Dr. Saurabh Garg and Dr. Rajat Moona Attend Valedictory Session of “Hack the Future” Hackathon

MARCH 24: The 36-hour hackathon titled “Hack the Future,” organized by NSO India in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), successfully concluded today at the IITGN campus. The event saw enthusiastic participation from 18 teams representing some of the most prestigious academic institutions in India, including IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other leading universities.

The hackathon challenged participants with three innovative and complex problems that required creative solutions using data science, statistics, and technology. With mentorship from experts from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and IITGN, the participants worked relentlessly to present their solutions. A panel of five esteemed jury members, consisting of professionals from industry, academia, and the Ministry, evaluated the final solutions based on innovation, feasibility, and impact.

The valedictory session was graced by Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of MoSPI & Head of NSO; Shri P.R. Meshram, Director General of NSO India; and Dr. Rajat Moona, Director of IIT Gandhinagar. During the closing ceremony, Shri P.R. Meshram congratulated all the participants for their remarkable efforts and emphasized that the hackathon was part of the Ministry’s ongoing modernization initiatives aimed at promoting innovation and leveraging technology for national development.

Dr. Rajat Moona expressed his appreciation for the participants’ efforts and urged them to continue their work in the fields of data science and statistics beyond the hackathon. He highlighted the extensive datasets made available by MoSPI, which can be utilized by the participants for further research and development. Dr. Moona also commended the Ministry for its forward-thinking approach and innovative initiatives in promoting technology-driven solutions.

Dr. Saurabh Garg also expressed his satisfaction with the nationwide participation and lauded the efforts of all the finalist teams. He encouraged participants to continue their work in this field, as their contributions were vital for the nation’s progress and development.

The event concluded with the announcement of the winners. Plaksha University, Chandigarh, emerged as the top performer, winning two categories, while Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology claimed victory in the third category. The second-place winners included IIT Jammu, VIT Vellore, and NIT Goa, while third place went to NMIMS Mumbai, IIIT Vadodara, and IIT Kharagpur.

The hackathon not only fostered innovation but also reinforced the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government to solve real-world problems and contribute to nation-building efforts.