Record-Breaking 7th Smart India Hackathon Begins Nationwide

Why in the news?

The 7th edition of the Smart India Hackathon 2024, featuring record participation and innovative themes, launches on 11th December, promoting solutions for national challenges and priorities.

Record-Breaking 7th Smart India Hackathon Begins Nationwide

About the Launch of 7th Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024:

  • The 7th edition of the Smart India Hackathon will begin on 11th December 2024 at 51 centres across India.
  • Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate the event virtually.
  • SIH is a platform for students to address real-life challenges, promoting innovation and problem-solving.
  • Teams will work on problem statements from Ministries, Departments, and Industries or propose ideas under the Student Innovation Category across 17 themes.

Record-Breaking Participation in SIH 2024:

  • 240% increase in institute-level hackathons compared to 2023, growing from 900 to 2,247 internal hackathons.
  • Over 86,000 teams participated at the institute level, with around 49,000 teams advancing to the national level.
  • Each team comprises 6 students and 2 mentors, creating a collaborative problem-solving environment.
  • More than 250 problem statements were submitted by 54 entities, including Ministries, State Governments, PSUs, and Industries.
  • The event also facilitates interaction between officials, students, and teachers, fostering innovation and collaboration.

Themes, Impact, and Alumni Network:

  • The 17 themes cover critical areas like Healthcare, Smart Technologies, Sustainability, Agriculture, Disaster Management, and more.
  • SIH has significantly shaped India’s innovation ecosystem, leading to the establishment of over 100 startups, many with social impact.
  • The SIH Alumni Network supports innovation by documenting success stories through its portal (https://alumni.mic.gov.in/), highlighting transformative projects developed by former participants.

What is the Smart India Hackathon (SIH)?

About:

  • Started in 2017, SIH is a nationwide initiative promoting problem-solving and product innovation among students.
  • Conducted annually in two formats: SIH Software and SIH Hardware Editions for higher education students.
  • Successfully organized in its first four editions (2017-2020), fostering innovation and creativity among young minds.
  • Jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, AICTE, Persistent Systems, and i4C.

Aim:

To foster a culture of product innovation, problem-solving, and out-of-the-box thinking among students.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times