Goel Institute Hosts Internal Smart India Hackathon 2026 to Spark Student Innovation

Lucknow : In a major push toward fostering cutting-edge innovation and real-world problem-solving, the Goel Institute of Technology & Management (GITM), Lucknow, successfully hosted its Internal Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2026 today on campus.

The high-energy competition was formally inaugurated by Director Prof. Dr. Rishi Asthana, alongside Dean Dr. Devendra Agarwal, key faculty members, and visiting industry leaders. Designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial application, the event saw impressive participation, with more than 70 student teams competing fiercely across both Software and Hardware tracks.

Participants presented diverse technological solutions aimed at addressing pressing national and industrial challenges. Following grueling rounds of project demonstrations, prototypes, and technical defenses, an expert judging panel shortlisted 50 standout teams to represent the institute in the upcoming national rounds of SIH 2026.

The evaluation process was conducted by a distinguished panel of industry veterans and technical experts, including:

• Mr. D. D. Mishra, Retired Chief Electrical Engineer
• Mr. Ashish Verma, Accenture
• Ms. Khushi Kumari, CSG Technosole
• Mr. Gaurav Pandey, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd.
• Mr. Deepak Verma, GeneBio Healthcare
• Mr. Tushar Srivastava, Consultant, UPNEDA

Each project was strictly assessed on innovation potential, technical feasibility, scalable impact, and overall presentation. Speaking at the ceremony, the institute's leadership emphasized that hosting the internal hackathon reinforces GITM's dedication to nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging hands-on technology development, and preparing students for modern industry expectations.

(Report by R.L.Pandey)