Winners of the Smart India Hackathon Grand Finale in VTU in Belagavi on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 Grand Finale, one of India’s largest national innovation conventions, concluded at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Belagavi on Tuesday.
The event witnessed an intense 36-hour nonstop innovation marathon, where some of the country’s brightest young minds worked continuously to solve real-world challenges through technology.
In the Blockchain and Cyber Security category, the winning team was from Panipat Institute of Engineering and Technology, Haryana, presenting a robust blockchain-based cyber security framework.
The AI-based Pollution Source Identification for Delhi NCR domain was won by the team from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, who created an AI-powered dashboard to assist in environmental policy planning.
The Sustainable Transportation & Logistics category was won by Goka Raju Ranga Raju Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, whose solution focused on optimizing logistics and reducing carbon emissions.
In the Clean & Green Technology domain , the winning team from KC College of Engineering, Maharashtra, presented an innovative model promoting sustainable environmental practices.
Union Minister of State for Education & Development of the North Eastern Region, Sukanta Majumdar, interacted with the finalists of SIH across India via video conference.
Teams from across the country participated across four major problem domains and showcased innovative digital solutions aimed at strengthening the nation’s technological ecosystem. Over the two days, participants collaborated with industry experts, mentors, and evaluators who guided them through prototype development, design refinement, and solution pitching.
Each winning team was awarded a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh, recognising their outstanding innovation, technical excellence, and commitment to addressing societal challenges. In total, 120 students participated in the grand finale, including an impressive 52 girl students, reflecting the rising participation of women in STEM and national innovation platforms.
Vice-Chancellor Vidyashankar S. congratulated the participants and emphasised the importance of fostering innovation-driven problem-solving among young technologists. He expressed pride that VTU could host such a nationally significant event and highlighted the university’s commitment to encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and research.
Nodal Center Head Anand Kulkarni and other guests distributed the prizes. Senior officials were present.
Published – December 10, 2025 07:32 pm IST