Overview The KKR & KSR Institute of Technology and Sciences (KITS) hosted the 8th edition of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025–Software grand finale at Vinjanampadu village of Vatticherukuru mandal in Guntur district on Monday, December 8, 2025 . This national-level event aims to foster innovation and problem-solving skills among students by providing them with a platform to address real-world challenges using technology. Key Highlights Event Duration: The hackathon was a 36-hour event. National Participation: Held simultaneously at nodal centres across the country on December 8 and 9, 2025 . Team Involvement: Showcasing 1,360 teams of young innovators. Inauguration and Key Speakers Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan virtually inaugurated SIH 2025 nationally, emphasizing its role in shaping India’s future and acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contribution to conceptualizing the initiative. The Prime Minister lauded student innovations from past editions and expressed confidence in this year’s ideas strengthening India’s technological leadership. Organizers and Leadership Organized by: AICTE , the Ministry of Education , and the Institute Innovation Council . Host Institute: KITS hosted teams from across India. Inaugural Ceremony: Led by JNTU-K Vice-Chancellor C.S.R.K. Prasad at KITS, stressing technology's role in transforming lives and bridging the industry-academia gap. KITS Chairman: K. Subba Rao expressed pride in hosting 150 student innovators and assured proper arrangements. Thematic Challenges and Evaluation Principal P. Babu highlighted that the Indian Knowledge System Department assigned five thematic challenges to the KITS centre, reflecting heritage-tech integration. These challenges include: Kolam design logic A universal transliteration tool Indigenous astronomical instruments Gesture identification in classical dance Chandas (poetic meter) classification Jury members evaluate teams, while mentors provide technical guidance. UPSC Relevance This event is relevant to the UPSC syllabus, particularly in the areas of GS3: Science and Technology , GS2: Government Policies , and GS1: Indian Heritage and Culture . It showcases the government's efforts to promote innovation and integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology. Key Areas for UPSC Preparation Innovation and Technology: The role of hackathons in fostering innovation and technological advancements. Education Policy: Government initiatives to promote innovation in educational institutions. Indian Knowledge Systems: The integration of traditional knowledge with modern technology.