Guwahati, Oct 24: About 300 young innovators gathered at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati on Saturday for a 24-hour hackathon, showcasing artificial intelligence powered solutions for real world issues like landslide prediction, rural healthcare, education, AI transparency, drone safety and many more.
Organised by Assam-based Hackyard Technologies Private Limited, the event brought together developers selected from thousands of applicants. Participants will compete for prizes worth up to ₹4,47,500, along with rewards through partner challenges.
Shyamal Konwar, co-founder and CEO of Hackyard Technologies, said the platform aims to help developers turn ideas into practical solutions.
“Hackyard is a platform dedicated to connecting builders. We hosted our first flexible hackathon at IIT Guwahati from September 14 to October 10. We received over 5,000 applications, from which we selected around 1,500 participants, with about 300 coming to the IIT Guwahati campus to build in person,” Konwar said.
He added that the judges included founders of million-dollar companies funded by Y Combinator, and the platform aims to support participants through credits, resources and access to a strong professional community.
AI system aims to predict landslides
Utkarsh, a student of IIT Allahabad, developed an AI-based landslide prediction system combining satellite and sensor data with machine learning. The model analyses around 70 data types, including rainfall, soil moisture, temperature, humidity, slope steepness and historical landslide records, to estimate risks at specific locations.
“Landslides in the Northeast are primarily driven by soil falling from slopes, influenced heavily by soil moisture, rainfall, temperature, humidity and slope steepness,” he said.
Utkarsh said access to reliable data remains a challenge, as much of the information held by government agencies is restricted. Expanded access, he said, could help the system issue early warnings, support evacuations and improve relief operations.
Class 11 student builds AI learning platform
Nabarun Neer Gogoi, a Class 11 student at Delhi Public School, Numaligarh, developed ExamIQ, an interactive learning platform that uses simulations and visual demonstrations to help students understand concepts and track academic progress.
“Students across India and other countries often struggle with studying because they do not actively engage with what they learn. They simply memorise information and recall it during exams,” Gogoi said.
The platform allows students to explore subjects such as physics through interactive models, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulations of a cricket ball’s trajectory.
Healthcare app targets remote villages
Vanshika and Srijana, members of the team ‘Harke Jeetne Wale’, are developing an application to help ASHA workers monitor patients in remote villages.
The app stores patient records digitally, including offline, and aims to improve documentation, privacy and access to health information. It also flags possible health conditions for further medical attention without diagnosing illnesses.
“Our app stores patient data digitally, even offline, making it accessible in areas with limited internet connectivity. District magistrates and medical officers can access the data later,” the team said.
Project seeks to make AI more transparent
Barkha Rathi of the Indore Institute of Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh, is working on a project addressing the AI ‘black box problem’, where the reasoning behind a system’s decisions is difficult to understand.
“In AI, we know the input, but we do not always know how the system processes it,” Rathi said, explaining the need to make AI systems more transparent and reliable.
She added that hackathons help young developers exchange knowledge, learn from peers and access advanced AI tools that may otherwise be expensive.
AI system focuses on UAV safety
Shivani Bora, a BTech Computer Science and Engineering student at from Golaghat, is developing an AI-based system to predict unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) failures and recommend safer routes.
The system analyses environmental conditions and engine health to identify potential problems before deployment, particularly during demanding missions such as rescue operations.
“By then, it may be too late to prevent damage,” Bora said, describing situations where faults such as engine fires are detected only after they occur.
The project aims to reduce equipment losses and improve the safety and efficiency of drone operations.
Beyond the code, the hackathon served as a high-octane testbed-a place where raw ideas were pressure-tested, collaborative squads forged,and practical solutions built to make a real-world impact on communities nationwide.
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