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PM’s address at the Smart India Hackathon 2024

PM’s address at  the Smart India Hackathon 2024


Friends,

You all must remember that I have always mentioned one thing from the Red Fort. I have said that ‘Sabka Prayas’ (everyone’s effort) is the key—today’s Bharat can move forward at a rapid pace only through the collective efforts of all. Today is an example of this very principle. I have been eagerly waiting for this grand finale of the Smart India Hackathon.  Whenever I get the opportunity to be among young innovators like you, I also get a chance to learn, understand, and gain new insights. I have high expectations from all of you. The young innovators like you have a unique perspective on seeing 21st-century Bharat, and that’s why your solutions are also unique.  When you encounter new challenges, you respond by finding new and creative solutions. I have been part of several hackathons before, and you have never let me down. You have always strengthened my faith in you. The teams that participated earlier have provided solutions that are now being used effectively in various ministries.  Now, in this hackathon, I am curious to know what the teams from different parts of the country are working on. I am very eager to learn about your innovations. So, let’s begin! Who would like to speak with us first?

Prime Minister: Namaste ji.

Participant: Namaste Sir. I am Sahida from Team Big Brains, participating in the Smart India Hackathon. We are from Bengaluru, Karnataka. Sir, we are currently at the Nodal Centre in NIT Srinagar, and it’s very cold here. So, if I make a small mistake while speaking, please forgive me.

Prime Minister: No, no, you all are very brave. The cold doesn’t affect you. Don’t worry at all.

Participant: Thank you, Sir. We are participating under the problem statement provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. We are building a Virtual Reality Friend for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and intellectual disabilities. This tool will act as an interactive skills enhancer.  In our country, there are around 80 million people on the autism spectrum, and 1 out of every 100 children faces intellectual challenges. To address this, we are developing a tool that will act as a ‘Dost’ (friend)—a friend they can carry on their smartphones.  They won’t need any special equipment to use this Virtual Reality solution. It can be accessed via their phone, laptop, or any device they have. This friend will guide them through their daily tasks. It’s an AI-powered Virtual Reality solution.  For example, whether it’s performing daily routines that they struggle with, learning a new language, communicating with others, or developing social interaction skills, the tool will break every task into small, manageable steps…

Prime Minister: That’s great. The work you are doing is commendable. Can you tell me how this will have a positive impact on the social lives of these children?

Participant: With the help of this virtual friend, they will learn what is appropriate and what is not in social interactions, and how they can approach people. They can practice these skills in a safe environment and later apply them in their real-world scenarios.  This tool will help them make their lives better by enabling them to perform normal activities in the real world. Children with special needs have unique requirements when it comes to learning, so we aim to provide them with this tool to bridge the gap. This way, there will be no significant difference between the daily lives of typical individuals and children with special needs performing regular tasks.

Prime Minister: How many members are currently working in your team?

Participant: Sir, all six of us are working, and in fact, my team is very diverse. We have members from different technical and geographical backgrounds, and we even have a member who is a non-Indian.

Prime Minister: Is there anyone among you who has interacted with such children before? Have you tried to understand their challenges and then moved towards finding a solution?

Participant: Yes, Sir. One of our team members has a family relative who suffers from autism. Additionally, before coming here, we also spoke with various centres to understand the actual difficulties faced by these children. This helped us focus on addressing their challenges in the right way.

Prime Minister: You were saying something. It seems one of your teammates wanted to add something.

Participant: Yes, Sir. In our team, we have a member who is not Indian—he is a foreign student studying in India.

Participant (Mohd Dhaali): Hello, Mr. Prime Minister. My name is Mohd Dhaali, and I am an international student from the Republic of Yemen. I came to India to pursue my Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science, and I am part of the Big Brains team. We are developing an AI-powered virtual reality experience designed specifically for these special kids.

Prime Minister: Is this your first experience being part of such a team?

