What is a Category?
A Category groups Problems by civic domain so routing, expertise, reporting, and recommendations can work consistently.
Definition
A Category is the structured civic domain assigned to a Problem. Categories describe what kind of issue is being handled, such as water, roads, sanitation, public health, education, environment, safety, or governance. A Category is broader and more controlled than a Tag. It helps the platform keep similar Problems together even when people describe them in different words.
Why It Matters in SevaPremi
Categories are routing infrastructure. They help the Matching Engine decide which users, experts, Stakeholders, and future Solution Templates are relevant. They help researchers compare patterns across Localities. They help funders find missions aligned with their CSR priorities. They also reduce chaos in search, because a Problem called "dirty drain," "sewage overflow," or "nala blocked" can still belong to a consistent domain.
What Happens When You Interact
When you create or edit a Problem, the platform may ask you to choose a Category or accept a suggested one. AI can recommend a Category, but important writes should still be confirmed by a human workflow. If a Category is wrong, the Problem may reach the wrong audience, so Editorial or authorised moderators can correct it. When you browse by Category, you are asking SevaPremi to show related Problems, templates, and eventually missions across one civic domain.