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- 25 finalist teams to develop AI-powered solutions for strengthening India’s statistical and governance ecosystem
Mumbai / Faridabad, June 17, 2026: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, in collaboration with AICTE, is organizing the Grand Finale of STATATHON 2025–26, a 36-hour national-level Grand Challenge, at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad, on 17–18 June 2026.
STATATHON is a flagship initiative aimed at promoting the innovative use of statistics, data science, Artificial Intelligence, and analytics for solving real-world governance challenges. This year, the competition received an overwhelming response, with more than 5,300 submissions from students across India. Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process, 25 teams comprising approximately 125 students have been shortlisted for the Grand Finale.
The inaugural session was attended by Mr. Rohit Bhardwaj, Additional Director General, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI); Dr. N.H. Siddalinga Swamy, Advisor, AICTE; Dr. Pradeep Dhage, Assistant Director, Innovation Cell, AICTE; Sh. Rajiv Kapoor, Managing Director, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions; and Dr. N.C. Wadhwa, Director General, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions, along with policymakers, academic leaders, industry experts, mentors, jury members, and participating teams. The gathering underscored the growing importance of innovation, data-driven governance, and cross-sector collaboration in building a future-ready statistical ecosystem for the nation.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Rohit Bhardwaj, Additional Director General, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), said, “STATATHON is not merely an academic exercise; it is a platform for developing solutions that can be implemented in real-world governance systems. We have seen promising ideas from previous editions progress to pilot stages, and we are committed to taking forward solutions that demonstrate real value. The challenges presented in this hackathon address genuine pain points faced by the official statistical system, ranging from multilingual data collection and faster data processing to data security and dissemination. We encourage participants to develop sustainable, scalable and practical solutions that can be integrated into government workflows and contribute to strengthening India’s statistical ecosystem. The journey does not end with the hackathon – it begins here.
Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Mr. Rajiv Kapoor, Managing Director, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions, said, “It is a matter of immense pride for Manav Rachna to host the Grand Finale of STATATHON 2026 and welcome some of the country’s brightest young innovators to our campus. More than a competition, this initiative represents the power of collaboration between government, academia, industry, and young talent to address challenges of national importance. The solutions being developed here have the potential to strengthen India’s statistical and governance ecosystem and improve the quality of data-driven decision-making. As India advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, platforms such as STATATHON play a crucial role in empowering young innovators to create scalable solutions with meaningful societal impact and contribute to nation-building.”
Addressing the gathering, Dr. N.H. Siddalinga Swamy, Advisor, AICTE, said, “STATATHON is a reflection of India’s growing innovation ecosystem, which has been strengthened through initiatives such as the Smart India Hackathon. In today’s world, data is a powerful resource, and this platform provides young innovators with an opportunity to develop solutions for real challenges faced by government institutions. The ideas being developed here are not academic exercises; they have the potential to be adopted and implemented, creating meaningful impact for governance and society. More importantly, participants have an opportunity to contribute to nation-building through innovation, and to create solutions that can make a difference in the lives of people across the country.”
The Grand Finale will culminate on June 18, 2026, with finalist teams presenting their solutions before an expert jury panel, followed by the announcement of winners. Beyond the competition, the programme seeks to identify scalable solutions that can be piloted and integrated into the National Statistical System, enabling wider adoption of emerging technologies in public governance. Through STATATHON 2026, MoSPI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, aims to strengthen India’s statistical infrastructure, improve public decision-making, and accelerate the country’s journey towards a digitally empowered and data-driven future.
