Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates Smart India Hackathon 2024 Grand Finale

New Delhi: The Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, a flagship initiative promoting innovation and problem-solving among students, was virtually inaugurated by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan today. The event, held across 51 centers nationwide, also witnessed the participation of Union Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, senior officials, academicians, and thousands of students and mentors.

In his address, Pradhan acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for SIH, describing it as a “hotspot of innovation and creativity.” He emphasized the role of students as the driving force behind a developed India, highlighting their potential to address contemporary global challenges. Pradhan underscored that India’s youth, with their talent and innovation, would propel the nation into becoming a 21st-century knowledge economy and a global growth engine.

Dr. Sukanta Majumdar lauded the transformative impact of SIH, particularly in fostering inclusivity. He noted the growing participation of women, with every team comprising at least one female member, as a step toward gender equality and sustainable progress. He also commended the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell for creating an ecosystem that empowers students to turn ideas into impactful realities, advancing entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, emphasized the growing culture of innovation in educational institutions. He noted that SIH fosters collective problem-solving and aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The 7th edition of SIH, running from December 11 to 15, 2024, is the largest yet, with over 49,000 student teams participating in the national round after competing in internal hackathons held at over 2,247 institutions. The Software Edition will run for 36 continuous hours, while the Hardware Edition spans five days.

Participants are tackling over 250 problem statements submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and Industries. Key themes include Healthcare, Smart Technologies, Sustainability, Education, Water, Agriculture, and Disaster Management. Notable challenges include:

• Enhancing images of darker regions on the moon (ISRO).
• Developing a real-time Ganga water quality monitoring system using AI, satellite data, IoT, and dynamic models (Ministry of Jal Shakti).
• Creating a smart yoga mat integrated with AI (Ministry of AYUSH).

Since its inception in 2017, SIH has become a cornerstone of youth-led innovation, producing solutions that have evolved into established startups. The 2024 edition continues to build on this legacy, aligning with national priorities and promoting solutions to pressing issues across sectors.