Tensor Hack · Guide
Smart India Hackathon 2026
SIH 2026 has not been announced yet. We are tracking it daily.
Smart India Hackathon (SIH) is the Government of India's nationwide student hackathon, run by the Ministry of Education, AICTE and the Ministry's Innovation Cell. As of June 2026, SIH 2026 has not been announced. Based on every past edition, expect college registration to open around July to August, problem statements to release in late August, and the grand finale in December. This page is updated the moment the official 2026 schedule drops.
Last verified: June 2026. Read by a human.
SIH 2026 is not live yet. Get The Wire and we will email you the moment registration and problem statements drop, plus the other Indian hackathons worth entering.
What is Smart India Hackathon?
Smart India Hackathon is a national student innovation initiative organized by the Ministry of Education, AICTE and the Ministry's Innovation Cell. It has run since 2017, making SIH 2025 the eighth edition.
It has three tracks: a Software edition, a Hardware edition, and SIH Junior for school students. Government ministries, departments, PSUs and industry partners post real problem statements, and student teams build solutions for them.
Who can participate (eligibility)
SIH Senior is open to regular students of higher education institutions pursuing graduate, post-graduate or PhD courses. SIH Junior is for school students. Distance, part-time and working professionals are not eligible.
Teams must have exactly six members including the team leader, with at least one female member, and all members must be from the same college. There is no participation fee for students.
How SIH works
Organizations post problem statements on the SIH portal. Your college appoints a SPOC (single point of contact), runs an internal hackathon, and nominates the best teams and ideas. Shortlisted teams are screened and allocated to nodal centres, then compete at the multi-day national grand finale in December.
Prize money and rewards
In SIH 2025, each winning team received ₹1.5 lakh, for both the Software and Hardware categories. Beyond the cash, finalists get national recognition, mentorship, and exposure to the ministries and companies whose problems they solve.
SIH 2026 timeline (expected, not yet confirmed)
Based on the SIH 2024 and SIH 2025 schedules, the likely 2026 pattern is: college and SPOC registration around July to August, problem statements in late August, internal college hackathons through August and September, idea submission around mid to late September, screening across October and November, and the grand finale in December.
These are projections from past editions, not confirmed dates. Always verify on sih.gov.in, or get The Wire below and we will email you the moment SIH 2026 opens.
SIH 2025 by the numbers
The most recent edition, SIH 2025 (the 8th), held its grand finale from 8 to 12 December 2025. It featured 271 problem statements, drew 72,165 idea submissions and over 826,635 participating students from 2,587 institutions, and the grand finale ran across 60 nodal centres. Winning teams received ₹1.5 lakh each.
Frequently asked questions
When is Smart India Hackathon 2026?
SIH 2026 has not been officially announced as of June 2026. Based on past editions, registration usually opens around July to August, problem statements release in late August, and the grand finale is held in December. We update this page the moment the official 2026 dates are confirmed on sih.gov.in.
What are the SIH problem statements for 2026?
The SIH 2026 problem statements have not been released yet. In SIH 2025 there were 271 problem statements, posted by ministries, departments, PSUs and industry partners, and launched on 25 August 2025. The 2026 set is expected around late August 2026.
How do I register for Smart India Hackathon?
Students do not register directly. Your college appoints a SPOC who registers the institution, runs an internal hackathon, and nominates the top teams and ideas on the SIH portal. It is free for students.
Who is eligible for Smart India Hackathon?
Regular higher-education students (graduate, post-graduate or PhD) for SIH Senior, and school students for SIH Junior. Teams of six, including at least one female member, all from the same college. Distance and working professionals are not eligible.
What is the prize money for SIH?
In SIH 2025, each winning team received ₹1.5 lakh, for both the Software and Hardware categories, along with national recognition and mentorship.
How do I prepare for Smart India Hackathon?
Build a strong six-member team early, study past problem statements, prepare a clear idea presentation in the official format, and win your college's internal hackathon to get nominated. Practising in other AI and student hackathons first is a proven way to get sharp.
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