Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates Smart India Hackathon 2024 grand finale
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024, a nationwide platform for student innovation. With over 49,000 teams participating, this year's event is the largest edition yet, addressing 250+ problem statements aligned with national priorities.
by India Today Education Desk · India TodayIn Short
- Education Minister inaugurates Smart India Hackathon 2024 finale
- Event held at 51 centres nationwide, fostering innovation
- PM Modi to interact with young innovators on December 11
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan virtually inaugurated the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, alongside Union Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar. Senior officials, including Education Secretary Shri Sanjay Kumar and AICTE leaders, attended the event, which is being conducted simultaneously at 51 centres nationwide.
Addressing the gathering, Dharmendra Pradhan expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for envisioning SIH as a platform fostering innovation and creativity amongst students. He emphasised that the youth's energy, talent, and innovation are instrumental in building a Viksit Bharat (developed India) and positioning the country as a 21st-century knowledge economy and global growth engine.
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar highlighted SIH’s role in transforming challenges into opportunities for young minds. He applauded the growing inclusion of women participants, as every team now includes at least one female member, advancing gender equality and sustainable progress. Dr. Majumdar also lauded the Ministry of Education's efforts to nurture an innovation-driven ecosystem, empowering students to turn ideas into impactful solutions.
PM MODI TO INTERACT YOUNG INNOVATORS
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will interact with young innovators at the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024 on 11th December 2024, at around 4:30 pm, via video conferencing. Over 1300 student teams will participate at the Grand Finale. Prime Minister will also address the gathering on the occasion.
ABOUT SMART INDIA HACKATHON
Launched in 2017, SIH has become one of India’s most prominent platforms for student innovation, addressing pressing issues faced by government ministries, industries, and other organizations. The 7th edition of SIH began on December 11, 2024, with the Software Edition running continuously for 36 hours and the Hardware Edition spanning from December 11 to 15.
Participants in SIH 2024 are working on over 250 problem statements submitted by 54 ministries, PSUs, state governments, and industries. Notable challenges include creating enhanced lunar images for ISRO, developing AI-driven real-time Ganga water quality monitoring systems for the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and designing a Smart Yoga Mat integrated with AI for the Ministry of AYUSH.
This year, SIH has seen significant growth, with over 2,247 internal hackathons conducted at the institute level—a 150% increase from 2023—and 49,000 student teams qualifying for the national round. These teams represent over 86,000 participants from institutions across the country, making this the largest-ever edition of SIH.
With 17 themes aligned to national priorities, such as Healthcare, Sustainability, Smart Technologies, and Disaster Management, SIH 2024 continues to be a key driver of innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth-led development in India.