DRISHTI NE - Hackathon

Drishti-Ne Hackathon is proposed as the premier AI innovation challenge exclusively for the North Eastern Region (NER). Launching at the Regional AI Impact Conference in Shillong, this initiative positions Meghalaya as the Innovation Gateway for the North East.Strategic Collaboration: This event is a collaborative initiative led by the Government of Meghalaya and IIM Shillong, in partnership with MATH T-Hub. This coalition brings together administrative vision, academic rigor, and a world-class startup ecosystem to operationalize the IndiaAI Mission at the grassroots level.While aligned with the national goals of the Global India AI Summit 2026, the soul of this event is regional. It seeks to prove that the next billion-dollar AI solution for climate resilience, tribal language preservation, or remote healthcare can originate from Shillong, Guwahati, or Kohima. Eligibility: Participation is restricted to individuals connected to the 8 North Eastern States (Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim) under any one of the following tracks: Track A (Student): Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, and PhD scholars currently enrolled in any institution located within the North Eastern Region (NER), irrespective of their state of origin. Students who are originally from the NER (domiciled) but are currently studying in institutions outside the NER. Track B (Professional/Startup): Working professionals, freelancers, self-employed individuals, and early-stage startups currently based in the NER, regardless of where they were born. Professionals, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and startup founders who are originally from the NER but are currently working or operating from other parts of India. Team Size: 2 to 5 members per team. Interdisciplinary teams & Gender-diverse teams are encouraged.