PM Modi says, hackathons are not just a formal event but a way to provide new opportunities to youths

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the government is actively supporting the curiosity and conviction of youths by removing obstacles in their paths through reforms. Interacting with the innovators during the grand finale of the Smart India Hackathon, Mr Modi asserted that the youth today is developing a feeling of ownership towards finding ways to overcome the challenges being faced by the country. He said, the future of the world is going to be driven by knowledge and innovation and India’s youth are its hope and aspiration in changing situations and the world is acknowledging that India’s strength is its innovative youth power. 

Stressing the need to think out of the box to overcome challenges, Mr Modi said his government is standing with youths at every stage of their career and working according to their needs. Prime Minister said, hackathons are not just a formal event but a way to provide new opportunities to youths as part of the pro-people governance model. Mr 

Modi emphasised the



importance of focusing on emerging sectors to position India as an economic superpower. He said, sectors like digital content creation and gaming, which were not well-developed a decade ago, are now rapidly evolving in India.

    

The seventh edition of the Smart India Hackathon concurrently began at 51 nodal centres nationwide yesterday. The student teams will work on either the problem statements given by ministries, departments or industries or submit their ideas under the Student Innovation category against any of the 17 themes linked to sectors of national importance. 

These sectors are – healthcare, supply chain and logistics, smart technologies, heritage and culture, sustainability, education and skill development, water, agriculture and food, emerging technologies, and disaster management. According to the Ministry of Education, this year, more than 250 problem statements have been submitted by 54 ministries, departments, state governments, PSUs and industries.