 We welcome you to another interesting episode of how to age the hackathon. I, Arindam, on behalf of entire innovation cell and smart India hackathon implementation team, welcome you to this interesting talk session with one of our S I H alumni and the winner of S I H 2022 edition. Without further ado, let us listen to him and let us get some of the tips and tricks on how you can crack this hackathon. So, Suryal, welcome to the show. How are you? Thank you. Thank you for such a warm welcome. I am doing good. Good to see you after 2022 edition. First of all, how the life has changed after being a winner of smart India hackathon. Yeah. So being an S I H winner is a really great addition, both on resume and on and that's something you can always add in your introduction whenever you are giving your interviews and even when you're introducing yourself to someone to impress them. Also, we get many more opportunities later on after winning the hackathon. So that's really great add on. Yeah. So Suryal, which ministry for which ministry did you give the solution for? Can you brief a little about the problem statement and how did you understand what exactly the problem statement was demanding? It will ease the process for the newcomers while they select the problem statement. Problem statement was given by mighty department. It was related to the enrolling and unenrolling of the schemes. So using a platform, the normal citizens can know what government schemes were state and central schemes. They're eligible for and can easily enroll and unenroll for the same. Obviously, some of the schemes would require documents and for that also, a platform can be used. They can just upload the documents and they can be verified at the back end. So yeah. So did you, while you were making the prototype for the ministry, did you to be very honestly, did you feel that you solved the real time problem the ministry is facing? Yeah, actually. So the thing is that while having some small pet projects in college, it they are more for learning and you don't think that you're contributing much. But when you participate in a hackathon as such and you get a problem statement that actually affects many people in our country. So you feel that you're actually contributing towards something. And later on, if somebody tries to pick up your prototype and converse it into a real project, so many people can be affected and can gain advantage of it first. So it feels great. Right. A sense of responsibility while you are making that prototype, right? Isn't it? So Sujal, it brings me to another important question and a parameter of Smart India Hackathon 2023. While you were preparing your team or you were formulating your team, what were the key characteristics and the features that you made sure that your team member should have while they are being a part of your team? Yeah, so that is actually a really great question because junior is also asking the same. So I always say that do not try to make it teams as based on friendship. Try to make a team that has diverse qualities. So you because any hackathon is just not out making a technical prototype. Hackathon is also a presentation and being able to explain to the judges what you have made and how it can be used. Good PPTs are not overrated. So they're actually required. So while making a team, make sure that you have people who do understand the non-technical aspects related to the problem statement. And obviously then, because you're supposed to make a technical prototype, you also need people who are good in both back end and front end or front end. As an added advantage, it is always good to have somebody who may know the ML or blockchain or cloud computing because these add something to your tech stack and tell to the judges that you have really been into the problem and found something unique in terms of a solution. Sujal, coming on to the next question, did you felt the importance of having a good mentor as well while you were working on your prototype or during the grand finale? Yeah, so while we were making a prototype, so earlier before we chose this nation, mostly our mentorship was coming from our college professors. But unfortunately, our professors could not join us to the grand finale. So there were mentors provided at the site also, and they were really helpful. So the reason I'm saying this is because we as participants don't always know what is the perspective that is coming from the judges. The mentors like have been at that position of having at the position of participating in SAH and they know how to win them. So at that critical time, having somebody to mentor you really helps a lot. They are able to tell you how to present your stuff. What is the role of a captain, a team leader? So, yeah, that is really helpful. Right. That brings to the next question I was about to ask. Being a team leader, what kind of challenges did you face? Or what kind of learning that you would like to give for these first time team leaders that will be leading their teams for the Smart India Hackathon? Yeah, so one thing I will say is that I guess when you all made teams, you kind of knew who all people you were taking in the team. So every team functions differently. I have laid a different team in a different hackathon before, but SAH was an entirely different experience because people varied and when people vary, the dynamics vary a lot. So one thing I can say is that keep your calm always, even if some part of your team isn't functioning properly, being angry or just losing your temper and when to walk. Your task as a leader is how to get the best out of every team member. And at the same time, try to try to ensure that your team members also trust you because it is not a one way road. If your team members trust you, then only a team can function properly. So make sure that everybody in the team is happy, they trust you. And the most important thing is you should know what they're going to add because if you're assigning tasks without knowing who is good at what, you won't be able to get good results. So make sure of that. All right, very well said. Teamwork is the key thing that is required for the entire SAH. Also, if I'm not wrong, you had design mentors also during the grand finale? Yeah, so we did get mentorship regarding the design. So that was a hard hit because they got to know that in terms of design, we were not starting to create, but after getting the mentorship and also because there are multiple rounds of judging. So one of the round judges also said that our designs don't look that great. So having got the mentorship regarding the same really helped us because building such a prototype that actually speaks to the consumer was the first time for all of us. So knowing what consumers would respond great to us is something we got to really learn a lot through our mentors. So this brings to another important point