Vinod Bhat
The Grand Finale of Vimarsh 2023, a national hackathon on 5G, was held at MHA, North Block, New Delhi on 14th March 2024. The event was a resounding success, showcasing the immense talent and innovation of participants in addressing the challenges faced by Law Enforcement Agencies.
Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, IAS, Union Home Secretary, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and commended the efforts of the organizers. The event was attended by esteemed guests, including Sh Balaji Srivastava, IPS, Director General, BPR&D, Sh Tapan Kumar Deka, IPS, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Dr Neeraj Mittal, IAS, Secretary (Telecom), and Smt Rekha Lohani, Director (Modernisation), BPR&D, along with officers from MHA, BPR&D, TCOE/Deptt of Telecom.
The objective of Vimarsh 2023 was to find innovative solutions to enhance the capabilities of Law Enforcement Agencies. After careful deliberations, 09 Problem Statements were formulated in consultation with LEAs, Department of Telecom, TCOE, I4C, and BPR&D. These problem statements were made available through a dedicated website, allowing participants to submit their solutions.
The hackathon involved three stages of idea screening, with Stages I and II conducted virtually and Stage III held in physical mode at the 5G testbed at IIT Madras, Chennai. During Stage III, participants showcased their Proof of Concepts (PoCs) pertaining to each Problem Statement. The jury, consisting of members from academia, BPR&D, I4C, DoT, and industry, evaluated the submissions.
The winners of Vimarsh 2023 were announced during the Grand Finale. Eight teams emerged as winners, one for each problem statement, and seven teams were declared as runners-up. Each winner received a cash prize of Rs.1.5 lakhs, while the runners-up were awarded certificates of appreciation.
To further support the development and implementation of the solutions, Rs.2.5 lakhs has been allocated for the productization of Proof of Concepts (PoCs) in collaboration with LEAs. This funding will enable the development of prototypes while incorporating feedback and necessary customization.
The Union Home Secretary praised the outstanding efforts of BPR&D and Deptt of Telecom in organizing this unique hackathon. The event served as a platform to foster innovation and collaboration towards leveraging 5G technology for the benefit of Law Enforcement Agencies.