Participant (Mohd Dhaali) : I have been a part of different hackathons locally in Bangalore, but this is my first time participating in such a large-scale initiative. I am very grateful to be part of this huge effort. I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, and the Government of India for giving me this opportunity.  From this platform, I would like to invite all my fellow Yemeni students and other international students to become innovators and join India’s vibrant innovation ecosystem. Thank you!

Prime Minister: Congratulations to all of you for understanding this important idea that every child is special. Everyone should get the opportunity to grow and thrive; no one in society should be left behind or feel left out. To achieve this, we constantly need innovative solutions.  The solution your team is working on will make life easier for millions of children. These solutions that you are developing for the country may be local—need-based solutions for Bharat’s requirements—but their application and impact are global. What fits the needs of Bharat can fit the needs of any country in the world.  I extend my best wishes to you and your team. Who’s next?

Dharmendra Pradhan ji: The next team is Dreamers, who are in Kharagpur. Team Kharagpur!

Participant (Lavanya): Thank you, Hon’ble Prime Minister ji! I am Lavanya, the team leader of Dreamers, and we are at our nodal centre, IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal. We are from the Chennai Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu.  The problem statement we have chosen is provided by the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO). With technological innovation increasing day by day, the number of cyber attacks is also rising. As per our records, 73 million cyberattacks occurred in India, making it the 3rd largest in the world. To tackle this situation, we have come up with an innovative, unique, and scalable solution. Sir, the solution will be explained by my teammate, Ms. Kalpriya.

Participant (Kalpriya): Namaste, Hon’ble Prime Minister!

Prime Minister: Namaste ji!

Participant (Kalpriya): Namaste! To detect infected files and strengthen our defence against cyber threats, we are using multiple antivirus engines. In our solution, we have used three antivirus engines: Microsoft Defender, ESET, and Trend Micro Maximum Security. Our solution is completely offline, including both the architectural design and the threat detection process.  As we know, no single antivirus is perfect—each antivirus has its own strengths and weaknesses. So, we are utilizing Microsoft Defender, ESET, and Trend Micro Maximum Security to tackle this challenge. By scanning with all three antivirus engines in parallel, we can achieve efficient threat detection. This approach also helps avoid missing any potential threats while keeping the system in a safe mode.

Prime Minister: In my ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I discussed in detail how ordinary people are suffering and being affected by cyber fraud. How people are being fleeced through cyber frauds? Do you all know about this?

Participant (Kalpriya): No, Sir!

Prime Minister: You should be aware, because the solution you’re working on is addressing a very real issue. A large segment of society today falls victim to such crises. This young man wants to say something.

Participant: Yes, Sir! Namaste, Sir!

Prime Minister: Namaste!

Participant: Yes, Sir. Technology is constantly evolving, and while it advances, we also have to address the increase in cyberattacks. In this regard, we are working to make our solution more efficient and improve it. By enhancing the existing solution, we believe that the solution we are developing will be more effective than the current ones.

Prime Minister: Do you all know that the lifespan of any cybersecurity effort is very short? Do you have any idea about that?

Participant: Yes, Sir!

Prime Minister: What do you estimate? Can you share your thoughts?

Participant: We have to continuously update our solution because technology is evolving rapidly. We need to stay updated to keep up with these changes…

Prime Minister: Yes, you are right. Cyber attackers are so innovative that if you find one solution today, you will need a new one in just a few hours. You always need to keep updating. Look, Bharat is one of the leading digital economies in the world. Our country is connecting digitally on a large scale. In such a scenario, as you said, the threat of cybercrime is constantly increasing. That’s why the solution you are working on is very important for the future of Bharat.  But as I said, this is not a one-time solution. It’s like having to open an umbrella every time it rains! You will always need to stay updated.  But I wish you all the best. You are working on a very crucial topic, and your solution will certainly come to the forefront. It could be very beneficial for the government as well. I can see the entire team is full of enthusiasm, and everyone is busy recording on their mobile phones. Let’s move forward. Who is the next team?

