Wed Dec 11 14:21:13 UTC 2024: ## Modi Lauds India’s Youth Innovators at Smart India Hackathon
**New Delhi, Dec 6 (NDTV):** Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed over 1,300 student teams participating in the grand finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, praising India’s youth for their innovative spirit and commitment to solving national challenges. The seventh edition of the SIH, the largest yet, saw a record-breaking participation of over 86,000 teams at the institute level, with nearly 49,000 progressing to the national round.
Modi highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting young innovators through reforms and the new National Education Policy, designed to foster a scientific mindset. He emphasized that innovation and knowledge will drive the future of the world, and India’s youth are leading the charge.
The 36-hour Software Edition of SIH 2024, launched today across 51 nodal centers, challenges students to tackle problem statements provided by 54 ministries, departments, state governments, PSUs, and industries. These problem statements, exceeding 250 this year, span 17 sectors of national importance, including healthcare, agriculture, and disaster management. A Hardware Edition will follow from December 11th to 15th.
The significant increase in participation—a 150% jump in internal hackathons from the previous year—underscores the growing engagement of Indian students in technological innovation and problem-solving. The event showcases India’s burgeoning technological talent and its potential to contribute significantly to national development.
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