Smart India Hackathon: The 7th edition of Smart India Hackathon-2024 kicked off at Manipal University Jaipur. The Director of DRDL, Hyderabad, Mr. Shivpal Singh, graced the occasion as the chief guest.
He was accompanied by the President of Manipal University Jaipur, Prof. Neeti Nipun Sharma, Pro-President Prof. Karunakar A. Kotegar, and Registrar Dr. Neetu Bhatnagar. The event was inaugurated nationwide by Union Minister of Education, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, via video conferencing. The guests welcomed participants from different parts of the country and encouraged them to engage themselves in innovation.
Previously, Manipal University had hosted the software edition of the Smart India Hackathon twice. This year, for the first time, it has been entrusted with hosting the hardware edition, making it the only institution in Rajasthan to receive this honour. Approximately 156 participants from 10 states across India have joined, including 103 male and 53 female students, forming 26 teams with 26 mentors.
The participants will work on five problem statements provided by ministries such as Culture, Communication, Electronics & IT, and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Each winning team will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh each. A total of 18 jury members, including industry experts, will evaluate the projects.
The program will continue for the next five days at the university campus. On the inaugural day, at 4:30 PM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to participants across 51 nodal canters nationwide. He emphasized that fostering a culture of innovation is essential to realizing the dream of a Vikshit Bharat.
The second day of the hardware edition of Smart India Hackathon 2024 witnessed the participants with high energy and enthusiasm. This national-level hackathon provides a platform for young talent to innovate and solve real-world problems. The participating teams worked tirelessly to transform their ideas into practical products.
Throughout the day, teams continued working on their problem statements, receiving guidance and evaluations from mentors and industry experts. Cultural activities were also organized to further inspire the participants.
A special session was held from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM by renowned cultural influencer Ms. Jahnavi, who shared her insights on the intersection of innovation and culture. Informal discussions during tea, snacks, and lunch breaks encouraged collaboration and new perspectives.
In the evening, the second round of evaluations took place, with teams focusing on finalizing their solutions. The hackathon continued late into the night as participants prepared their final presentations.