Dharmendra Pradhan ji: Now, we will interact with Team Brocode, who are sitting at Gujarat Technical University, Ahmedabad. Over to Ahmedabad.

Participant: Namaste, Prime Minister ji!

Prime Minister: Namaste ji!

Participant (Harshit): Yes, Sir. Hi, my name is Harshit, and I am representing Team Brocode. Here, we are working on the problem statement given by ISRO. The problem statement involves enhancing the darker images of the solar panels and solar cells located at the South Pole. We are developing a solution named Chand Vartani.  Chand Vartani is a solution that will enhance low-quality, darker images into higher-quality images. But it’s not just an image quality enhancer; it also improves decision-making skills. For decision-making, we are going to detect geological lunar exploration and also assist in real-time site selection.

Prime Minister: Have you ever had a chance to discuss the challenges related to space with those working in the field, especially since you are in Ahmedabad, where there is a large space centre? Have you talked to anyone there about the issues they face or what needs to be done to improve the quality of results?

Participant (Harshit): I have talked with mentors and also with scientists in Hyderabad. However, I haven’t been able to visit any centres like that, since we are far away from Andhra Pradesh, and our team is…

Prime Minister: Oh, I see. Do you think that because of this project, we will be able to better understand the geological and environmental conditions of the moon?

Participant (Harshit): Yes, Sir! Of course, we will be able to detect geological features and uncover hidden aspects of lunar exploration. For example, we can detect frozen bodies of water and also identify boulders, larger stones, or bigger particles on the moon’s surface. This will help us land the rover smoothly by identifying and avoiding these obstacles.

Prime Minister: How many people are working in your team right now?

Participant (Harshit): Six members are working in the team.

Prime Minister: Did you all come together from different places, or are you all from the same area, studying together?

Participant (Harshit): In the problem statement, we divided the tasks among all the members. Three members are working on the mission landing models, and two members are focusing on the image filters, enhancing those images, Sir. Now, my teammate Sunil will continue the conversation, Sir.

Prime Minister: You’ve chosen a very important topic. Were there any other young members who were speaking or trying to take the microphone?

Participant (Sunil Reddy): Sir, we are from Andhra Pradesh. I don’t know much Hindi.

Prime Minister: Andhra Gaaru.

Participant (Sunil Reddy): Sorry for the…

Prime Minister: Yes, tell me!

Participant (Sunil Reddy): Namaste, Prime Minister ji, I am Sunil Reddy from Andhra Pradesh. We are a team working on a Mission Learning Model where we aim to enhance the images taken from the South Pole of the moon. These images can be enhanced using a Mission Learning Model where we are employing two architectures: one is Darknet and the other is Photonet. Darknet is used to remove the shadows in the image, while Photonet is used to reduce the noise. Since the images taken from the South Pole of the moon are captured under low light conditions and experience high noise due to low protons, we are enhancing these images using neural networks. These networks will have 1024 neurons each. As Harshit mentioned earlier, in the best case, we may even detect frozen water bodies.  I am very happy to speak with you, Sir. It has always been my dream to have a deep conversation with you. I remember when you visited Nellore, I was far in the crowd, but I was always cheering and shouting, as I am your biggest fan. Thank you, Sir, for giving us this opportunity.

Prime Minister: Look, friends, the world is watching Bharat’s journey in space technology with great hope. When young brains like yours get involved, that hope grows even more. Seeing youth innovators like you, it’s clear that Bharat is rapidly expanding its role as a global space power. I wish you all the best. Now, let’s move on to the next team.

Dharmendra Pradhan ji: The next team is Mystic Originals from the Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai. Our friends from Mumbai, please speak with the Hon’ble Prime Minister.

Participant: Namaste, Hon’ble Prime Minister ji.

Prime Minister: Namaste ji.

