Problem Statement ID: 25015
Problem Statement Title: Intelligent Pesticide Sprinkling System Determined by the
Infection Level of a Plant
Theme: Agriculture, FoodTech & Rural Development
Description:
Excessive and indiscriminate application of pesticides in agriculture creates soil
degradation, water contamination, damage to useful insects, and health risks for humans
and animals. Regardless of whether the plant is healthy or infected, traditional pesticide
spraying methods are used evenly, leading to waste and contamination. Many farmers lack
affordable, automated systems to monitor crop health and control pesticide usage
accordingly. This issue occurs on both large and small farms where manual inspections and
sprays are labor-intensive, inefficient, and often inaccurate.
An intelligent system is required to recognize pest or disease infection in individual plants
and regulate the amount of pesticide sprayed. This ensures optimal use of chemicals,
reduces environmental impact, and promotes sustainable agriculture.
Impact / Why this problem needs to be solved
• Reduces excessive pesticide usage and lowers farming costs.
• Protects soil and water quality, while minimizing harm to non-target organisms.
• Improves crop yield and quality through precise and timely treatment.
• Supports small and marginal farmers with cost savings and better farm sustainability.
• Contributes to safe and eco-friendly food production.
Expected Outcomes
• A smart automated system with sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms to detect infection
levels.
• IoT-controlled sprayer to dispense pesticides only where and when needed.
• Mobile or web interface for farmers to monitor plant health and control the system
remotely.
Relevant Stakeholders / Beneficiaries
• Farmers (small, medium, and large scale)
• Agricultural extension officers
• Agrochemical companies
• Environmental agencies
• Consumers demanding residue-free produce
• Government bodies promoting sustainable farming
Problem Statement ID: 25014
Problem Statement Title: Waste Segregation Monitoring System for Urban Local
Bodies
Theme: Clean & Green Technology
Description:
Urban local bodies struggle with improper waste segregation at the
household level, leading to inefficiencies in waste processing and increased
landfill burden. Despite awareness campaigns, compliance remains low due
to lack of monitoring and feedback mechanisms. This issue is widespread in
urban areas with high waste generation.
Impact / Why this problem needs to be solved
Improper segregation affects nearly 70% of urban waste management
systems, increasing recycling costs and environmental pollution. A solution
would improve waste processing efficiency and reduce landfill dependency.
Expected Outcomes
• IoT-based system or mobile app to monitor segregation at collection points.
• Provide real-time feedback to households on compliance.
• Generate compliance reports for local authorities to enforce better waste
management.
Relevant Stakeholders / Beneficiaries
• Urban local bodies
• Residents
• Waste management agencies
• Environmental organizations
Supporting Data
Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 Report, highlighting segregation
challenges.
Problem Statement ID: 25021
Problem Statement Title: AI based development of Laser based QR Code marking on
'track fittings on Indian Railways'.
Theme: Transportation & Logistics
Backgroud:
Indian Railways procures about 10 crore Elastic Rail Clips, 5 crore liners, and
8.5 crore rail pads annually. There is currently no system for identification of
these track fittings—i.e., elastic rail clips, rail pads, liners—and sleepers, with
integration to the UDM portal enabling mobile-based scanning for vendor lot
number, date of supply, warranty period, inspection dates, etc. This gap is
critical for quality assessment and performance management of fittings.
Description
This problem statement envisages a unified system for laser-based QR code
marking on track fittings to enable mobile scanning and identification of
elastic rail clips, rail pads, liners, and sleepers, along with integration to the
UDM (User Depot Module) on www.ireps.gov.in and the TMS (Track
Management System) on www.irecept.gov.in. With the use of AI, the system
should extract all essential details of each fitting item, including inspections
at all stages—from manufacturing and supply to in-service performance—and
pinpoint exceptions for quality monitoring. Laser-based QR codes are already
prevalent in other industries.
Expected Solution
Innovative solutions are invited through Smart India Hackathon 2025 to
develop and implement a system addressing identification of bulk supply
materials, their performance issues, and effective inventory management and
quality monitoring actions for safety performance of fittings.
• Hardware Solution: Design and implement laser-based QR code imprints on
bulk supply items of track fittings and sleepers.
• Software Solution: Develop QR code linkage and integrate with the UDM
and TMS portals; enable mobile scans to generate AI-based reports related to
vendor, supply, warranty, inspections, and support inventory management,
etc.
