulation or Software Development?
Is your team based in India?
Evaluation
Indicative Evaluation Framework (Final Stage) · common to both themes
- 20% of the total score
Prototype Readiness
- Live demo of a working system (not slides)
- Real-time data sync between the real asset and its virtual model
- Accuracy of the virtual model
- What-if simulation
- Prediction and optimisation output
- Clear results on real or test data
Prototype Readiness
- Live demo of a working system (not slides)
- Real-time data sync between the real asset and its virtual model
- Accuracy of the virtual model
- What-if simulation
- Prediction and optimisation output
- Clear results on real or test data
Prizes
For the top team overall.
For the best team in each focus sector.
- Multimodal Logistics (Port, Rail & Road)
- Industrial Corridor, Parks & Warehousing
- Mining & Mineral Sectors
- Urban Mobility & Energy Logistics (EV Ecosystem)
- Supply Chain Logistics (Pharma, Healthcare, Agriculture)
- Open Category (Beyond Focus Sectors)
Total award pool ₹20,00,000+.
Timeline
- Done15 Oct 2026
Launch & publication of NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge guidelines and 5 Focus Sectors.
- Happening now15 Oct – 14 Nov 2026
Team registration and Concept Note submission window (30 days) · Stage 1.
- 15 – 22 Nov 2026
Screening Committee assessment; announcement of shortlisted teams for Stage 2 (8 days).
- 23 Nov – 08 Dec 2026
Stage 2 Detailed Idea submission window for evaluation (15 days).
- 09 Dec 2026
Announcement of shortlisted teams advancing to Prototype Development Stage.
- 10 – 31 Dec 2026
Stage 3 Prototype / PoC development; optional access to official ULIP APIs (21 days).
- 04 – 14 Jan 2027
Virtual demonstration to Grand Jury, final evaluation, awards ceremony & vendor enlistment.
Dates are indicative and subject to approval by the Competent Authority.