Participant (Mahak Verma): My name is Mahak Verma, and I am the team leader of Team Mystic Originals. We are from the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kota. It is an absolute honour to be a part of Smart India Hackathon 2024 with my amazing team, which includes Akshit Jangra, Kartan Aggrawal, Sumit Kumar, Avinash Rathore, Tushar Jain, and our mentor, Ananya Srivastava.  We are tackling a security challenge presented by Bharat Electronics Limited, which is micro Doppler-based target classification. The challenge is to distinguish whether a given object is a drone or a bird, because both drones and birds often appear similar on radar. This can lead to false alarms, inefficiencies, and potential security threats, especially in sensitive areas such as military zones, airports, and critical infrastructure. Our goal is to develop a solution that processes advanced data using machine learning algorithms to accurately classify whether the object is a drone or a bird. To tell you more about the solution, I would like to hand it over to my teammate, Akshit.

Participant (Akshit): Namaste, Prime Minister ji!

Prime Minister: Namaste ji!

Participant (Akshit): My name is Akshit, and I am a member of Team Mystic Originals. Our solution works by using micro Doppler signatures, which are the unique patterns generated by different objects. These can be due to the wing beats of birds or the rotor plate movements of drones. We can think of these signatures like fingerprints. Just as every human being has a unique fingerprint, each object gives off a unique micro Doppler signature. By using this, we can differentiate whether the object is a drone or a bird. This differentiation is very crucial in preventing disruptions in areas like airports, borders, and military zones, where there is a significant need for security.

Prime Minister: You can differentiate that it’s not a bird but a drone. But will you also be able to identify how far it is, in which direction it’s moving, and at what speed? Will you be able to map all these details?

Participant (Akshit): Yes, sir, we are working on this, and we will be able to achieve it soon.

Prime Minister: You all are working on a drone detection system. While drones have many positive uses, their misuse by certain forces poses a security challenge. How will your team address this challenge?

Participant (Akshit): Sir, let me explain how our system works. First, we get data from the radar, and we filter out all the noise to get clean and accurate data. Then, we apply time-frequency transforms to generate micro-Doppler patterns. These patterns are then fed into a machine learning model, which tells us whether the object is a drone or a bird.  We can use this system on compact and cost-effective devices. It’s highly scalable and adaptable to different environments, making it suitable for use at airports and border areas. To explain why we chose this problem, I’d like to hand it over to my teammate Sumit.

Participant (Sumit): Namaste, Prime Minister ji.

Prime Minister: Yes, Namaste.

Participant (Sumit): The reason we chose this problem statement is because I come from Shri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, which is very close to the border. Drones frequently cross the area. After the Pulwama attack, the movement of drones increased significantly. Early in the morning at 4 a.m., or at midnight, the anti-drone systems would activate, and firing would start. At that time, neither studying nor sleeping was possible for the people in the area. There were a lot of difficulties.  At that time, I had the thought that something could be done about this issue. This year, when our team was looking for problem statements, and this problem came to us, I shared it with my team and suggested we work on it. We wanted to help solve these issues and make people’s lives easier. Eventually, our team worked on it, and we made it to the grand finale. Thank you so much, Sir!

Prime Minister: Friends, nowadays, drones are being used extensively across various sectors in the country. You must have heard about the Namo Drone Didi Yojana. Drones are being utilized to deliver medicines and essential supplies to remote areas. However, our enemies are also using drones for smuggling weapons and drugs into Bharat.  In this context, I am very pleased to see all of you working seriously to tackle such challenges. Your efforts can not only address these issues but also open up new dimensions for exporting defence technology.  Therefore, I congratulate all of you. One of your teammates lives near the border, so he deeply understands the problem and the urgency of finding a solution. But as you move forward, you’ll realize there are multiple aspects to this issue. A lot of work will be required because those misusing drones for destruction keep innovating with new technologies and finding new entry points.  This means that new challenges will arise continuously for us as well. But I sincerely congratulate you on your efforts and wish you the very best. Let us now see which part of the country we are connecting to next!

