135 Teams Register for the Event; 80 Shortlisted Teams Present Innovative Technology Solutions to Real-World Challenges Before Expert Panels
Raipur, August 30, 2026: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur successfully organised its Internal Hackathon for Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2026 on Saturday, August 29, 2026. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across various academic departments, who presented innovative technology-driven ideas aimed at addressing complex real-world challenges.
The Internal Hackathon received an overwhelming response from the student community, with 135 teams registering for the competition. Following a structured preliminary screening process, 80 teams were shortlisted to participate in the institute-level competition.
The shortlisted teams presented their ideas, technical approaches and working prototypes before expert evaluation panels as part of the institute’s selection process for Smart India Hackathon 2026.
80 Shortlisted Teams Present Solutions Before Experts
The shortlisted teams were given an opportunity to demonstrate their proposed solutions before panels comprising faculty members and external subject-matter and industry experts.
Students presented their understanding of the identified problems, proposed technical solutions, system architecture and prototype implementations. The presentations focused on developing practical and scalable solutions capable of addressing challenges encountered in real-world situations.
The interaction with experts also provided participating students with valuable technical feedback and suggestions for improving their proposed solutions.
10 Parallel Evaluation Panels Conducted
To ensure a comprehensive, transparent and fair evaluation process, the 80 shortlisted teams were divided among 10 parallel evaluation panels.
The panels included faculty members from NIT Raipur as well as external subject experts and industry professionals. This structure enabled students to showcase their technical capabilities before experienced evaluators while gaining insights into the practical and industry-oriented aspects of their projects.
The involvement of external experts also provided students with an opportunity to understand how their ideas could be refined and transformed into solutions with greater practical utility and scalability.
Multiple Parameters Used for Evaluation
The teams were evaluated on several important parameters designed to assess both the quality of their ideas and the effectiveness of their implementation.
The key evaluation criteria included:
- Understanding and relevance of the problem
- Innovation and novelty
- Technical approach
- System architecture
- Prototype implementation
- Feasibility and practicality
- Effectiveness of the proposed solution
- Scalability
- Presentation skills
The evaluation framework aimed to identify solutions that not only demonstrate technological innovation but also have the potential to address real-world requirements effectively.
Promoting Interdisciplinary Learning and Teamwork
The Internal Hackathon served as an important collaborative platform for promoting interdisciplinary learning, teamwork and technology-driven problem-solving among students.
By working in teams, students were able to combine knowledge and skills from different academic backgrounds to analyse problems and develop technology-based solutions.
The event also provided participants with an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to practical challenges while strengthening important skills such as leadership, communication, project management, collaboration and critical thinking.
Important Step in SIH 2026 Institutional Selection
The Internal Hackathon represents an important initial stage of NIT Raipur’s official institute-level selection process for Smart India Hackathon 2026.
Through the internal competition, the institute aims to identify promising teams and innovative solutions that can move forward under the prescribed selection process for SIH 2026.
The final institutional nominations will be decided after completion of the required evaluation and verification procedures.
Faculty, Experts and Student Volunteers Contribute to Successful Organisation
The successful conduct of the Internal Hackathon was supported by the active participation of faculty members, external and industry experts, researchers and student volunteers.
The organising team coordinated various stages of the event, including preliminary screening, panel management, evaluation, team presentations and overall execution.
The overall coordination and management of the programme was undertaken by Dr. Dileep Singh Sisodia and Dr. Deepak Singh. They coordinated key stages of the event, including the initial screening process, evaluation panel management, assessment and overall execution.
Encouraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The strong participation in the Internal Hackathon highlights the growing interest among NIT Raipur students in innovation, entrepreneurship and solution-oriented technological development.
With 135 teams registering and 80 teams advancing to the institute-level competition, the event demonstrated students’ willingness to use technology and interdisciplinary knowledge to address real-world problems.
Such hackathons provide students with a platform not only to showcase their technical skills but also to develop capabilities in problem analysis, teamwork, leadership, communication, innovation and time management.
Strengthening NIT Raipur’s Innovation Ecosystem
The organisation of the Internal Hackathon is also expected to contribute to strengthening NIT Raipur’s ecosystem for innovation, research, entrepreneurship and technology-based problem solving.
By bringing students, faculty members, researchers and industry experts together, the event creates opportunities for participants to receive expert feedback and refine their ideas based on practical requirements.
The initiative reflects the institute’s continued emphasis on encouraging students to develop innovative solutions with potential real-world applications.
Key Highlights at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Smart India Hackathon 2026 Internal Hackathon |
| Institute | NIT Raipur |
| Date | August 29, 2026 |
| Registered Teams | 135 |
| Shortlisted Teams | 80 |
| Evaluation Panels | 10 |
| Evaluators | NIT faculty, external subject experts and industry professionals |
| Key Focus | Technology-driven solutions to real-world challenges |
| Next Stage | Final institutional selection after evaluation and verification |
Conclusion
The successful organisation of the Smart India Hackathon 2026 Internal Hackathon at NIT Raipur provided students with a strong platform to demonstrate their technological capabilities, innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
The participation of 135 teams, followed by the shortlisting of 80 teams, reflects the strong enthusiasm among students for innovation and technology-driven solutions. The 10 parallel expert evaluation panels further ensured a structured and comprehensive assessment of the participating teams.
The final institutional nominations for Smart India Hackathon 2026 will be determined after completion of the prescribed evaluation and verification process.
The event further reinforces NIT Raipur’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary learning and technology-driven problem solving, while encouraging students to develop solutions capable of addressing challenges beyond the classroom.
