National Level Achievements

On the National Stage

Dive into the world of national triumphs - where dedication, skill, and the pursuit of excellence took centre stage on the national platform. Discover the stories behind these remarkable milestones.

NSG Digirakshak Hackathon (2021-22)

Discover my remarkable journey in the NSG Digirakshak Hackathon 2021-22, where my team secured the prestigious 2nd rank at the National level. We proudly stood as the only team of students among seasoned professionals, showcasing our dedication and innovation.

A Year-Long Endeavor: Our Journey to Excellence

Our journey to success in the NSG Digirakshak Hackathon 2022 was a year-long endeavor that tested our mettle and pushed our boundaries. It was a path marked with determination, innovation, and unyielding dedication. Alongside four talented team members, we formed 'Team MindHawks.' The name symbolizes a sharp mind akin to a hawk soaring high in the sky, yet pinpointing the exact location of its target.

Our problem statement was "Surveillance for Counter Hijack Operations", where we had to design and develop a drone-based aircraft scanning system. The National Security Guard has very limited surveillance capability in counter-hijack operations. In case the window shutters have been pulled down by the hijacker, there is no way to detect and identify the location of hostages and hijackers. There was accordingly a need to develop drone-based aircraft scanners with a capability to see the situation inside a hijacked aircraft.

Over the course of approximately a year, we embarked on a transformative journey. This period of intense work and relentless pursuit of excellence culminated in a defining moment - the Final and Felicitation Ceremony at NSG Campus, Manesar, Haryana, on the 15th of October, 2022. It was on this day that our hard work and commitment were recognized and celebrated on a national stage.

Challenges and Triumphs

The complexities of our project demanded innovative solutions and tireless dedication. We grappled with technical intricacies, time constraints, and the need for precision in every aspect of our work. It was a journey that required us to push the boundaries of our knowledge and problem-solving skills.

One of the main challenges we faced was arranging funds for our research and prototype building. As students, we lacked a stable source of income, and the cost of drone parts - significantly higher than traditional robotics components - added to the financial strain. Despite these hurdles, our determination remained unwavering. This challenge became an opportunity, teaching us valuable lessons in fundraising and the art of convincing people to invest in our vision.

Teamwork and Leadership in Action

As the Team Coordinator, I had the privilege of leading this talented group, ensuring that we moved in the right direction towards our goal. It was a role that required not only organizational skills but also the ability to foster collaboration and unity within the team.

In addition, effective external communication was paramount. I needed the ability to present our vision convincingly to anyone we interacted with - whether potential sponsors, mentors, or judges.

Within the scope of our project, my technical responsibilities encompassed Image Processing using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Region-Based CNNs (RCNN); Real-Time Object Detection - creating, analyzing, and refining models for precise results; and Drone Automation through scripting, facilitating seamless operations of the Raspberry Pi 4B and Pixhawk Orange Cube.

A Remarkable Journey to the Finals

Amidst this intense competition, we emerged as one of the top 5 teams, securing our place in the finals. What made this achievement even more extraordinary was that we stood as the only team of students among seasoned professionals. 

Our presence in the finals was a validation of our capabilities and innovative approach. It demonstrated that when passion meets expertise and dedication, students can compete at the highest level and achieve exceptional results.

Gratitude to Our Supporters

Throughout this remarkable journey, we didn't walk alone. We were accompanied by our invaluable project guide, Hima Soni, whose guidance and expertise were instrumental in shaping our project. Our gratitude also extends to Saffrony Institute of Technology for their unwavering support. We were very fortunate to receive guidance from various industry experts and seniors, and we owe a debt of gratitude to all the distinguished individuals who believed in our vision.

Additionally, inspired by the support we received, we felt compelled to give back to our community. We organized engaging sessions on drones and computers for students in nearby villages, ranging from Class 1 to 12. It was our way of sharing knowledge and empowering the next generation - a small act that reinforced our commitment to contributing beyond the competition.

Energized for Future Challenges!!

The experience gained through this remarkable journey has equipped me with valuable skills, insights, and a deep understanding of the significance of innovation and dedication in addressing complex challenges. I am eager to harness this knowledge and apply it to future endeavors that have the potential to make a meaningful impact.

