National | 11 December 2025: The Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), today celebrated the outstanding winners of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 at the Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool), marking a momentous chapter in India’s journey toward building a generation of innovators who will shape the country’s technological future.

Smart India Hackathon 2025 reached unprecedented scale this year, receiving 72,165 idea submissions from 68,766 student teams across 2,587 institutes. From these entries, 1,360 finalist teams comprising 8,160 students and 1,365 mentors qualified for the Grand Finale. These teams developed solutions for 271 problem statements issued by Ministries, State Departments, PSUs, and leading industries. With 60 nodal centres—42 for software and 18 for hardware, operating simultaneously across India, SIH 2025 reflects the Ministry of Education’s commitment to nurturing innovation, design thinking, and problem-solving capabilities at a national level in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

At the WeSchool Nodal Centre, the Ministry of Education and AICTE awarded ₹1,50,000 to each winning team across the three problem statement categories, recognising their excellence, clarity of thought, and the practicality of their solutions. Runner-up teams were honoured with a ₹25,000 WeSchool Inspiration  Award for demonstrating exceptional innovation potential. Under the Ministry of Defence’s problem statement “Secure Closed Group Communication Platform,” the winner was Team Coding Krew led by Rudra Prasad M L from Chennai Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, while the runner-up title was secured by Team Humble led by T Preetham Reddy from Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, Telangana. Under the second Ministry of Defence problem statement, “AI-enabled Cyber Incident & Safety Web Portal for Defence,” the winning team was Black Order led by Sai Shravan P from SRM Valliammai Engineering College, Tamil Nadu, and the runner-up position was secured by Team BruteForce_X led by Mohit Rathore from IPS Academy Institute of Engineering and Science, Indore.

Speaking about WeSchool’s role in advancing innovation and supporting the student community, Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool), said; “At WeSchool, innovation and collaboration are central to our philosophy, and we continue to support students through incubation, mentorship, and access to funding and technology resources. Smart India Hackathon aligns perfectly with our mission of nurturing professionals who can solve real-world challenges, offering students a unique opportunity to work with Government ministries and industry experts. It places young innovators on the national radar and reinforces our Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of youth-led nation-building. We are proud to host teams from across India and remain committed to providing an enriching and supportive environment.”

For the Ministry of Railways’ SIH 25022 challenge at WeSchool, the winning team was nyx, led by Mihir Mahesh Phalke from Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai, and the runner-up team was The Avalanche, led by Riya Saraf from Facult Nature Care Sanganthan’s Group of Institutions, Jabalpur. These winning teams showcased not only strong technical proficiency but also a deep understanding of governance systems, national infrastructure priorities, and emerging digital frameworks critical to the future of India.

With the continued support of the Ministry of Education, AICTE, and academic institutions like WeSchool, Smart India Hackathon remains a cornerstone of India’s innovation movement, one that aligns strongly with the aspirations of Viksit Bharat @2047 and sets the foundation for a technologically advanced, self-reliant, and globally competitive India.

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Smart India Hackathon 2025 has received a record 72,165 idea submissions from 68,766 student teams addressing 271 problem statements from ministries, state departments, PSUs, and industries. From 2,587 institutes and 1,42,715 teams, 1,360 teams comprising 8,160 students and 1,365 mentors have qualified for the Grand Finale. With 42 Software and 18 Hardware nodal centres, SIH 2025 continues to empower youth, foster inclusivity, and strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

On the occasion, Chief Guest, Prateek Goswami, Additional General Manager, Central Railway said; “It is a privilege to be part of Smart India Hackathon 2025, one of the largest innovation initiatives in the country, for the eighth consecutive year. Initiatives like SIH showcase the potential of India’s youth to create practical, impactful solutions for real-world challenges. The Railway Ministry has already benefited from innovative ideas in areas like predictive maintenance and passenger services, demonstrating how student-led innovation can strengthen national infrastructure. My message to all participants is to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and use your creativity and technical skills responsibly to contribute to nation-building. You are shaping the future of India, and your innovations today will drive the progress of tomorrow.” 

Shri. Sudhir Kalkar, Member Managing Council, S.P. Mandali, Pune; Member CDC, WeSchool, Mumbai said; “Smart India Hackathon 2025 represents the power and potential of India’s youth to solve real national challenges. My best wishes to all the finalists who have the opportunity to create meaningful impact. The problems presented by the ministries demand practical, long-term solutions, and at WeSchool, we encourage our students to approach innovation through the ‘Five I’s’—Initiate, Inform, Involve, Integrate, and Inspire. As you innovate, look ahead to build solutions for the future, look back to your strengths, look around to leverage tools, look up with gratitude for the opportunity, and look down to stay grounded.” 

Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool) said; “At WeSchool, innovation and collaboration are central to our philosophy, and we continue to support students through incubation, mentorship, and access to funding and technology resources. Smart India Hackathon aligns perfectly with our mission of nurturing professionals who can solve real-world challenges, offering students a unique opportunity to work with Government ministries and industry experts. It places young innovators on the national radar and reinforces our Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of youth-led nation building. Last year, when the Prime Minister’s Office selected five institutions from across 40,000, WeSchool was among them, and we continue to remain among the top institutions in the country. We are proud to host teams from across India and remain committed to providing an enriching and supportive environment”

Ms. Suryakala Banerjee, HR Lead, Academic Alliances Group CoE, Tata Consultancy Services, said; “The Smart India Hackathon 2025 is not just a competition, it is a celebration of India’s future in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. With over 75,000 ideas from 69,000 student teams this year alone, Smart India Hackathon demonstrates the power of youth-led innovation to solve real-world challenges and advance initiatives like Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. At TCS, we are honored to partner in nurturing this talent through mentorship, evaluation, and co-innovation, celebrating risk-taking, creativity, and the entrepreneurial mindset that will shape the nation’s future.”

Since 2017, Smart India Hackathon has transformed into the world’s largest open innovation platform, fostering a culture of creativity, design thinking, and real-world problem-solving within the student community. Conducted in Software and Hardware editions since 2018, SIH has encouraged patent filings, supported the creation of student-led startups, and enabled the adoption of innovative solutions by government bodies and industry partners. The 2025 edition focuses on critical sectors such as Space Technology, Renewable Energy, Cybersecurity, Defence Technology, MedTech, Robotics & Drones, Smart Education, AgriTech, and Smart Automation. More than 8,160 students will travel to their respective nodal centres, demonstrating national integration and collaborative spirit under Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.

As thousands of students engage in solving real-world challenges at nodal centres across the country, SIH continues to propel India toward an innovation-led, knowledge-driven economy aligned with the aspirations of Viksit Bharat @2047.

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~ Hon’ble Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the event ~

~ 57,378 ideas submitted to tackle 254 problem statements ~

Bengaluru, 20th December 2024: The Appliances Business of Godrej Enterprises Group, partnered with the AICTE for the 7th edition of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024. The event was conducted at multiple institutions all over India, where 1,350 finalist teams presented their ideas to tackle 254 problem statements that covered diverse themes like sustainability and environment consciousness in industry practices, blockchain, smart automation and many more.

During a virtual ceremony, the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated the event, and the Hon’ble Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman of AICTE and Chief Innovation Officer of the Innovation Cell, Ministry of Education, and Mr. Sant Ranjan, AVP and Head of Innovation (R&D) at the Appliances Business of Godrej Enterprises Group participated amongst other dignitaries.

With the increasing strain on global resources, finding innovative ways to conserve them has become crucial. Reports suggest that India’s demand for electricity for running household appliances is estimated to expand nine-fold by 2050. Thus, for SIH 2024, Godrej picked the theme – “Innovating for Sustainability: Driving Resource Conservation in Large Appliances” as a challenge for the students.

Speaking about the success of the event, Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE, said, “SIH 2024 has been a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration in solving real world challenges. Our partnership with Godrej exemplifies how collaboration between private enterprises and government institutions can accelerate innovation by bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application, while also addressing critical societal and environmental challenges.”

Congratulating the participants, Mr. Sant Ranjan, AVP and Head of Innovation (R&D) at Appliances Business of Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “At Godrej Enterprises Group, we have always believed in the power of innovation to drive positive change. Partnering with AICTE for SIH 2024 and mentoring the young participants has been a great experience. The innovative solutions from the students instil confidence that we are headed towards a more sustainable and greener future. My heartfelt congratulations to the winning teams.”

Smart India Hackathon 2024 reached 2,99,352 students from 2,600 higher education institutions. A total of 49,892 teams tackled 254 problem statements and the finale was broadcast live across 51 nodal centers, allowing audiences from all over the country to witness the creativity and ingenuity of India’s young innovators.

Team Refrirangers from Institute of Management Studies Noida, Team Pure Rince from Gujarat Technological University Ahmedabad and Team MECHSPACE from Knowledge Institute of Technology Tamil Nadu, were recognized for their outstanding performance that stood out amongst the many brilliant, unique and diverse solutions presented from institutes all over India, to tackle the challenge of sustainability in appliances.

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The launch took place during a national conference on “Empowering Youth for the Jobs of the Future,” gathering government, industry, and academia leaders. Key figures included Prof. T.G. Sitharam, AICTE Chairman, and Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC. The event emphasized youth preparedness for tech-driven jobs and equitable access to skilling initiatives.

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MAHE’s 31^st convocation ceremony took place over four days, 18^th and 19^th November and 25^th and 26^th November. The chief guests for each of the days were: Lt Gen (Dr.) Narendra Kotwal, SM, VSM, Director and Commandant, Armed Forces Medical Colleges, Pune for Day 1 – 18th Nov; Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Govt. of India (New Delhi) for Day 2 – 19th Nov; Prof. (Dr.) T G Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi for Day 3 – 25th Nov and Mr Vinod Easwaran, MD & CEO, Jio Payments Bank, Mumbai for Day 4 – 26th Nov. The convocation facilitated the graduation of more than 7000 MAHE students over the four-day event.

Talking to the graduates on 25^th of November, Prof. (Dr.) T G Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi, encouraged the students to take with them the lessons and skills learned during their time at MAHE. He further emphasized on utilizing the skills and knowledge for the betterment of the society and giving back to the community to make a positive impact in the world.

