Goa Police Hackathon 2024 Concludes with Prize Distribution at PHQ Panaji, Showcasing Innovative Solutions for Policing
Inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s emphasis on the importance of technology and innovation in policing, highlighted during the annual DGP/IGP Conference, Goa Police, in collaboration with BITS Pilani Goa, brought this vision to life through the Goa Police Hackathon 2024. The hackathon, held from 27th to 29th September 2024 at BITS Pilani Goa, provided a platform for young minds to drive transformative change in law enforcement by developing innovative solutions to modern policing challenges. The event concluded today with a grand prize distribution ceremony at the PHQ Conference Hall, Panaji, attended by senior IPS officers, including DGP Goa Shri Alok Kumar, IPS, IGP Goa Shri Omvir Singh, IPS, DIGP Shri Ajay Sharma, IPS, SP Cyber Crime Shri Rahul Gupta, IPS, DySP Cyber Crime Shri Ashish Shirodkar, PI Cyber Crime Deepak Pednekar, PI Cyber Crime Vidyanand Pawar, along with the juries, participants, and other officers and staff of Goa Police.
The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome by SP Cyber Crime Shri Rahul Gupta, IPS, who emphasized the critical role of such initiatives in fostering innovation and collaboration. DGP Goa, Shri Alok Kumar, IPS, addressed the gathering, remarking, “This hackathon is a testament to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, enabling young innovators to create transformative tools that can revolutionize policing across India.”
IGP Goa, Shri Omvir Singh, IPS, also praised the participants, stating, “The technical creativity displayed here highlights the immense potential for technology to reshape the future of law enforcement. Goa Police is committed to supporting such initiatives that bridge technology with policing.”
With 128 teams registering—up from 58 teams in 2022—the hackathon saw an impressive rise in participation. Over 450 participants from 22 institutions, including IITs, NITs, BITS, and GEC, submitted 102 abstracts, with 32 teams advancing to the final round. The event also showcased its commitment to diversity, with 33 female participants contributing to the dynamic competition.
The hackathon focused on three categories of challenges: National Security, Improving Internal Efficiency of Police, and Enhancing Public Interface. Participants tackled eight pressing problems, with solutions ranging from AI-based fraud detection systems to mobile applications for real-time parking space tracking.
Held from 27th to 29th September 2024 at BITS Pilani Goa, the event culminated in final presentations on 19th October, judged by a distinguished panel of experts.
Judges for the Hackathon Event:
1. Dr. S. Mini, Professor, NIT Goa
2. Dr. Lokesh Chouhan, Professor, NFSU Goa
3. Dr. Niraj Kumar, Professor, IIT Goa
4. Professor Kunal Korgaonkar, BITS Pilani Goa
5. Mr. D. S. Prashant, CEO, Start-Up Cell, DOIT Goa
6. Professor Hemant Rathod, Coordinator, BITS Pilani Goa
Winners List:
1. Social Media Monitoring (SMM) Tool
Team Name: WEBSTART
Institution: National Institute of Technology, Goa
2. AI/ML System for Detecting Fraudulent Online Platforms
Team Name: MAHADEVS
Institution: BITS Pilani Goa Campus
3. AI-Based Tool to Analyze Religious Preaching for Radical Content
Team Name: NEURO FLEXBOIS
Institution: BITS Pilani Goa Campus
4. AI-Based Tool to Assist Visitors at Police Stations
Team Name: BITS BYTES
Institution: BITS Pilani Goa Campus
5. Mobile Application for Traffic Violation Checks
Team Name: ALT F4
Institution: Padre Conceição College of Engineering
6. Mobile App for Real-Time Parking Space Information
Team Name: RING WORKS
Institution: BITS Pilani Goa Campus
7. Mobile App to Locate Nearest CCTV Cameras for Investigators
Team Name: 3O1S
Institution: Padre Conceição College of Engineering
8. E-Bandobast Application
Team Name: THE TEAM
Institution: National Institute of Technology, Goa.
During the function, three standout projects were showcased, highlighting the innovative solutions developed during the Goa Police Hackathon 2024. The AI/ML System for Detecting Fraudulent Online Platforms by Team MAHADEVS from BITS Pilani Goa Campus demonstrated advanced techniques to identify and categorize deceptive websites. Team NEURO FLEXBOIS from BITS Pilani Goa Campus presented an AI-Based Tool to Analyze Religious Preaching for Radical Content, offering a sophisticated solution for monitoring potential threats. Additionally, Team ALT F4 from Padre Conceição College of Engineering showcased a Mobile Application for Traffic Violation Checks.
The Goa Police Hackathon 2024 concluded successfully, with DySP Cyber Crime Shri Ashish Shirodkar delivering the vote of thanks and acknowledging the innovative solutions presented by participants. The participants were lauded for their exceptional contributions. Winners were awarded trophies and certificates. While only a few teams walked away with prizes, the knowledge, experience, and networks gained throughout the event were regarded as invaluable.
With a commitment to encouraging technological innovations in policing, Goa Police continues to strengthen its resolve to address modern law enforcement challenges through collaborative efforts like these hackathons.
Public Relations Officer,
Goa Police