Problem Statement ID: 25036
Problem Statement Title: Development of Sensor for Detection of Microplastics.
Theme: Miscellaneous
Background
Microplastics — plastic particles less than 5 mm in size — have emerged as a global
environmental threat, contaminating oceans, freshwater systems, and even drinking
water. These particles originate from the degradation of larger plastics or from microbeads
in consumer products. Their persistence and bioaccumulative nature pose serious risks to
aquatic life, ecosystems, and potentially human health. Current methods for detecting
microplastics — such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman
spectroscopy — are often accurate but time-consuming, expensive, and laboratory-
dependent, limiting their application for real-time, field-based monitoring.
Description
The project aims to develop a low-cost, efficient, and portable sensor capable of detecting
microplastics in various water sources. The focus may be on using optical detection
techniques — such as light scattering, fluorescence, or absorbance — combined with
machine learning algorithms for pattern recognition. The sensor may be designed to
identify microplastic particles based on their optical signatures, size distribution, and
possibly polymer type. Water samples shall pass through a detection chamber, where
embedded sensors capture spectral or visual data. This information would be processed in
real time, either on-device or via a connected application. The system should be tested
using standard microplastic samples (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene) and validated
against existing lab-based techniques.
Expected Solution
The expected outcome is a compact, field-deployable sensor system that can
detect and quantify microplastics in water samples within minutes. It should
offer reasonable sensitivity (down to 10–100 μm), operate on battery or solar
power, and require minimal sample preparation. Additionally, the solution
may include a companion software interface for data logging, visualization,
and analysis. This innovation should have strong potential for adoption in
microplastic monitoring, supporting researchers, environmental agencies,
and water quality managers in making faster, data-driven decisions for
pollution control and mitigation.
Problem Statement ID: 25046
Problem Statement Title: Smart Waste Segregation and Recycling System.
Theme: Clean & Green Technology
Description
Design an IoT-enabled waste segregation system using sensors and machine
learning to automatically classify household waste (organic, recyclable,
hazardous) at the source. The system should integrate with municipal waste
management for efficient collection and recycling.
Expected Outcome
A prototype device with 90% accuracy in waste classification, coupled with a
mobile app for households to monitor waste disposal and earn incentives for
recycling.
Technical Feasibility
Uses affordable sensors (e.g., cameras, weight sensors) and ML models (e.g.,
convolutional neural networks) for waste identification, deployable in urban
and semi-urban areas.
Problem Statement ID: 25058
Problem Statement Title: Detection and Prevention of Tampering in Weighing and
Measuring instruments
Theme: Miscellaneous
Background
Weighing and measuring instruments are critical components in trade, industry, health,
agriculture, and public safety. They ensure fair transactions and consumer trust when used
accurately. However, tampering with such instruments, especially digital weighing scales,
fuel dispensers, water/electricity meters, and retail POS systems-leads to fraudulent trade
practices, losses to consumers, and damage to the integrity of commerce. Tampering may
involve unauthorized hardware modifications, altered firmware, embedded malware,
hidden switches, or even remote-control manipulation. These alterations are designed to
evade detection by regulators while enabling cheating during operation.
Problem Description
Develop a robust and intelligent system to detect, prevent, and alert against tampering in
weighing and measuring instruments. The system must be capable of identifying both
physical and digital tampering attempts in real time or near-real time. It should ideally
include an embedded solution with secure logging, alert triggers, and remote verification
capability by Legal Metrology officers. The proposed solution may also leverage Al/ML,
digital forensics, tamper-evident Hardware seals, blockchain-backed audit trails, or sensor-
based integrity checks.
Key Functional Requirements
Tamper Detection:
-Detect unauthorized access to device internals (e.g., seals broken, circuit modifications,
etc.)
