Thu Dec 12 18:48:22 UTC 2024: ## Modi Lauds Indian Youth’s Innovation at Smart India Hackathon Finale

**Srinagar, India** – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday praised the ingenuity and commitment of India’s youth, highlighting their crucial role in addressing national challenges. Addressing over 1,300 student teams via video conferencing at the grand finale of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, held at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, Modi emphasized the government’s support for young innovators.

This year’s 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 rounds. The event, spread across 51 nodal centers nationwide, featured a “Software Edition” running for 36 hours and a “Hardware Edition” from December 11-15. Participants tackled over 250 problem statements from various ministries, departments, and industries, focusing on sectors like healthcare, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

Modi lauded the rise of sectors like digital content creation and gaming, emphasizing their potential to create new career paths for young Indians. He highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering a scientific mindset through the new National Education Policy and removing obstacles for young innovators. The prime minister stressed the importance of “out-of-the-box” thinking and reaffirmed the government’s support at every stage of their careers.

The finale showcased innovative projects, including a “Virtual Reality Friend” designed to assist children with autism, developed by a team from NIT Srinagar, and a cybersecurity solution from IIT Kharagpur addressing the increasing threats in India’s burgeoning digital economy.

The choice of NIT Srinagar as the grand finale host marked a significant step, showcasing the institute’s commitment to innovation and problem-solving. The event’s massive increase in participation – a 240% jump in internal hackathons from 2023 – underscores the growing enthusiasm and potential of India’s young innovators. The SIH, Modi concluded, serves not merely as a formal event, but as a platform showcasing the government’s pro-people governance model and fostering India’s rise as an economic superpower.

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