Srinagar, Dec 08: A six-member team from National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, ‘Leak Busters’, departed on Saturday for Pune to participate in the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 Grand Finale at MIT World University.
Team member Lakshay Gandotra said that they are thrilled to be heading to the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon 2024 (Hardware Edition) at MIT Art, Design & Technology University, Pune, Maharashtra. Over five exciting days, we will tackle a problem statement proposed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the “Miscellaneous” theme, he added.
Gandotra said their goal is to design and develop a cutting-edge system that monitors the health of earthing systems and provides real-time alerts in case of malfunctions. This innovation aims to enhance safety and ensure the reliability of critical infrastructure, he added.
The other five team members include Palak Sharma, Ayman Makroo, Abhishek Kumar Gupta, Danish Mir and Sanchari Singh.
The 7th edition of SIH, a flagship nationwide initiative, will commence simultaneously on December 11, 2024, at 51 centers, including NIT Srinagar. The event will be inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
NIT Srinagar is among the nodal centers hosting the SIH 2024 Grand Finale, welcoming 25 teams from 21 states between December 9 and 10. Preparations at the Institute are being led by Director Prof. Binod Kumar Kanojiya, with oversight from Prof. Roohi Naz, In-charge Director.
At a recent review meeting chaired by Prof. Naz, she highlighted the importance of meticulous planning for the event’s success. “Every detail is being reviewed and checked to ensure the Grand Finale of SIH2024 unfolds smoothly and successfully,” she added.
The meeting was attended by Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman, Dean of Students Welfare Prof. Abdul Liman, SPOS- SIH-2024 Dr. H.S. Pali, Chairman Core Committee SIH 2024 Prof. GA Harmain and other Coordinators of the SIH2024.
Chairman of Core Committee, Prof. G.A. Harmain said that almost all preparations have been finalized and it is an honor for NIT Srinagar to serve as a nodal center for this prestigious initiative.
“This event not only fosters innovation but also brings together the brightest minds nationwide. We aim to provide an environment where ideas can thrive,” he said.
SPOC- SIH-2024 also highlighted the institute’s readiness, noting the arrival of student teams representing states from across India. Each team comprises talented students selected through rigorous preliminary rounds earlier this year.
“SIH aims to foster a culture of product innovation and problem-solving by challenging students to address real-world issues. Participants will either tackle problem statements provided by government ministries, departments, or industries or present their ideas in the Student Innovation Category within 17 themes,” he said.
For SIH 2024, more than 250 problem statements have been submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and Industries. This year, an impressive 240% increase has been recorded in internal hackathons at the institute level, growing from over 900 in SIH 2023 to over 2247 in SIH 2024, making this the largest edition so far.
More than 86000 teams have participated in SIH 2024 at the institute level and around 49,000 student teams (each consisting of 6 students and 2 mentors) have been recommended by these institutes for the national level round.
SIH grand finale also serves as a ground for open interaction between officials from different Ministries, government departments and students, teachers from educational institutes which is very unique and also very encouraging for the students and teachers.
The challenges identified and addressed cover 17 major areas/themes linked to sectors of national importance and national priorities. These are Healthcare, Supply chain & Logistics, Smart Technologies, Heritage & Culture, Sustainability, Education & Skill Development, Water, Agriculture & Food, Emerging Technologies, and Disaster Management.