-Monitor anomalies in calibration, weight drift, or suspicious patterns
-Firmware Integrity
-Secure boot or hash verification for firmware changes
-Logging of unauthorized software firmware updates
Alert System:
-Instant tamper alerts to remote Legal Metrology dashboards
-Optional local visual/audio alarms on tamper detection
Data Logging & Traceability:
-Immutable logs of measurements, maintenance, and access events
-Optionally backed by blockchain or secure cloud
Remote Monitoring:
-IoT integration to transmit logs to a centralized monitoring system
-GPS/ geotagging to detect movement of stationary devices
Target Participants
Final year UG (B.Tech/B.E) students in Electronics, Embedded Systems, Instrumentation,
AI/ML. Cybersecurity
-PG/Ph.D. researchers in IoT Security, Metrology, Data Forensics
-Startups or academia-industry teams working on compliance technologies
Evaluation Criteria
-Innovation (new methods of detection or prevention)
-Accuracy of tamper detection (false positive/negative rates)
-Feasibility and cost of integrating the solution into common instruments
-User Interface & Regulatory Dashboard usability
-Readiness for field deployment and validation
Expected Deliverables
(a) Prototype device or software module to detect tampering (hardware and/or firmware)
(b) Dashboard or interface for regulators to view alerts and device health
(c) Tamper-logging and reporting features
(d) Validation data from controlled tamper scenarios
(e) Whitepaper/ technical documentation describing architecture, logic, limitations and
future potential
Benefits and Impact
-Strengthens consumer protection and fairness in trade
-Builds a proactive regulatory ecosystem using smart devices
-Reduces inspection burden via automated alerting
-Enables certification of tamper-proof weighing/measuring instruments
-Contributes to digital trust in India's commerce and metrology infrastructure
Mentorship and Resources
-Mentorship from Legal Metrology and cybersecuirty experts
-Access to LM Act & Rules/ OIML Recommendations, guidelines, testing labs, etc.
Future Prospects
-Development of National Digital Registry for compliant instruments
-Integration with e-maap portal for real-time monitoring
-Standardization of tamper-detection modules in certified devices
-Development of tamper-proof metrology solutions
Problem Statement ID: 25051
Problem Statement Title: Renewable Energy Monitoring System for Microgrids
Theme: Renewable / Sustainable Energy
Description
Develop an IoT-based monitoring system for solar or wind microgrids in rural
areas, providing real-time data on energy generation, storage, and
consumption. The system should alert users to inefficiencies or maintenance
needs.
Expected Outcome
A hardware-software prototype improving microgrid efficiency by 15%, with a
mobile app for community operators to manage energy distribution.
Technical Feasibility
Employs affordable IoT sensors (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Arduino) and cloud-based
analytics for real-time monitoring, compatible with existing microgrid setups.
Problem Statement ID: 25053
Problem Statement Title: Improved Onion storage technology for enhancing shelf life
of onions
Theme: Agriculture, FoodTech & Rural Development
Background
The majority of the farmers in India store the onion in naturally ventilated storage
structures. In such structures, onions are exposed to extreme temperatures and relative
humidity, which reduces the shelf life of onions and high storage loss. Improved onion
storage technology will help in ensuring the availability of onions between seasons and
obviate seasonal volatility in prices. The solutions could be in the form of improved, but
cost-effective, materials and design of storage structures to manage temperature and
relative humidity.
Description
Onion is a semi-perishable vegetable and is harvested during the rabi season, accounting
for 65% of onion production, and hits the markets from April to May. The same crop must
continue to meet the consumer demand till the month of October-November every year,
before the kharif crop is harvested and brought to the market. It is therefore vital to store
onions successfully in order to meet the regular supply. It is observed that nearly 30-40%
of the crop is lost during storage due to various reasons in form of physiological weight
loss, rotting, sprouting etc. In unexpected situations such as natural calamities, the losses
even go beyond 50% creating heavy stress both on the demand and supply sides. The
losses that occurred during storage are in terms of qualitative as well as in quantitative
ways. Hence, it is imperative to take some crucial steps pertaining to onion storage with
minimum losses to ensure an adequate supply to the market, thereby reducing the price
fluctuations.
Various abiotic factors like temperature, relative humidity affect the health of onions;
hence, their balance is essential to store the crop with minimum losses. Recent
technological advancements (such as Design, Solar/Plasma/Irradiation energy,
Nanotechnology, IoT including AI/ML) also offer an opportunity to provide infrastructure
for onion storage and supply chain, besides value addition, even in rural India. Design
innovations are pervading various sectors, including efficient onion storage at the farm
level, rural as well as urban markets. Different process and product development advances
will fetch better returns to farmers and competitive prices for consumers. More
importantly, it will help in addressing the present as well as the impending challenges.
Expected Solution
Extension of shelf life with minimum loss.
