Dehradun. The Uttarakhand Innovation and Solutions Hackathon-2026 was launched on Tuesday at Graphic Era University with the aim of developing technological solutions to address the state's geographical and social challenges. The event was inaugurated by Pradeep Batra, Minister for Information Technology, Science & Technology, and Biotechnology. Around 500 students, academicians, teachers, technical experts, and young innovators participated in the programme.
The 90-day initiative aims to develop practical solutions by connecting the technical skills and fresh ideas of young people with the state's real-world challenges. The hackathon will focus on areas such as disaster management, traffic and crowd management, healthcare accessibility, environmental protection, wildlife conservation, tourism, and good governance.
Solutions aimed at improving governance and public services through the use of AI, data analytics, GIS, and drone technology will also be developed. Key themes include AI-based government knowledge repositories, data governance, AI-enabled GIS, environmental analysis, the use of AI in preparing DPRs and RFPs, and drone-based aerial monitoring.
Minister Pradeep Batra said that the youth and educational institutions of Uttarakhand have the potential to develop innovative solutions to address the state's unique challenges. He urged young people to use technology and innovation to find solutions to the genuine problems faced by citizens.
The hackathon will begin with problem identification and idea generation, followed by prototype development, expert mentoring, and evaluation. Selected innovations will be given opportunities to advance through pilot projects, incubation, and industry linkages.
The initiative will also focus on technological solutions to forecast traffic pressure in view of the seasonal influx of tourists and pilgrims, monitor environmental stress, identify disaster-prone areas, and improve emergency services. Measures to facilitate access to government services in remote mountainous regions will also be explored.
According to the organisers, the hackathon will prioritise citizen-centric and responsible innovation. The initiative is being organised by the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) in collaboration with Axolotl Emprise LLP and other institutional and ecosystem partners. Its objective is to develop local technological solutions to local problems in Uttarakhand by strengthening coordination among educational institutions, government departments, the technical community, and young innovators.
