Smart India Hackathon 2025 – Software Edition Grand Finale Begins at RUAS

The grand finale of the Smart India Hackathon 2025 – Software Edition, regarded as India’s largest innovation festival, commenced today at Dwarka Auditorium, Gnanagangotri Campus, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS). The event is being conducted by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) in collaboration with AICTE, with RUAS hosting the prestigious finale. The Hackathon will run for 36 hours, featuring team interactions, mentoring sessions, and solution development activities.

This national-level competition aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students by encouraging them to identify and solve pressing societal challenges, transforming their ideas into implementable solutions.

It is a matter of pride that RUAS has been given the opportunity to host such a significant hackathon for the second time. Students from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Haryana, and Karnataka are participating in this grand national event. The problem statements for the finale have been provided by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and MathWorks India Pvt. Ltd.

Smart India Hackathon 2025 – Software Edition Highlights:

• 72,165 ideas submitted
• 68,766 student teams participated
• 8,26,635 students took part in internal hackathons, including 3,34,456 female participants
• 1,360 finalist teams (8,160 students) selected nationwide for the Grand Finale

A total of five teams consisting of six students each will work on four problem statements, developing innovative solutions. One winning team will be selected per problem statement, and each will receive a cash prize of ₹1,50,000 sponsored by the Government of India.

The inaugural ceremony began with a brief introduction of the hackathon’s objectives, followed by the Ramaiah Anthem and the rendition of Vande Mataram. The ceremonial lamp was then lit, marking the formal commencement of the event. RUAS Registrar Mr. S. Ashok Rao delivered the welcome address, followed by floral greetings to all dignitaries. Prof. R.V. Ranganath, Provost (Engineering & Allied Sciences), Dean – Academics & Dean – Quality Assurance, delivered the opening remarks, setting the tone for the entire programme.

Chief Guest Prof. Deepak Saini, Developmental Biology & Genetics Department, IISc, addressed the gathering and highlighted that software today is an integral part of every field. Although he is a professor of biology, the relevance of software innovation is universal, he said. He explained how hackathons emerged and why they are crucial for producing exceptional outcomes within limited timeframes.

Guest of Honour Prof. Kalyan Sinha, former Director, Indian Statistical Institute, elaborated on how quickly the brain begins to respond and linked this to machine learning concepts. He emphasized the cost of learning through mistakes—whether positive or negative—and how reducing that cost is crucial. Every decision comes with a price, and determining which choice carries the least cost defines decision-making. Referring to the Theory of Games, he stressed that while machine intelligence is advancing, it should not devalue human intelligence.

In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Kuldeep Kumar Raina, speaking on behalf of Chancellor Dr. M. R. Jayaram, extended a warm welcome to students from across the country and wished them success. He expressed that the choice of distinguished guests—Prof. Saini and Prof. Sinha—was indeed the right decision. He mentioned that despite extensive travel over the past three days, the youthful energy and purpose of the event made it deeply meaningful. He remarked that the uniqueness of this competition lies in its diversity, bringing together students from varied disciplines to collaborate and address future challenges.

All dignitaries present for the inaugural were honoured, and the grand national hackathon was officially launched. It was also noted that participant numbers, once in the thousands, have now reached the lakhs.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Nayana N. Patil, Associate Dean for Student Wellness