Problem Statement ID: 25054
Problem Statement Title: Automated High-Current Short-Circuit Test System
for MCB to comply with IEC 60898-1:2015
Theme: Smart Automation
Background
The safety of electrical installations hinges on reliable Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs).
IEC 60898-1:2015 mandates rigorous short-circuit breaking capacity tests, crucial for
ensuring MCBs perform correctly under severe fault conditions.
Existing Problem
Current manual or semi-automated testing methods for MCBs introduce significant
challenges. These include imprecise R (resistive) and XL (inductive) circuit configurations,
increased test times, and elevated safety risks for personnel during high-energy fault
current generation (up to 10,000A). This impacts test accuracy, repeatability, and overall
safety in the MCB certification process.
Detailed Description
This proposal outlines an automated machine to precisely control test currents, voltages,
and circuit impedance, executing high-current short-circuit tests on single pole, SPN, DP,
TP, and FP MCBs (0.5A-63A) per IEC 60898-1:2015. It features an Automated R and XL
Circuit Combination Module with high-power, automatically switched banks for precise
power factor control. A High-Current Power Source (transformer-based) delivers up to
10,000A. The Test Station includes universal MCB mounting and a critical arc chute for
safety. A sophisticated Control and Data Acquisition System (PLC/Industrial PC) manages
tests, captures high-speed waveforms, and analyzes data. A user-friendly HMI allows
parameter input and automatic report generation. Comprehensive safety systems are
integrated.
Expected Solution
The automated machine will perform MCB breaking capacity tests with
unprecedented accuracy and repeatability, fully adhering to IEC 60898-
1:2015. This automation will ensure precise parameter control, significantly
reduce test times, and enhance safety by minimizing human intervention
during high-energy fault conditions. This state-of-the-art facility will provide a
reliable platform for MCB certification, contributing directly to electrical
safety and quality assurance.
Problem Statement ID: 25064
Problem Statement Title: Improving the Renewable Energy hosting capacity
in Distribution Feeders improving the Power quality of Distribution network
during high RE injection.
Theme: Renewable / Sustainable Energy
Background
Kerala has a large penetration of Roof Top Solar PV systems amounting to
nearly 1500 MW. These systems are connected to low voltage distribution
feeders either in single-phase or three-phase mode. A majority of the
systems are below 5 kW and hence get connected in single-phase, which
causes severe unbalanced loading in feeders and results in an uneven voltage
profile. This unbalanced loading also limits the quantum of PV that can be
integrated into the network.
Any load balancing work carried out during daytime under PV injection gets
negated during the evening peak hours when solar power is unavailable. This
situation calls for a solution that can dynamically reconfigure the network
based on renewable energy (RE) injection and local demand scenarios.
Expected Solution
A cost-effective controller incorporating IoT and edge intelligence can be
developed at the local node level for auto-balancing of the load across
various phases in a feeder under the above conditions.
Problem Statement ID: 25063
Problem Statement Title: Developing a cost effective solution for detecting
the breakage of Low Voltage AC Distribution Over Head conductors
Theme: Disaster Management
Background
A cost-effective solution is required for detecting the breakage of Low Voltage
AC Distribution Over Head conductors towards isolating the source of supply
to prevent hazardous electric shock scenarios to the public, while also
sending alarms to the concerned section office for immediate fault
rectification.
Recently, several cases of accidental deaths of children and adults due to
electrocution from broken live conductors lying on the ground were reported
in Kerala. Low voltage distribution lines often snap due to falling trees during
natural calamities and also due to aging or corrosion. This dangerous
condition is not detected or isolated by upstream fuses in these feeders
because of high earth resistance and low fault current, leading to
electrocution deaths when people come into contact with live bare
conductors. Many existing solutions identified so far are not cost-effective or
viable for the vast distribution network.
Expected Solution
An innovative solution based on IoT and AI, including edge intelligence, may
provide an economical and scalable solution for this socially relevant problem
faced by KSEBL.
Problem Statement ID: 25062
Problem Statement Title: Implementation of Smart Agriculture for Efficient
Cultivation in Hilly Regions
Theme: Agriculture, FoodTech & Rural Development
Background
The agricultural region of Jorethang in South Sikkim experiences harsh, rainless summers
and frequent water scarcity, making traditional irrigation unreliable and inefficient.
