*Participants in Grand Finale:* 

Over 1,300 teams and 10,800+ participants at 51 nodal centers nationwide. 

*Problem Statements:* 

254 problem statements presented by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and Industries.

*Key Highlights:* 

Interaction of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with young innovators. Problem statements such as “Enhancing Images of Darker Regions on the Moon” by ISRO and “AI-Driven Ganga Water Quality Monitoring” by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.  

Focus on national importance sectors like healthcare, sustainability, and smart technologies etc. 

*Backdrop* 

The Smart India Hackathon (SIH) is a nationwide initiative aimed at fostering a culture of innovation and problem-solving among students. It provides them with a platform to tackle pressing real-life challenges posed by Ministries, Departments, and Industries or to present ideas under the Student Innovation Category, aligned with 17 key themes.  

For SIH 2024, over 250 problem statements have been contributed by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and Industries, marking a significant increase in engagement.  

Additionally, internal hackathons at the institute level have surged by 150%, growing from 900+ in 2023 to over 2,247 in 2024. 

This edition is the largest yet, with more than 86,000 teams participating at the institute level, 49,000 student teams advancing to the national round and 1300+ entered the grand finale of SIH.  

*Impact of SIH* 

SIH: A National Contributor to the Innovation Culture (2017–2023) The SIH has evolved into a dynamic innovation ecosystem contributing to India's rise in the Global Innovation Index (GII), where India now ranks 39th among 139 countries (2024). 

By promoting hackathons as a tool for problem-solving, SIH has spurred innovation inputs and outputs across various sectors.

*Key Indicators Influenced by SIH:

*Innovation in education and skill development. Increased participation of ministries in fostering grassroots innovation. 

*Encouraging government-academia collaboration.* 

SIH as a National Open Innovation Platform 

SIH Grand Finale serves as an "Innovation War Room," where students develop solutions for real-world problems. 

This platform promotes interaction between government officials, academia, and students, enhancing the ecosystem for innovation and addressing challenges in diverse domains. Contributions from Ministries and Departments SIH has seen consistent participation from 17 key Ministries and Departments, showcasing its reliability as a collaborative innovation platform.  

*Top Contributors:* 

Ministry of Education: 130 problem statements, 754 solutions developed. ISRO: 103 problem statements, 273 solutions. Ministry of AYUSH: 39 problem statements, 164 solutions. NTRO, DRDO  

*Conclusion:* 

SIH 2024 is not merely a hackathon; it represents a national movement for innovation, inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of self-reliance and global leadership in innovation. With record-breaking participation and a robust platform for collaboration, this edition is poised to set new benchmarks in problem-solving and innovation.