Dharmendra Pradhan ji: Now, we will connect with Nirvana One, who are seated at New Horizon College of Engineering, Bangalore. Let’s connect with Bangalore. Over to Bangalore!

Prime Minister: Your voice isn’t coming through. I can’t hear you.

Participant: Sir, can you hear me now?

Prime Minister: Yes, now I can hear you.

Participant: Namaste, Honorable Prime Minister!

Prime Minister: Namaste!

Participant (Dev Poorney): My name is Dev Poorney, and I am leading Team Nirvana One. My team includes Aditya Choudhary, Asher Aijaz, Tanvi Bansal, Naman Jain, and Sanidhya Maloomia. Sir, we have come from Jaipur Rural to Bengaluru to work on a very crucial problem statement provided by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. During our research, we learned that the Government of India has taken several advanced efforts in recent years to reduce river pollution and improve river rejuvenation. So, we thought of creating a comprehensive system that enhances river pollution monitoring, makes it more efficient, and provides suggestions to improve the overall health of the river ecosystem. Through this, we aim to make a meaningful contribution.

Participant: Namaste, Sir.

Prime Minister: Namaste.

Participant: We identified that many people’s income and lives in our country are closely tied to rivers, and we wanted to improve their lives and bring about a positive change. For this project, we chose the Ganga River because it plays a significant cultural role in our history and is also very close to the heart of our Honorable Prime Minister.  Our project started by reading about and researching the Namami Gange Program and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). Through this, we identified that NMCG has two very clear objectives:  First, Abatement of Pollution – Reducing pollution in the Ganga River and secondly, Conservation and Rejuvenation of River Ganga – Restoring the quality of the Ganga to its original state.

We also learned that a vast amount of high-quality data related to the Ganga has been made publicly available. We were deeply inspired by this data and thought that if we could create a decision support system based on this data, it would help people living around the Ganga make better decisions. This could significantly impact their lives and bring about a positive transformation.

Participant: Sir, since the Ganga is an enormous river, it becomes necessary that any system designed for it should be truly scalable. For this, we have utilized an advanced technology called Federated Learning. We analysed the data and identified 38 key locations. Using Federated Learning, we created local models at these locations, which are trained on localized data.  These local models communicate with a mother model, sharing their data. Through this approach, the system allows for the addition of new models, the removal of pre-existing ones, and significant improvement in the accuracy and efficiency of the currently existing models.  Setting aside the technical aspects, Namami Gange has shown us that the main contributors to Ganga preservation, rejuvenation, and pollution control are people. To bridge the gap between stakeholders and data, we have developed an advanced dashboard. This dashboard is designed to cater to the needs of various types of stakeholders…

Prime Minister: There is going to be a huge Kumbh Mela, with 40-45 crore people gathering on the banks of the Ganga. How can your innovation be of benefit during this event?

Participant: Sir, as we know, if we analyse the water quality parameters, we can inform people about how they can disinfect and ensure their own health, as well as the health of others. For this, we will provide a portal where we can offer guidance on various aspects. For example, we will offer monitoring services for industrial effluents, sewage treatment infrastructure, and biodiversity management. We will inform farmers, fishermen, and even tourists about how they can plan their itineraries, what key places to visit, where they should avoid going, and how the activities are progressing at specific locations.

Prime Minister: So, your work can be easily organized for the drinking water supply chains in cities as well.

Participant: Yes, Sir. So, what we have done is, we have identified the latitudes and longitudes of the cities connected to the Ganga or other rivers. We have also mapped the industries surrounding our stations. Since we know that certain industries, like chemicals, paper, textiles, tanneries, and slaughterhouses, release specific types of effluents, our algorithm allows us to backtrack. If we detect spikes of certain pollutants in the water, we can pinpoint which sector is causing them. We can then inform the organizations or authorities managing the rivers and give them an instant “report” button, so they can launch an inspection on the Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) immediately.

