7th Smart India Hackathon

Why in News?

The 7th edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) will commence on December 11, 2024 at 51 centres across the country.
Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will virtually inaugurate the event.
As in previous editions, student teams will work on problem suggestions provided by Ministries/Departments/Industries.
More than 250 problem ideas have been submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs and Industries for SIH 2024.
More than 86,000 teams have participated in 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 stage.
The identified challenges and their solutions cover 17 key areas and themes related to areas of national importance and national priorities including-
- Healthcare, Supply Chain and Logistics, Smart Technology, Heritage and Culture, Sustainability, Education and Skill Development, Water, Agriculture and Food, Emerging Technologies and Disaster Management.

Smart India Hackathon

It is a nationwide initiative.
It was started in the year 2017.
It aims to:
- Provide platform to students to solve some of the critical problems faced in daily life
- Develop a culture of product innovation and problem-solving mindset
- Develop a culture of out-of-the-box thinking
The Grand Finale of SIH also serves as an open platform for open interaction between officials of various Ministries/Government departments and students, faculty of academic institutions.
It has empowered students and professionals to face real-world challenges.
Its portal (https://alumni.mic.gov.in/) has a wealth of success stories showcasing transformational outcomes.
More than 100 startups have been founded till date by its alumni, including many with a strong social dimension.