New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of innovation and knowledge in shaping the future during his address to young innovators at the grand finale of ‘Smart India Hackathon (SIH)’ on Wednesday. Speaking to over 1,300 student teams via video conferencing, PM Modi assured that the government is removing obstacles for the country’s youth by introducing reforms.
“The future of the world will be driven by innovation and knowledge and India’s youth today is developing a feeling of ownership towards finding solutions for the country’s challenges,” PM Modi said. He further added, “India’s strength is its innovative youth and technology power. We have introduced a new National Education Policy to nurture a scientific mindset. The government is removing roadblocks in the path of the country’s youth by introducing reforms.”
PM Modi recalls previous experience with hackathons
The Prime Minister recalled his previous experiences with hackathons and the impact of the innovative solutions presented by the teams. “I’ve previously participated in hackathons, and you’ve never disappointed me. Instead, you’ve boosted my morale. The solutions presented by your past teams are now being utilized in various ministries, making a significant impact across the country,” he added.
Modi also stressed the importance of equal opportunity for every child, stating, “Every child is special and deserves an opportunity to grow and flourish. No one should be left behind or feel left out. To achieve this, innovative solutions are constantly needed.” He further emphasized that the solutions provided by the young innovators could transform the lives of millions of children.
He said that India’s future demands out-of-the-box thinking, and the country must adopt innovation as a regular approach in every sector. “Today, India’s aspirations demand out-of-the-box thinking to tackle every challenge. We must adopt an innovative approach in every sector, making it a habit,” he said.
Regarding the hackathon, the Prime Minister said that the process was as important as the product. “Notably, regarding this hackathon, the process is as important as its product. India’s Amrit Peedhi, in the next 25 years, holds the responsibility of building a developed India.”
He assured the young innovators that the government is committed to supporting their journey. “Our government is committed to providing this generation with every resource and tool at the right time. We are working on different layers for different age groups, ensuring everyone gets a chance to understand and learn.”
7th edition of Smart India Hackathon
The seventh edition of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) began on Wednesday at 51 nodal centres nationwide, with more than 86,000 teams participating at the institute level. The event aims to address 250 problem statements from various sectors, including healthcare, smart technologies, education, and disaster management.
With a growing focus on youth innovation, PM Modi’s speech underscored the significance of empowering young minds to drive solutions for India’s challenges and shape the nation’s future.
The seventh edition of the SIH started on Wednesday at 51 nodal centres across the country. The event includes two separate editions – the Software Edition, which will run non-stop for 36 hours, and the Hardware Edition, continuing from December 11 to December 15.
Student teams participating in the hackathon will work on problem statements provided by ministries, departments, industries, or submit their ideas under the Student Innovation category. These ideas will focus on 17 themes related to national importance, including sectors such as healthcare, supply chain and logistics, smart technologies, heritage and culture, sustainability, education, water, agriculture and food, emerging technologies, and disaster management, as reported by PTI.
This year, more than 250 problem statements were submitted by 54 ministries, departments, state governments, PSUs, and industries. According to the Ministry of Education, the hackathon has seen significant growth, with internal hackathons at the institute level increasing by 150%. The number of internal hackathons grew from over 900 in SIH 2023 to around 2,247 in SIH 2024.
A total of more than 86,000 teams participated in the SIH 2024 at the institute level. Around 49,000 student teams, each consisting of 6 students and 2 mentors, have been recommended by these institutes for the national-level round of the hackathon. This makes SIH 2024 the largest edition of the event so far.