Prime Minister: After this meeting, how many more hours do you need to work on this?

Participant: Sir, at least 20 more hours.

Prime Minister: Well! Whether it is Maa Ganga or the other rivers of our country, they are very important not just from the spiritual and cultural heritage perspective, but also in terms of the environment. I am glad that you are working on this issue. My best wishes to you. And people from Jaipur truly understand the value and significance of water. I wish you all the very best.

Participant: Thank you so much, Sir.

Prime Minister:

Friends,

It was truly a pleasure speaking with all of you. When I saw your group, I could see how well it was formed. It truly represents the vision of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.” Students from the North are in the South, students from the South are in the North, students from the East are in the West, and students from the West are in the East. I believe this has been a very enriching experience for you all, and it reflects the vastness and diversity of our country. There are many things you learn on the sidelines even beyond the theme of your hackathon.

Friends,

You all know that the future world will be driven by knowledge and innovation. And in this context, you are the hope and aspiration of Bharat. Your perspectives are unique, your thoughts are different, and the energy level is unmatched. But the ultimate goal is the same: for Bharat to become the most innovative, progressive, and prosperous country in the world. Today, the world acknowledges Bharat’s strength, which lies in its ‘Yuva Shakti’ (youth power), innovative minds, and technological prowess. This power of Bharat is clearly visible in all of you participating in the Smart India Hackathon. I am glad that the Smart India Hackathon has created an excellent platform to make Bharat’s youth globally competitive. Since the Smart India Hackathon began, nearly 14 lakh students have participated. These students have formed over 2 lakh teams and worked on almost 3 thousand problems. Over 6400 institutions, nearly 6 thousand, have been involved. Thanks to this hackathon, hundreds of new start-ups have been born. I have also noticed something else: in 2017, students submitted more than 7 thousand ideas. This time, the number of ideas has risen to over 57 thousand. From 7 thousand to 57 thousand — this shows how the youth of Bharat is gearing up to solve the challenges of our country.

Friends,

In the past 7 years, many solutions from the hackathons have proven to be extremely useful for the people of the country. These hackathons have solved many major problems. For example, in the 2022 hackathon, a team of youth like you worked on a system to measure the intensity of cyclones. The system developed during the hackathon has now been integrated with technology developed by ISRO. This must make you feel proud. 4-5 years ago, another team in the hackathon created a video geotagging app, which made data collection much easier. This is now being used in space-related research. Another team in a hackathon worked on a real-time blood management system. This system could provide details of blood banks during a natural disaster, and it has been immensely helpful to agencies like NDRF. A few years ago, another team created a product for differently-abled individuals, which has been helping ease their difficulties. These are just a few examples, but there are hundreds of such successful case studies from the hackathon that serve as inspiration for all of you participating today. These examples show how Bharat’s youth, in collaboration with the government, are working towards the development of the country and addressing the challenges it faces. This fosters a sense of ownership in solving national problems and contributing to the country’s progress. After talking to all of you today, my confidence has only grown that Bharat is indeed on the right track to becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). The enthusiasm and commitment with which you are finding innovative solutions to Bharat’s problems is truly remarkable.

Friends,

The aspirations of our country today demand that we think out of the box for every challenge we face. We must incorporate this out of the box thinking approach into every sector and make it a part of our habits. This has been the essence of this Hackathon. Both the process and the product are important. There was a time when the government alone claimed to have the solutions to the country’s problems. But that’s no longer the case. Today, through hackathons like this, students, teachers, and mentors are also being connected to these solutions. This is Bharat’s new governance model, and ‘Sabka Prayas’ (Everyone’s Effort) is the lifeblood of this model.

