SAARTHI'26

Innovate with Purpose. Build for Impact. SAARTHI’26 is a 48-hour National Level Hackathon organized by the Department of Computer Science & Engineering and Department of Computer Application in collaboration with the IEEE Student Branch, Graphic Era Hill University (GEHU), Dehradun. Building on the vision of SAARTHI, meaning a companion or guide, the hackathon brings together student innovators, developers, designers, and problem-solvers to identify real-world challenges and build technology-driven solutions with meaningful social and practical impact. The event is designed as a platform for innovation, collaboration, mentorship, problem-solving, and technology development, bringing together participants from across India. Event Details: Event: SAARTHI’26 Duration: 48 Hours Dates: 31st Oct – 2nd November 2026 Venue: Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Mode: Hybrid – online registration/submission stages followed by an on-site hackathon round Team Size: 2–4 members Organizer: IEEE Student Branch, Graphic Era Hill University (GEHU) Department: Department of Computer Science & Engineering, GEHU Theme: SAARTHI focuses on building technology-driven, inclusive, accessible, scalable, and impactful solutions to real-world challenges. The previous edition of SAARTHI focused specifically on disability-centric innovation, including assistive technology, accessibility, healthcare, inclusive education, IoT, and digital inclusion. The SAARTHI’25 brochure describes the event as a platform for developing solutions supporting persons with disabilities and highlights accessibility, AI, IoT, healthcare, and education as important areas of innovation. What to Expect: 48 hours of intensive innovation and development Real-world problem-solving and technology development Top 50 teams shortlisted for on-site participation Mentorship and expert guidance Team-based collaboration Technical evaluation and project demonstrations Networking with fellow innovators, mentors, academia, and industry Opportunities to showcase impactful solutions Recognition and prizes for top-performing teams Innovation Areas: Participants may explore solutions involving areas such as: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Assistive Technology Accessibility & Inclusive Technology Healthcare Technology IoT & Smart Systems Web & Mobile Applications Natural Language Processing Computer Vision Inclusive Education Digital Accessibility Multilingual & Accessible Technology Community & Social Impact Solutions Open Innovation Participants are encouraged to combine technologies and approaches to develop practical, scalable, and impactful solutions. Team Structure: Each team must consist of 2–4 members. Teams will work collaboratively on their selected/problem statement challenge. Top 50 teams will be shortlisted for on-site participation at Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun. The event will recognize 3 winning teams and 3 special awards. Participation Process: Stage 1 – Registration & Initial Submission — FREE: Participants register through the official Unstop opportunity and form their teams. Teams submit their proposed solution according to the prescribed submission requirements and guidelines. No registration fee is charged for Stage 1. Stage 2 – Shortlisting: Submitted solutions are evaluated by the organizing/evaluation team based on factors such as: Problem understanding Innovation Technical feasibility Impact Scalability Implementation approach The top 50 teams are shortlisted for the on-site round. Stage 3 – Offline Participation & Payment: Only the teams shortlisted for the on-site hackathon will be required to complete the offline-round registration/payment process. Offline Round Participation Fee: ₹600 per team The 600 fee is applicable only to teams shortlisted for the offline round. Participants who are not shortlisted for the on-site round will not be required to pay this fee. Payment instructions will be shared with shortlisted teams through the official event communication channels. The offline round will be conducted at Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun. Stage 4 – 48-Hour On-Site Hackathon: Shortlisted teams participate in the 48-hour hackathon at Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, where they develop and refine their solutions. Stage 5 – Final Evaluation & Demonstration: Teams present and demonstrate their final solutions before the evaluation panel. Important Guidelines: Stage 1 registration and initial PPT/solution submission are free of charge. A ₹600 per-team fee will be applicable only to participants from teams shortlisted for the on-site round. Shortlisted teams must complete the required payment process within the timeline communicated by the organizers to confirm their participation in the offline round. The payment is for offline/on-site participation only and is not required for the initial online submission round. Participants must register through the official event registration platform. Teams must comply with the prescribed team-size requirements. Participants are expected to submit original work. Solutions should address the given problem statement/challenge and demonstrate meaningful implementation. Teams must follow all submission, evaluation, code-of-conduct, and event guidelines communicated by the organizers. Shortlisted teams must be available for the on-site round at Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun. Further submission and evaluation instructions will be communicated to registered participants through the official event channels. Why Participate?: SAARTHI’26 is more than a coding competition. It is an opportunity to: Build solutions for real-world challenges Work with a multidisciplinary team Receive guidance and mentorship Develop practical technical skills Showcase your project to experts and peers Network with students, developers, mentors, and industry professionals Compete at a national level Gain recognition for innovative solutions Join SAARTHI’26 and build technology that creates meaningful impact.