Mangaluru: Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management hosted the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 (Software Edition) on December 11, 2024. Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Education-AICTE, the event marked the seventh edition of this prestigious national initiative to foster innovation and creativity among India’s youth.
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp in the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Padma Bhushan Dr. B N Suresh, Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, as the Chief Guest. Other notable attendees included Mr. Shyamal Kishore, AICTE Nodal Centre Head; Dr. Manjappa Sarathi, Director of R&D; Mr. Devadas Hegde, Trustee; Dr. S S Injaganeri, Principal; Mr. Johnson Tellis, CEO and Trustee; and Dr. Duddela Prashanth, Convener of Sahyadri SIH 2024.
Addressing Key Themes of Innovation
Dr. S S Injaganeri welcomed the gathering and highlighted diverse problem statements in this year’s hackathon, covering areas such as healthcare, supply chain, sustainability, water management, agriculture, and disaster management. Noteworthy challenges included enhancing moon surface imaging (presented by ISRO) and real-time Ganga water quality monitoring using AI and IoT (presented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti).
Dr. B N Suresh delivered an inspiring inaugural address, emphasising the critical role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and nation-building. He urged participants to embrace risks and learn from failures, quoting Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: “If you want to shine like a sun, first learn to burn like a sun.” Dr. Suresh stressed the importance of resilience, creative thinking, and perseverance in achieving entrepreneurial success, while encouraging the audience to adopt a forward-thinking mindset inspired by India’s space program.
Presidential Remarks and National-Level Contributions
Dr. Manjappa Sarathi, representing the Chairman, reiterated the college’s pride in hosting the hackathon for the second time. With 27 teams and 162 students participating at the venue, SIH 2024 featured over 250 problem statements submitted by 54 ministries, state governments, public sector undertakings, and industries. Nationwide, the event saw participation from 2,247 higher educational institutions, with 86,000 teams competing at the institute level and 49,000 teams advancing to the national stage.
Central Inauguration Highlights
The central inauguration held online included speeches by Honourable Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Dr. T.G. Sitharam, AICTE Chairman, and Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education. The event also featured insights from Mr. Sant Ranjan, AVP of Godrej Appliance, and Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Secretary of Education. Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reflected on his discussions about SIH during a visit to Australia and praised India’s growing contributions to global innovation in 35 key areas.
In his remarks, Mr. Sanjay Kumar emphasized the hackathon’s significance in reshaping education and fostering creativity, describing it as more than a competition—a movement for innovation.
Kickstarting the 36-Hour Hackathon
With both local and central inaugurations concluded, the 36-hour Hackathon officially began, bringing together students and professionals to solve real-world challenges. The event set the stage for an exciting journey of creativity, collaboration, and technological advancement.
The SIH 2024 once again underscored the power of collective innovation in driving India’s progress towards becoming a global leader in technology and innovation.
