Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to join the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 today, Wednesday, via video conferencing at 4:30 pm. This was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s office.
PM Modi’s Excitement for the Event
On X, PM Modi shared his enthusiasm for the event. He wrote, “I am looking to join a very special programme today at 4:30 PM via video conferencing – the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024. It will be a delight to interact with pioneering young innovators who will surely enhance India’s growth trajectory in the times to come.” He further added, “Over the years, the Smart India Hackathon has emerged as a vibrant forum of encouragement for our youth.”
PM to Engage with Participants
During the event, PM Modi will interact with participants and offer his encouragement. This marks the 7th edition of SIH, which is designed to empower students to solve real-world problems through innovation.
Competition Format
The Grand Finale will feature two editions. First, the Software Edition will be an intense 36-hour nonstop competition. Meanwhile, the Hardware Edition will span five days, concluding on December 15, 2024. Additionally, the event will be hosted across 51 nodal centers in India. Over 1,300 student teams will compete in various national sectors.
Record Participation in 2024
Notably, this year, SIH saw a 150% increase in internal hackathons at the institute level. The number of such hackathons rose from 900 in 2023 to 2,247 in 2024. Consequently, SIH 2024 is now the largest edition to date, with more than 86,000 teams participating at the institute level.
Around 49,000 teams, each consisting of six students and two mentors, have advanced to the national-level competition.
Real-World Challenges
Participants will tackle more than 250 problem statements. These have been submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and industries. The challenges cover 17 themes, such as Healthcare, Smart Technologies, Heritage and Culture, Sustainability, Water Management, Education, and Disaster Management.
Notable challenges include enhancing images of the moon’s darker regions, presented by ISRO. Another challenge is developing a real-time Ganga water quality monitoring system using AI and IoT, from the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Additionally, the Ministry of AYUSH has presented a challenge to create a smart yoga mat integrated with AI.
A Platform for Innovation
SIH has become a prominent platform for young innovators to collaborate with government and industry to develop solutions for pressing challenges. As a result, it continues to foster creativity and problem-solving, nurturing India’s future innovators and strengthening the country’s position as a hub for technological advancements and talent.