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Smart India Hackathon 2025 Winners Felicitated by Ministry of Education at WeSchool

Smart India Hackathon 2025 Winners Felicitated by Ministry of Education at WeSchool

The Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), honoured the top teams of the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 at the Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool).

The event celebrated young innovators who created impactful, real-world solutions to pressing challenges, reflecting the strength of India’s expanding innovation landscape. The ceremony also highlighted the talent and creativity of the next generation of problem-solvers driving the country’s technological progress.

Every year, it pushes young minds to solve problems faced by ministries, industries and communities using creativity and technology. Celebrating the winners is not just about acknowledging individual achievements; it reflects India’s commitment to nurturing innovation at the grassroots level. At a time when technology is driving national development, recognising student innovators helps inspire thousands more to take up impactful projects. Sharing this story also brings attention to how India’s institutions are investing in innovation-driven education, encouraging students to move beyond textbooks and engage with real societal challenges.

About the Smart India Hackathon 2025

The Smart India Hackathon is an annual nationwide initiative that invites students to solve problem statements provided by various government departments, start-ups and industry partners. It includes:

  • Software Edition for digital and AI-based solutions
  • Hardware Edition for engineering and product design innovations

The 2025 edition saw participation from thousands of teams across the country, all competing to build functional and scalable solutions.

Highlights of the Celebration at WeSchool

The felicitation event at WeSchool showcased the energy, commitment and creativity of student innovators. Key highlights included:

Recognition of Winning Teams

Teams were honoured for developing impactful solutions in areas such as:

  • Digital governance and public service delivery
  • Health-tech and medical devices
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Agriculture and rural development
  • Transport and safety systems

The solutions presented ranged from AI-based tools to low-cost hardware prototypes.

Leadership Addresses and Inspiration

Officials from MIC and AICTE spoke about the importance of building an innovation-driven culture in Indian campuses. Their messages highlighted:

  • The value of experiential learning
  • The need for industry-academia collaboration
  • How initiatives like SIH prepare students for real-world challenges

WeSchool faculty and leadership also emphasised the importance of supporting young entrepreneurs.

Hands-on Demonstrations

Winning teams presented their prototypes and explained the journey from brainstorming to execution. These demonstrations allowed guests, mentors and industry partners to understand the thought process behind each solution.

Why SIH Matters for India’s Educational Landscape

The Smart India Hackathon plays a major role in reshaping technical education and encouraging innovation. Its impact includes:

  • Bridging the gap between academic learning and field challenges
  • Enabling students to work on high-impact, government-backed problems
  • Fostering teamwork, leadership and analytical thinking
  • Helping ministries receive workable solutions from young minds
  • Encouraging future start-ups and patentable ideas

Many SIH winners have gone on to build start-ups, secure patents and collaborate with industry.

Role of WeSchool in Supporting Innovation

WeSchool, known for its focus on design thinking, leadership and multidisciplinary learning, played host to the celebration. The institute supports student innovators through:

  • Innovation labs and incubation support
  • Mentorship from faculty and industry experts
  • Real-world case-based learning
  • Partnerships that help students scale their ideas

The event strengthened the institute’s role as a hub for innovation-driven education.

Impact on Student Innovators

For the winners, this recognition is a major milestone. It provides:

  • National visibility
  • Mentorship opportunities
  • Industry connections
  • Encouragement to pursue entrepreneurial ventures
  • Validation for their technical and creative skills

Events like this remind students that innovation is not restricted to advanced labs—ideas can grow anywhere with the right support.

Future Pathways for SIH Teams

Many teams from past SIH editions have continued their journey by:

  • Launching start-ups
  • Collaborating with ministries to refine their solutions
  • Getting incubated at top innovation centres
  • Winning global competitions
  • Contributing to research and development

The 2025 winners are likely to follow similar paths with support from MIC, AICTE and institutional partners.

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Maharashtra Mandates ‘Disha’ App in Special Schools to Standardise Special Education

Maharashtra Mandates ‘Disha’ App in Special Schools to Standardise Special Education

In a significant move to strengthen education for students with intellectual disabilities, the state Department of Disability Welfare has announced that the ‘Disha’ app will now be compulsory in all special schools. The decision mandates the uniform adoption of the Disha special curriculum, digital learning portal, and assessment system across the state.

By making the platform mandatory, the department aims to ensure consistent teaching methods, standardised evaluations, and equal learning opportunities for students in special schools, irrespective of their location or the institution’s management. The move is expected to improve quality, accountability, and continuity in special education services statewide.

I am writing about this development because special education often suffers from uneven implementation and lack of standard benchmarks. When different schools follow different methods, students are the ones who lose out. Making a common digital curriculum and evaluation system mandatory is a significant policy shift. It directly affects students, teachers, parents, and school administrators, and signals the government’s intent to bring structure, accountability, and continuity into special education.

What Is the ‘Disha’ App and Curriculum

The Disha app is a specially designed digital platform developed for students with intellectual disabilities. It includes a structured curriculum, teaching tools, and an evaluation framework aligned with the learning needs of special children.

The platform helps teachers track student progress in a systematic way and ensures that learning goals are clearly defined and measurable.

Why the State Made Disha Mandatory

According to the disability welfare department, the lack of a uniform curriculum across special schools has led to gaps in learning outcomes. Some schools follow advanced methods, while others struggle with outdated practices.

Announcing the decision, Tukaram Mundhe, secretary of the disability welfare department, said the Disha system would help bring “uniformity and continuity into special education while supporting the overall development of students”.

How This Will Help Students

With the Disha system in place, students across the state will now follow a common learning structure suited to their abilities. This ensures smoother academic progression, especially for students who move between schools or districts.

Standardised evaluation will also help identify learning gaps early and provide targeted support.

Impact on Teachers and Special Schools

Teachers will now receive a clear framework for lesson planning, assessment, and reporting. This reduces confusion and improves teaching quality. Schools will also be accountable for following the prescribed curriculum and updating student progress on the portal.

While some schools may need time to adapt, the long-term goal is better coordination and quality control.

Concerns and Challenges on the Ground

Some educators have raised concerns about training, digital access, and infrastructure, especially in smaller or rural special schools. Successful implementation will depend on proper teacher training, technical support, and continuous monitoring by authorities.

Without these, the system risks becoming a formality rather than a meaningful reform.

Why Uniformity Matters in Special Education

Special education requires consistency more than flexibility. Students with intellectual disabilities benefit from structured routines, clear goals, and continuity in teaching methods. A common curriculum helps ensure that every child, irrespective of school, receives comparable support and opportunities.

This move aligns policy with actual learning needs.

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