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Niral Thiruvizha 2.0

Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) introduced the Naan Mudhalvan Niral Thiruvizha Hackathon for final-year engineering students. This initiative seeks to inspire students' innovative and entrepreneurial thinking to address persistent issues and real-world problems with technology-driven solutions that improve quality of life.

In total, TNSDC received 8,486 idea submissions involving 28,450 students from 290 engineering institutions, covering 65 problem statements across ten themes. Additionally, 9,032 faculty members from these institutions enrolled as faculty guides to mentor the students.

The problem statements span a wide range of societal needs, focusing on areas such as Digital Twin technology, Blockchain technology, Plastic degradation, Game-based education, Digital platforms for promoting heritage and culture, Groundwater depletion, Multimedia & animation, Small-scale cold storage for horticulture, Composting solutions, Water contamination, Prosthetic arms, Semi-automatic devices for cashew processing, Food waste reduction, Dust emission, Image processing algorithms for X-rays, Solar panel efficiency, Industrial automation, E-waste, Livestock shelter, honeycombing, and more.

Students proposed solutions using technology for the diverse topics under the ten themes, with ideas shortlisted as follows: Agriculture and Food Technology (185 ideas), Clean and Green Technology (120 ideas), Education 4.0 (64 ideas), Health/MedTech (117 ideas), Heritage & Culture (8 ideas), Renewable & Sustainable Energy (52 ideas), Smart Manufacturing (91 ideas), Smart Town/City (243 ideas), Waste Management (93 ideas), and Water & Soil Conservation (27 ideas).

An expert committee comprising academic and industry experts evaluated the problem statements within each theme based on five parameters: Impact, Innovation, Scalability, Feasibility & Viability, and Execution plan. The top 1,000 ideas were shortlisted, and the results were published. A grant of ₹10,000 was awarded to each of these 1,000 teams to support prototype development.

TNSDC held the regional review for shortlisted 1000 ideas from June 25-28, 2024, at eight venues across six cities in TamilNadu (Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, and Tirunelveli). The final evaluation took place on September 23, 2024, at the CUIC auditorium at Anna University, where an expert committee assessed 124 teams for commercial viability and innovation, identifying the top 50 teams.

A residential boot camp was conducted on October 25-26, 2024, in Nagercoil. The boot camp aimed to support and nurture the winning teams of Niral Thiruvizha 1.0, helping them evolve into successful startups. The boot camp provided a platform for participants to learn from experts, network with peers, and gain valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship. All 50 teams received StartUpTN smart cards, which will provide them with access to various resources and benefits.

Tamil Nadu government’s visionary initiatives like the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme and the Niral Thiruvizha Hackathon are not only empowering students with industry-relevant skills but are also fostering a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs ready to tackle real-world challenges. The government’s commitment to bridging the skill gap and fostering innovation has paved the way for countless students to envision impactful solutions and bring them to life. Through such forward-thinking programs, Tamil Nadu is setting a powerful example for educational and entrepreneurial development, positioning itself as a leader in skill development and inclusive growth.