Education Ministry, AICTE Announce 8th Edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025

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 of SIH.

Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), Government of India in collaboration with AICTE has announced 8th Edition of Smart India Hackathon 2025, taking place from 8th December across 60 nodal centres nationwide. Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool) is one of the nodal centres hosting Software Grand Finale on 8–9 December.

Smart India Hackathon 2025 has received 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 Grand Finale.

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.”

Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool) said: “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”

It began in 2017 and is 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.

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.