Friends,

The generation of the next 25 years is Bharat’s ‘Amrit Generation’. You all bear the responsibility of building a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Our government is committed to providing every possible resource to this generation at the right time. We are working at different levels for different age groups.  To nurture a scientific mindset among students, we have implemented the New National Education Policy. To equip the next generation with resources for innovation at schools, we have established over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs. Today, these labs have become hubs for experimentation and research for more than 10 million children.  Additionally, over 14,000 PM Shri Schools are working to build 21st-century skills in students. To enhance the innovative thinking of students, we have set up incubation centres at the college level. For practical learning, we are leveraging advanced robotics and AI labs.  We have also created the Jigyasa Platform to resolve the queries of young minds. This platform enables youth to directly interact with scientists and discuss their ideas.

Friends,

Today, apart from training, young people are also being provided financial assistance through the Start-up India campaign. They are being given tax exemptions as well. Arrangements have been made for young entrepreneurs to avail loans of up to 20 lakh rupees under the Mudra scheme. New technology parks and IT hubs are being established across the country for emerging companies. The government has also created a research fund of 1 lakh crore rupees. This means that at every stage of their careers, the government is standing with all of the young people, working in accordance with your needs.  Such hackathons are also creating new opportunities for our youth. And these are not just formal events; they are part of a process to evolve a permanent institution. This is an integral part of our Pro-People Governance Model.

Friends,

If we want to become an economic superpower, we need to focus extensively on new sectors of the economy. Today, Bharat is advancing in various fields like digital content creation and gaming, which were not highly evolved even a decade ago. Bharat is now paving new career paths, providing opportunities for the youth to explore and experiment with these paths.  Recognizing the curiosity and conviction of young people, the government is encouraging their interests. By implementing reforms, it is removing obstacles from their way. Recently, the first National Creators Award was organized to recognize the hard work and creativity of content creators.  We have also worked to make sports a viable career choice. From village-level tournaments to preparing athletes for the Olympics, initiatives like Khelo India and the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) have been advanced. The impact of the National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality is also becoming evident. As a result, gaming is emerging as a promising career choice.

Friends,

Recently, the government has taken a significant decision that is being praised worldwide. This decision is about providing access to international journals for Bharat’s youth, researchers, and innovators. The One Nation-One Subscription scheme is one of its kind globally. Under this scheme, the government is subscribing to prestigious journals so that no young person in Bharat is deprived of any information.  This initiative will greatly benefit all of you participating in this Hackathon as well. The goal of every government effort is to enable our youth to compete with the best minds in the world. Our young generation should never feel that they lack any support or infrastructure.  For me, the vision of the youth is the mission of the government. That’s why we, as a government, are working relentlessly to fulfil every need of our young people in every possible way.

Friends,

Today, thousands of young people are connected to this Hackathon. That’s why I want to convey another important message to all of you. You all know that I announced from the Red Fort that I aim to bring one lakh such young people into the country’s politics whose families have never been involved in politics before—completely fresh blood. This is very important for the future of the nation.  To achieve this, various initiatives are being undertaken. One such significant event is scheduled for next month: Viksit Bharat – Young Leaders Dialogue. Millions of youth from across the country will participate in this event and share their ideas for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. The selected ideas and young individuals will be invited to Delhi on the 11th and 12th of January, on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda ji’s birth anniversary, for the Young Leaders Dialogue. This event will feature discussions with eminent personalities from Bharat and abroad, and I will also be there to listen to and engage with you all.  I urge all of you participating in this Hackathon to also join the Viksit Bharat – Young Leaders Dialogue. This is another fantastic opportunity for you to contribute to nation-building.

Friends,

The time ahead is both an opportunity and a responsibility for all of you.

I would like to see the teams from the Smart India Hackathon not just working on Bharat’s challenges but also addressing global problems in an even better way. Next year, when we gather for this Hackathon, let there be an example of a solution that can help address a global crisis.  The country has both faith and pride in your capabilities as innovators and trouble-shooters. Wishing you all the very best for a successful future!

Thank you… All the Best!