that the team members and the team leaders should make sure that they should also work on the design. They should take care and special put attention towards the design of the prototype because even it could be a very wonderful idea. But if it does not fit or have a good design to it, you know, some point of the time it may let you to not win the SAH. I want to understand after winning the SAH and now that you're working already so what kind of a learning that Smart India Hackathon has given you in terms of your professional life? Yeah, so after winning SAH, I also participated in the hackathon that is that you can participate only through an SAH. Having been part of such wonderful hackathons like Smart India Hackathon and the India Hackathon really gives you a great exposure. For I would say more than technical part, it improves your people's skills and those are really required in any work environment because technical skills can be learned from YouTube and other platforms also. But knowing how to interact with people and how to really work in a team that is a skill you can acquire only with practice and exposure. So do participate in such hackathons, not just for technical exposure. Obviously, that would be there, but to know how to present yourself, how to present your work and how to work with people. And also in terms of networking, did you had a chance to network with your peers from different colleges and also the industry experts who are the evaluators? Tell me something about it. So I think that during Smart India Hackathon, I was a little bit in my shell. So I was more involved in the hackathon prototype and such. But during the next hackathon that is in India Africa hackathon I took a pledge in a way that I would get out of my shell and would network with everyone. So I really talk to many people and even the judges and even the mentors. And I would advice everyone that try to get up out of your shell and try to interact with as many people as you can because you get to learn out many people, many things that they're going through in terms of their technical stuff and their profession and their college journey. And it's always good to connect to different people on LinkedIn. And your judges and your mentors have great technical knowledge. So getting to know us, assembling them and connecting with them and LinkedIn is really helpful. Right. Wonderful. Sujal, tell me or tell the audience a little bit about the post experience that Smart India Hackathon after winning, what kind of opportunities does you know, the ministry provides you if you can brief a little bit about that as well? Sure. So as I said, one of them that as the winners, you get the opportunity to participate into multiple international hackathons. And those are really great. Like I participated in one of them, India Africa hackathon. And it was a team that was mixed up, mixed of Indians and Africans and getting to know people from other country all together and different culture was a great experience. And I never actually expected to be there and meeting such people before, like before winning Smart India Hackathon. There are more hackathons, which I couldn't participate, unfortunately, because of some commitments. But I would recommend that if you win and if you get the opportunity to participate in international hackathons, do fill out the forms. Don't be lazy about them. Also, ministry provides, ministry provides emails you for their purchase because if your prototype has the potential of winning a hackathon, then it also has the potential of turning into something really great. Again, our team wasn't busy with the placements and then with the corporate life and interns, so we couldn't pursue that. But if you get the opportunity to pursue it, it would be a great addition to your resume and intent. Not just limited to your resume, but of course to your contribution towards nation building as well. It gives you a sense of, you know, accomplishment that you are actually working or helping such a big ministry in developing a prototype and actually implementing it on the real time scenario. So that's that's a really great achievement that one can have. Sujal, I would like to conclude by understanding or letting you speak about a couple of tricks and tips because most of the participants who are watching us live right now would be more interested, you know, in cutting the story short and understanding if you want to win the hackathon. What would be the tips and tricks, few master tricks from your side to crack this hackathon? So so one most important thing that we kind of touched in the interview already, but I would like to reiterate is that UI matters a lot because if your users aren't being able to interact with the website, then it is not much of any use. Secondly, apart from UI, see, try to understand the problem statement. Do not just try to add special stacks such as MLR blockchain without understanding what the problem really needs you to do. Do add stuff if you think that is actually helpful because at the end of the day, if I just ask you, so that why have you added this, that what is the role of this particular model and you just say that it felt great, it won't be a good answer. So you should know everything about your project from start to end. Obviously, if you're if you're in back end, you might not know about the technical details of the front end and vice versa. So that is not a problem. You should know your part properly and what are the features? Features matter a lot. So yeah, apart from the person who is doing the non-technical research, the project, everyone else should also know why this project matters and how is this being able to solve the problem that is being thrown at you? So understand problem, make great UI and present well. So yeah, that would be the key to any hackathon, I will say, and particularly assets. Very well said, Sujal. It was indeed a pleasure talking to you and understanding your mind towards this smart India hackathon. And of course, I think this would benefit the first timers for this, of course. With this, we wish you good luck for your future projects and hope to see you soon as one of the mentors or one of the projects that we are part of. Till then, have a good time and a good life. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for the platform and thank you for the wishes. Thank you. People, that was so real for you. The one best thing that I came to learn or maybe you also might have highlighted is it is very important to come out of your shell, you know. Smart India Hackathon is just not a platform about cracking or providing a solution. But yes, of course, networking also. So always keep on mind whenever you are coming for Smart India Hackathon 2023. With this, we take a leave and we promise you to come up with such more interesting videos soon. Till then, have a great day and a good life. See you.