Addressing the audience at the convocation, Prof. (Dr.) T G Sitharam, further added, “As we all know that we are living in exciting times in this Digital Era. World is fast changing with disruptive innovations impacting every sphere of our lives. Education sector is no exception too. Implementation of NEP 2020 has given impetus to the education sector and will boost activities in higher education.

Research and Innovation are two closely related concepts that play a critical role in driving progress and advancement in various fields. A multidisciplinary approach as emphasized in NEP 2020 is very much needed. NEP 2020 is an agenda for “Kartavya Kaal’, which also describes the hope for a better future, where India would be self-reliant and fulfill all of its humanitarian obligations. Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (AAPAR) and NCrF introduced as part of NEP 2020 implementation will be new QR code for learners. Today with disruptive innovations in the area of ICT and mobile technologies, generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can replace human beings in many jobs. Many jobs will vanish and new job profiles are created. It is very important for students to update themselves continuously by learning new skills and developing critical thinking. It is important that education should not only provide students with the skills they need to succeed in life, but also inspire them to strive for the future and make a positive difference in the world.”

The convocation address was followed by the conferring of degrees and the awards ceremony. Ms. Madhavi Pai (Kasturba Medical College, Manipal) and Ms. Bhavna Choudhury (Manipal School of Architecture and Planning) were felicitated with Dr. TMA Pai Gold Medal for the Best Outgoing Student of respective institutes on the 3^rd day.

Addressing the audience at the convocation on the last day of the convocation, Mr. Vinod Easwaran, MD & CEO of Jio Payments Bank, Mumbai, recalled his early careers days and said, “As you stand at the threshold of a new chapter in your life, you will have numerous opportunities that will knock on your door and help you fulfill your dreams. Grab those that come your way even if you think you’re not ready for it. I recollect a time when I was a young Marketing Executive in BPL Telecom, an early player in the deregulated Telecom industry, and I was faced with an opportunity to join ICICI Bank, a leading Financial Institution which at that time was primarily into Project & Industry Finance, to help them build their Retail Banking Division. Having no prior experience in building a Retail lending business coupled with my dreading Finance as a subject during my PGDM days, were reasons enough for me to reconsider. Retail banking seemed like an idea whose time had come for India and having ICICI’s leadership’s view on their aggressive ambition of being a market leader, I grabbed this opportunity and dived headlong. The 12 years that followed thereafter in various capacities have helped bolster my further progression in the world of Banking & Financial Services to today leading a bank.

To all the graduates present here, I challenge you to be ambassadors of positive change, to lead with integrity, and to approach challenges with the same tenacity that brought you to this moment. Congratulations, graduates. The world awaits the mark you will make, and I have full confidence that each of you will contribute to a brighter, more compassionate future.”

The convocation address was followed by the conferring of degrees and the awards ceremony. Shonika Sohael Amin (Manipal Institute of Management), Poorvika Agarwal (Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Vibha Ramachandran (Manipal Institute of Communication), Aprajita Karmakar (Prasanna School Of Public Health), and Aaryan Agarwal (Manipal Institute of Technology) were felicitated with Dr. TMA Pai Gold Medal 2023 for the Best Outgoing Student of respective institutes on the 4^th day.

Among the university delegates were Dr. H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, Lt Gen (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd.), Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Mrs. Vasanti R Pai, Trustee, MAHE Trust and Dr. P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE.

Speaking at the Press Conference Dr. H. S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, said, “Today, we gather here in a spirit of celebration, achievement, and, most importantly, transformation. As the Pro Chancellor of this illustrious institution, it is an honor and a privilege to stand before you on this momentous occasion – our convocation ceremony. Our world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The challenges we face are complex, and the solutions demand innovative thinking. Each one of you has the potential to contribute to the betterment of society, to be a catalyst for positive change, and to leave an indelible mark on the canvas of humanity.

In closing, let me express my profound pride in each one of you. This institution has been your academic home, and as you leave, you carry a piece of its legacy with you. Strive for excellence, be agents of positive change, and uphold the values that define MAHE.”

Lt. Gen (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd), Vice Chancellor, MAHE, commented, “To the graduates, let me begin by extending my heartfelt congratulations. Each one of you has demonstrated exceptional dedication, perseverance, and intellectual rigor to reach this pivotal milestone. Your journey through the halls of academia has been one of growth, exploration, and, undoubtedly, challenges overcome.

Today, we celebrate not just the completion of your academic pursuits but the commencement of a journey into a world filled with possibilities. As you stand at the threshold of a new chapter, I encourage you to reflect not only on what you have learned but on how you have grown. The true measure of education lies not just in the facts and figures you have acquired but in the character, you have built, the values you hold dear, and the relationships you have cultivated.”

“As we envision the trajectory of our institutions, we are committed to fostering an environment of continuous innovation and dynamic solutions for the evolving challenges in academia,” said Dr. P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE, in reference to the impending changes in academia. “The nature of education is changing dramatically, and at MAHE, we are fully on board with this development. Our teaching strategies are evolving to meet the needs of the contemporary world, placing more emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning than on conventional classroom ideas.”

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