30-Hours Internal Hackathon for Smart India Hackathon 2025 conducted by IIC-CARE

CARE College of Engineering’s Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC-CARE) successfully organized a 30-hour internal hackathon from September 16 to 19, 2025, to prepare students for the national-level Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025. The event, coordinated by Mr. S. Arun Prakash, IIC-CARE President and Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, aimed to foster innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills by having students develop real-world solutions. The hackathon served as a platform for students to work on real-time problems, brainstorm creative solutions, and get ready for SIH 2025.

Key Highlights of the Event

• Participants: The hackathon brought together 358 student participants from various departments, including Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. A total of 64 teams participated.
• Timeline: The event took place from 9:00 AM on September 16, 2025, to 1:00 PM on September 19, 2025, with 30 hours of active development time. Final presentations were held on September 19, 2025.
• Problem Statements: Students tackled problems aligned with national priorities and global sustainability goals. Themes included Smart Automation, Clean & Green Technology, MedTech/BioTech/HealthTech, Agriculture, FoodTech & Rural Development, and more.
• Technology & Skills: Participants used various technologies like Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, IoT and Embedded Systems, and Cloud Services to develop their prototypes. This enhanced their innovation, coding, teamwork, and design thinking skills.
• Mentorship & Evaluation: Faculty experts provided guidance throughout the development sprints. Projects were evaluated by a panel of 10 judges based on criteria such as innovation, feasibility, technical approach, and social impact, aligning with SIH’s official guidelines.

Outcome & Impact

The internal hackathon successfully cultivated an innovation-driven mindset, inspiring students to think beyond their textbooks. It provided hands-on experience in prototyping and problem-solving, preparing students for the intense environment of the national SIH. By simulating the structure of the national event, students gained confidence and valuable skills in a time-bound, collaborative, and mentor-supported setting. The event was a testament to the students’ creativity and discipline, transforming their ideas into tangible prototypes with real-world potential. It has empowered students to see themselves as future change-makers and strengthened CARE College of Engineering’s reputation as a hub for research and creativity.