#OpenDataApps Challenge

Data is the new capital of the global economy, and as organization seek renewed growth, stronger performance and more meaningful customer engagement,
the pressure to exploit data is immense. Thus, Open Government Platform (OGPL), allowing anyone to use and redistribute data freely,
is built to provide enhanced access and use/re-use of government data to foster innovation; improve delivery of government services, promote government transparency,
accountability, and public participation and spur citizen engagement.

The Government of India is opening large number of datasets practically every day through Data Portal India (http://data.gov.in).
The breadth and depth of datasets now available from various ministries and departments suggest that businesses in every industry will benefit from using it to
improve the quality, completeness and utility of their own data and to look for opportunities to develop new applications and services.
Business can also make use of open government data for new data-led services, which package the data and present it to customers in an attractive and easy-to-use way.
Many of entrepreneurial businesses are taking advantage of the trend towards mobile data enabled applications.

We strongly BELIEVE that extraordinary amount of innovation can happen in the open data space by unleashing the power of the entrepreneurs,
innovators, start-ups, developers, industry – the private sector, the academic sector, the non-profit sector, and the public in general.
NIC & NASSCOM have partnered together to build the Open Data Ecosystem and seek your support in the journey of
DISCOVER.PARTICIPATE.ENGAGE.INNOVATE.

KEY OBJECTIVES

The key objectives of this joint initiative of NIC & NASSCOM are:

• Creating awareness and provide understanding on Open Data among multiple stakeholders which may include government
  organization, users of government data i.e. citizen, business, developers and IT industry who can build innovative
  apps/tools
• Bringing all stakeholders on single platform of Open Data
• Facilitating discussions and information exchange among the key stakeholders on enhancing the effectiveness of Open Data
• Compilation of innovative ideas, apps and related datasets emerging from Open Data Meet
• Compilation of challenges likely to be faced by various stakeholders in driving the growth of Open Data and drive these challenges to its logical conclusion.
• Identify domains where Open Data will have maximum impact to citizens, civil society, business and government

Build Apps relevant for a Billion Indians on Open Data

Open Data emphasizes on transparency and citizen engagement in governance.It has potential to boost delivery of Information and quality service to citizens and enable more informed decision-making.

Last year Government of Indian announced the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) for making government data available in the machine-readable format.Data Portal India is based on the Open Government Platform (OGPL), which provides enhanced access and use/re-use of government data to foster innovation; improve delivery of government services; promote government transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance.For more details, please visit http://data.gov.in

NASSCOM has partnered with NIC to jointly build an Open Data Ecosystem.

#OpenDataApps Challenge Terms & Conditions

The Government of India, under the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP), is releasing a large number of
Government datasets from various departments to enhance delivery of government information and to promote transparency,
accountability and public participation in governance.

To encourage the use of this data, NIC in association with NASSCOM is organizing an "#OpenDataApps Challenge", inviting Entrepreneurs,Innovators, Start-ups, Developers and the Indian IT industry. This will create unique and useful applications for Smart Devices, SMS, and Voice-based applications using Open Data to foster innovation.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

The "#OpenDataApps Challenge" registration was formally announced on August 8, 2013 by Hon'ble Minister of Communications & Information Technology and Minister of Law & Justice.

All participant(s) must register on the Data Portal India to submit a Concept Note (CN) of the proposed application. The last date for submission of the Concept Note is August 31, 2013 (11:59 pm).

All shortlisted candidates shall be invited to demonstrate their application in NIC/NASSCOM office in New Delhi during 20th to 22nd November, 2013.The demonstration can be face-to-face or over the web. The software and hardware environment required for the demonstration must be arranged by the participating team.

The winners would be awarded in an event announced at Data Portal India.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

This Contest is open to individuals, teams of individuals and business entities inside the territory of India. Participant(s) must be aged 18-years or older, on the date of submitting the application. However, employees and relatives of NIC and NASSCOM are not allowed to participate in this #OpenDataApps Challenge.

WHAT YOU CAN WIN

First and second prizes would be conferred in three different sectors. At the launch of the challenge, Hon'ble Minister of Communications & Information Technology and Minister of Law & Justice announced the following prizes for the winning submissions:

3 First Prizes of Rs. 1 Lakh each.

3 Second Prizes of Rs. 50 Thousand each.

Kindly refer to http://data.gov.in/event/opendataapps-challenge  or the challenge brochure for details.

WHAT THE IMPORTANT TIMELINES ARE (Revised)

Registration Open Date: August 08, 2013

Registration Close Date and Submission of Concept Note: August 31, 2013 (11:59 pm)
Early Bird Submissions: September 10, 2013 (11:59 pm)
Last Date for Submission of Application: October 30, 2013 (11:59 pm)
Pre-screening by Industry Panel and Screening: During 5th to 22nd November, 2013.
Jury Round: January 10, 2014
Award Event: First Week of February , 2014.

WHAT ARE THE AWARD EVALUATION AND RATING CRITERIA?

All applications will be rated on a scale of 5 on the parameters listed below

• The primary source of the datasets must be the Data Portal of the Government of India, http://data.gov.in 
• Concept Note: How the solution will improve delivery of government services, promote government transparency, accountability and public participation and spur citizen engagement.
• Usability and Creativity: Application demonstrates superior user experience and ease of use. Its uniqueness and innovativeness,
  use of Indian Languages and leverage the latest advances in information technologies.
• Technology Design and Efficiency: Conformance to Open Standards and interoperability Guidelines (as prescribed by the Government of India).
• Quality: Application must be fully-functional and run successfully on target device(s).
• Sustenance: Developer must adequately demonstrate a plan for its updates, sustenance and continuing usability.
• +5 Bonus Points are available for early bird submissions of completed apps, documentations and other supporting material to be considered till 10th September 2013.

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully as they apply for this contest. To be eligible to participate in the contest, the participants must accept these Terms and Conditions:

• The primary source of the datasets must be the Data Portal of the Government of India i.e. http://data.gov.in.
• Only Indian nationals are eligible for participation in the contest.
• Participants must not provide any false information in the registration process.
• Participants must keep their contact information accurate and up-to-date.
• Only a single account is permitted for an individual or a team. If more than one account exists for the same candidate then it will automatically result in disqualification of the candidate.
• As a part of the submission, the contestant certifies the originality and ownership of the application as detailed/described in the documentation uploaded at the time of submission.
• The participant(s) must ensure that his/her/their work has not been previously published.
• If the participants are acting within the scope of their employment, as an employee, contractor, or agent of another party, then the participants warrant that such party has full knowledge of the actions of the participants and has consented thereto, including the potential receipt of a prize. The participants further warrant that their actions do not violate the employer's or company's policies and procedures.
• The participants will not upload viruses or other malicious code.
• The participants will not use this contest to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory.
• The participant(s) contesting in the "#OpenDataApps Challenge" retains ownership of all intellectual property rights to the application including the right to distribute the application commercially at any time.
• There are three possible licensing options:
• i. Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ 
• ii. MIT License: http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT 
• iii.GPL/LGPL: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html  

Participants must declare the intended licensing of the app at the time of the submission of the Concept Note and final App.

• The winning applications must be maintained in working condition by the contestant(s) for a period of 1 (one) year on a secure site of the participants' choosing. No functional enhancements are expected, but all bugs identified according to the description in the documentation should be removed.
• If any participant is determined to have violated the terms of the contest, NIC (and NASSCOM) have all rights to disqualify the participant without prior permission.
• If the Applications shortlisted do not meet the expectations of the Jury, Jury has the discretion and the right, not to confer an award in one or more categories/subcategories. Jury Decision is final.