Farmers struggle to provide adequate water to crops, often leading to reduced yields and
wasted resources. With climate change intensifying these issues, there's a pressing need
for a sustainable, smart irrigation approach that maximizes water efficiency and crop
productivity. Integrating rainwater harvesting, sensor-based monitoring, and crop-specific
intelligence offers a forward-thinking solution to these regional challenges.
Proposed Solution
AgroSmart: A Sensor-Based Smart Irrigation System with Crop Intelligence and
Rainwater Harvesting. This system aims to provide affordable, automated irrigation
tailored to each crop’s needs using soil moisture and environmental sensors. It integrates a
rainwater harvesting unit with real-time water level monitoring, ensuring efficient water
use even during dry periods.
The solution will include:
- Soil moisture and temperature sensors to monitor field conditions.
- A crop database that determines optimal watering levels.
- Automated valve control through microcontrollers (Arduino/ESP32).
- Rainwater harvesting with level sensors to track available water.
- A mobile/web dashboard for farmers to monitor data and control irrigation remotely.
- Alerts and updates via SMS or app to keep farmers informed.
Impact
Conserves water, improves crop yields, minimizes manual labour, and helps
farmers in Jorethang adapt to climate variability with a smart, self-sustaining
irrigation system.
Problem Statement ID: 25072
Problem Statement Title: Design and Implementation of Solar-Powered
Dewatering in Mining Operations.
Theme: Renewable / Sustainable Energy.
Background
The current dewatering system at our copper mining site relies heavily on electrically
operated pumps, often supplemented by diesel generators during power outages. This
traditional setup not only leads to high operational expenses due to electricity and fuel
consumption, but also contributes to increased carbon emissions, operational complexity,
and maintenance challenges.
In light of rising energy costs and the need for reliable and sustainable mine dewatering
solutions, there is a pressing need to explore alternative approaches. Solar-powered
dewatering systems offer a viable solution, leveraging renewable energy to reduce costs,
ensure consistent pump operation, and support broader environmental and sustainability
goals. Implementing such systems under an OPEX (Operational Expenditure) model aligns
with the strategy to minimize capital expenditure while transitioning to cleaner and more
efficient mining practices.
Problem
This outlines the implementation of solar-powered dewatering pumps at the copper
mining site under an OPEX model. The system will integrate solar photovoltaic (PV)
modules with energy-efficient submersible or surface pumps, designed to meet site-
specific dewatering requirements.
A third-party vendor will be engaged to install, operate, and maintain the system through
a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or operational lease, eliminating the need for upfront
capital investment by HCL. The system can be configured as stand-alone solar or hybrid
(solar with grid/diesel backup) to ensure uninterrupted pumping. The proposed solution
aims to reduce operational energy costs, enhance dewatering reliability, and support
environmental commitments by minimizing diesel use and lowering carbon emissions.
Technical specifications are attached.
Expected Solution
Deployment of solar-powered, energy-efficient dewatering pumps under an OPEX model
to ensure reliable, low-cost, and eco-friendly mine dewatering. The system will reduce
diesel and electricity usage, include hybrid backup, and feature vendor-managed
operation and maintenance.
Problem Statement ID: 25090
Problem Statement Title: GREY WATER MANAGEMENT AND REUSE WET
LAND MANAGEMENT WATER CONSERVATION.
Theme: Clean & Green Technology
Description:
GREY WATER MANAGEMENT AND REUSE WET LAND MANAGEMENT WATER
CONSERVATION
Problem Statement ID: 25085
Problem Statement Title:
Solution for NON-REVENUE LOSS IN WATER SUPPLY Solution to improve
AWARENESS IN WATER CONSERVATION TREATMENT OF WASTE WATER AND
REUSE FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES
Theme: Miscellaneous
Description:
Solution for NON-REVENUE LOSS IN WATER SUPPLY Solution to improve AWARENESS IN
WATER CONSERVATION TREATMENT OF WASTE WATER AND REUSE FOR DOMESTIC
PURPOSES
Problem Statement ID: 25084
Problem Statement Title: Earthquake stabilised dialysis system for patient
safety during seismic events.
Theme: Disaster Management
Description:
India's substantial chronic kidney disease patient population relies on dialysis services
available from sub divisional level hospitals to specialist Centres including mobile units.
Current dialysis infrastructure lacks earthquake resistant technology, potentially resulting
in treatment interruption and patient mortality during seismic events. A stabilisation
system would ensure continuous dialysis delivery during earthquake, safeguarding
patient's life.
