Ministry of Education
HRD Minister inaugurates five-day Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon - 2019 
Around 2000 participants from 250 teams of 178 different colleges are participating in SIH-2019 from 18 nodal centres across the country – Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal
The Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon  -2019  was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ in New Delhi today. The Grand Finale of second part of Smart India Hackathon-2019, Hardware edition is being conducted from 8th to 12th July, 2019 across the country. Minister of State for HRD, Shri Sanjay Dhotre was also present on the occasion.
At the inaugural session, the Minister interacted with the students participating in SIH-2019, hardware edition through video conferencing here today. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that Smart India Hackathon  - 2019 is a right platform where students’ innovators can develop smart solution to day to day problems. He said that through research, innovation and appropriate use of technology we can become a highly advanced, developed and prosperous nation.
Shri Pokhriyal informed that it is the third consecutive year of Smart India Hackathon, the World’s Largest Open Hackathon and we are growing each year in terms of participation and solutions. The Minister informed that SIH was started in the year 2017, with participation of around 50000 students, in year 2018 around one lakh students participated. This year, the magnitude has grown bigger; around two lakh students have participated this year. More than1.2 Lac students from 2235 colleges sent their entries for 198 problem statements, submitted by more than 40 industries and 9 Central government ministries and various Government Departments.
He said that in the Grand finale of Smart India Hackathon-2019 , around 2000 participants from 250 teams of 178 different colleges are participating, including IIT’s and NIT’s. He added that the grand finale is being conducted from today for next 5 days i.e from 8th July to 12th July, 2019, at 18 different nodal Centres in 9 States, one Union Territory and one Capital Territory of India.These teams will provide innovative hardware solutions for 124 problems.
The Minister also said that in New India, the participation of female candidates is enthusiastic this year, the ratio of male and female is 1.6:1. Shri Pokhriyal congratulated the students participating and officials of HRD Ministry and All India Council for Technical Education  for this grand initiative for the betterment of the country.
While addressing the gathering, the Minister of State for HRD, Shri Sanjay Dhotre said that Smart India Hackathon is an initiative of HRD Ministry in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in making a New India. He said that in this Hackathon “Out of Box Thinking” of students will bring out technology based, easy, workable solutions, which will lead to commercial products to develop start-ups.
In Smart India Hackathon-2019 Hardware edition, problems are broadly based on Agriculture & Rural Development, Food Technology, Waste management, Clean Water, Renewable Energy, Healthcare & Biomedical devices, Smart Vehicles, Robotics and Drones, Security & Surveillance, Smart Communication, Sports and Fitness, Sustainable Environment, Smart Textile, Smart Cities areas.
Depending upon nature of problem, cash prizes for selected ideas and solutions will be given to participating teams. For simple problems Rs. 50000, for complicate problems Rs. 75000 and for complex problems Rs. 1 lakh will be awarded.