7th edition of SIH 2024 grand finale concludes at NIT Srinagar

Srinagar, Dec 12: The Grand Finale of the 7th edition of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 concluded on Thursday at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, with five teams emerging as top performers at the nodal center.

The valedictory session was presided over by Chief Guest Sushil Kumar, Chief General Manager of GAIL, and Guest of Honor Saheel Yaqoob, Assistant Director Branch MSME Srinagar.

The event was organised under the aegis of Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanojiya, and saw the presence of several dignitaries including Deans, HOD’s, HoC’s and other dignitaries from various departments.

Prof. Roohie Naaz (Incharge Director NIT Srinagar), Prof. G.A. Harmain (Chairman Core Committee for SIH 2024), Registrar Atikur Rehman, Dr. Pratap Sanap (Nodal Head 1 for SIH), Ms. Happy Debnath (Nodal Head 1 for SIH), SPOS- SIH-2024 Dr. H.S. Pali, and other coordinators were also present at the event.

Hosting the Grand Finale for the first time, NIT Srinagar was one of 51 nodal centers across the country. The two-day event commenced on Wednesday and witnessed innovative ideas and solutions from young minds.

In his message, Director NIT Srinagar Prof. Kanojiya congratulated the winning teams for their exceptional performance and innovative solutions, applauding their dedication and hard work throughout the event.

He also extended his encouragement to the other participating teams, emphasizing that their efforts and ideas were equally valuable and demonstrated great potential.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Sushil Kumar said that over the past two days, we have witnessed extraordinary talent, collaboration, and problem-solving skills that truly embody the spirit of the Smart India Hackathon.

“GAIL plays a significant role in fostering innovation and sustainable solutions through initiatives like Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024. We are committed to encourage young minds to contribute to the nation’s growth while addressing pressing challenges,” he said.

Guest of Honor Assistant Director MSME Saheel Yaqoob highlighted the importance of platforms like SIH in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth.

“Events like SIH 2024 not only provide young innovators with opportunities to solve real-world problems but also inspire them to think beyond conventional boundaries, he added.

Prof. Roohie Naaz, Incharge Nodal Head of NIT Srinagar, presented a detailed summary of the event during her valedictory address. She said that Hackathon has always been about pushing boundaries and fostering a culture of ingenuity and teamwork. This year was no exception. Our participants have tackled real-world problems with cutting-edge solutions, demonstrating that the future of technology and innovation is in capable hands, she added.

Dr. Pratap Sanap announced the winning teams, while Happy Debnath delivered a vote of thanks on behalf of AICTE, expressing gratitude to NIT Srinagar for hosting the event smoothly.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with young innovators participating in the 7th edition of SIH 2024, including the team at NIT Srinagar, via video conferencing.

This year’s edition of SIH marked a remarkable 240% growth in internal hackathons, increasing from 900 in 2023 to over 2,247 in 2024, making it the largest edition to date. Over 86,000 teams participated at the institute level, with approximately 49,000 advancing to the national-level rounds.

The hackathon addressed 250 problem statements submitted by 54 ministries, departments, state governments, PSUs, and industries. These challenges covered 17 sectors of national importance, including healthcare, sustainability, smart technologies, education, disaster management, and agriculture.