Intro

Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of being associated with the Smart India Hackathon (SIH), an initiative by the Government of India that has transformed the way students engage with real-world problem-solving.

This blog is a reflection of my experiences, emotions, and lessons learned during my participation in SIH, particularly the first time our team made it to the Grand Finale—an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.

What is the Smart India Hackathon?

For those unfamiliar, the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) is a nationwide innovation competition conducted by the Government of India. It provides students with problem statements from various ministries, government organizations, and private industries, challenging them to develop innovative solutions. The competition is divided into two major editions:

Software Edition – A 36-hour nonstop hackathon where teams develop working software solutions.

Hardware Edition – A five-day challenge where teams build hardware prototypes.

Each team consists of six student members, with the mandatory requirement of at least one female participant to encourage gender diversity. Teams can also have up to two industry mentors, though this is optional.

The journey begins at the internal SIH conducted within each college, where teams present their ideas, demonstrate their approach, and compete to advance. Winners of the internal round then submit their project proposals to the official SIH portal, where an expert panel selects the best ideas from thousands of participating teams across the country. The selected teams are invited to Grand Finales held at various nodal centers in India, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete at a national level.

One of the best parts? SIH covers all major expenses, including travel, stay, and food. So if everything is taken care of, why not take part and try your luck? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

The Road to the Grand Finale

When our team first decided to participate in SIH, we knew it wouldn’t be an easy journey. We chose a problem statement related to Aadhaar UIDAI services, which was directly associated with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). After brainstorming ideas and working tirelessly, we won the internal hackathon at our college in Raipur and moved on to the next stage.

When we received the official confirmation that we were selected for the Grand Finale, the excitement was unreal! We were assigned Vignana Jyothi Institute of Technology (VJIT) in Hyderabad as our nodal center, and the entire journey became an adventure.

One of the most exciting moments was the inaugural ceremony of the Grand Finale, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself greeted us with best wishes. Watching him encourage thousands of students across India filled us with an overwhelming sense of pride and motivation.

Hospitality & Our First Impressions

From the moment we arrived in Hyderabad, the hospitality at VJIT was remarkable. We were welcomed by a managing team that ensured everything was smooth and well-organized. They picked us up from the railway station, drove us to our stay, and made sure we were comfortable. The hostel was located in a scenic area, slightly away from the main city, and the view from our 12th-floor balcony was mesmerizing. We could see the entire landscape stretching out in front of us, making us feel both excited and at peace before the intense challenge ahead.

The facilities provided were top-notch—from high-speed internet to comfortable rooms, everything was well taken care of. The campus itself was stunning. Unlike conventional institutes, VJIT’s architecture was deeply connected to nature—trees inside corridors, rock carvings in classrooms, and even a hiking-like stone path inside the main building, leading to a swing at the top. It truly felt like we were learning and competing in harmony with nature.

The 36-Hour Battle

The Software Edition of SIH is not just a hackathon; it’s an endurance test. For 36 hours straight, we coded, brainstormed, and fine-tuned our solution without sleep. It was a thrilling yet exhausting experience, and the only thing keeping us awake was coffee, tea, and sheer determination.

The jury members—comprising industry experts and government officials—visited our workstation multiple times (around 5-6 times) to evaluate our progress and give feedback. Since our problem statement was related to Aadhaar UIDAI, our jury included officials from UIDAI and MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology).

Everything seemed to be going well until the most unexpected moment. At 1 AM, when we thought we were almost done and just adding finishing touches, the jury came in and asked us to change our entire approach! Imagine working for hours and thinking you’re close to completion, only to be told to redesign everything from scratch in the middle of the night. It was nerve-wracking.

But instead of panicking, we took it as a challenge. With team spirit and a bit of fun, we managed to tweak our solution and implement the required changes just in time.

Facing Tough Competition & The Unexpected Victory

One of the biggest challenges we faced was competing against IIIT Pune, whose team was extremely serious and focused. Watching them work with such intensity was intimidating, while we were taking a more chill and relaxed approach throughout the event.

After the final evaluation, the jury seemed unimpressed. One of the head jury members even said, “Better luck next time!”—and those words crushed us. We were 100% sure we weren’t going to win. The disappointment was so heavy that we didn’t even want to attend the prize distribution ceremony. But since we had no choice, we sat at the back of the auditorium, mentally preparing to head back home empty-handed.

Then, something magical happened.

As they started announcing the winners, we weren’t even paying full attention. Then suddenly, we heard our team name being called! For a moment, we thought it was a mistake. But as reality sank in, we jumped from our seats, screaming in joy. We had won!

Maybe we were good, maybe it was luck, or maybe it was a mix of both—but we were now SIH winners, receiving a cash prize and national recognition. Returning to our college in Raipur, we were treated like celebrities, with sessions arranged to share our experiences. It was a moment of pure pride and happiness.

Final Thoughts

SIH is not just a competition—it’s a journey of learning, teamwork, and innovation. I would highly encourage every eligible student to participate. If all your major expenses are covered, why not give it a shot? You never know—you might end up winning, just like we did. And even if you don’t win, you’ll still have a great experience and a lot of memories to cherish.

For those interested in a comprehensive guide to succeeding in SIH, here's a valuable resource: SIH Guide.