My commitment to ongoing encouragement and exploration of uncharted territories remains unwavering. I recognize that the path to excellence is marked by continuous learning and adaptation. With every project I undertake, I aspire to raise the bar and set new standards of achievement!!

National Entrepreneurship Challenge 2023 - IIT Bombay 

Team Pratyasha, E-Cell SIT  |  Head of Public Relations & Hospitality  |  Sep 2022 - Feb 2023 

I wasn't even supposed to be in NEC!

I was sitting in a faculty's cabin giving my extra tests when my friends walked in, said "give me your Aadhar," and registered us into the National Entrepreneurship Challenge before I could say yes or no. That's how Team Pratyasha's NEC journey began - not with a strategy session, not with a plan - with a group of people who decided we were doing this, had enough confidence in me, whether we were ready or not.

NEC is organized by IIT Bombay's E-Cell and open to college teams across the country. It isn't a project competition - there's no prototype to build or product to pitch. Instead, participating teams are given a series of entrepreneurship challenges to execute within their own colleges, graded on how well they design and run them, and then ranked nationally against every other competing institution.

We had just come off a year-long NSG Hackathon. My team had collectively agreed: no more competitions for a while. NEC registered us in September. Finals were in the first week of next February.

Six Months of Building Something From Nothing

We were the founding members of E-Cell SIT - the Entrepreneurship Cell of Saffrony Institute of Technology. Mr. Dhiren Parekh, who taught us PLDC (Professional and Life Skill Development Course), was the one who pushed us to start it. It was his idea to register for NEC, his belief that we were capable of it, and his mentorship that held the whole thing together. Building an E-Cell from scratch while simultaneously running a national competition with a 40-member team is not something you fully appreciate in the moment. You appreciate it later, looking back.

The challenges we ran under NEC spanned everything - from building our college's social media brand to offline advertising campaigns to organizing events that the entire campus could participate in. The crown jewel of all of it was Eureka - our college-wide Shark Tank event.

Students formed their own teams, built business ideas, and pitched to a panel of sharks - industry experts we had personally invited, coordinated, and hosted. They were evaluated on pitch quality, product relevance, deals cracked, and a set of criteria the panel assessed live. We were responsible for everything: venue, technical setup, anchoring, management, food, end-to-end. Not just for Eureka - for every challenge we ran under the NEC umbrella.

My Role: Head of Public Relations & Hospitality 

For six months, my job had two faces.

The first was external - PR. I coordinated with media and marketing teams to manage how Team Pratyasha presented itself to the outside world. Every event we ran had a public face, and keeping that face consistent, professional, and visible across platforms was my responsibility

The second was people - hospitality. Every time we brought in a guest, an expert, a shark, or a faculty member, I was the person ensuring they were received well, taken care of, had everything they needed, and left with a good impression of our team and our college. And I didn't do it alone - I made sure every person under me was as capable of doing it as I was. The standard wasn't just me. The standard was the entire department.

The Finals - IIT Bombay 

Qualifying as the 18th team nationally - top 50 out of every college competing in the Basic track - meant we were going to IIT Bombay.

Aap Mumbai aa rhe hai :)

I hadn't seen anything like that campus in my life. The scale of it, the energy on it, the density of people who were clearly thinking about the same things we were thinking about - it hit differently than I expected. I'd always had this idea that IIT students were at a different league, operating at a level we couldn't touch. What I actually found was people trying to solve the same problems, with the same uncertainty, the same restless energy. That realization - that the gap between "us" and "them" was far smaller than I'd imagined - is something I carried back with me.

While the president managed overall team communication at IIT Bombay, my role shifted to something more grounded: making sure 15-20 of my teammates - boys and girls, some of whom had never stepped outside their home state before - were fed, housed, comfortable, and had everything they needed throughout the finals. I wasn't alone in this; two teammates and I split the responsibility. But the weight of it was real. These were people who trusted that someone had the logistics handled. That someone was me.

Day 1: Stage 1

Three members per team were sent into the auditorium for the first competition stage without being told in advance what the task would be. I was one of the three chosen. After a brief address, we were given approximately an hour to analyze a set of research papers and articles - answering questions, drawing conclusions, working through calculations. We did what we could, went out for dinner at the campus food stalls, made our way to the hotel, and eleven of us ended up in one room at midnight talking, laughing, being twenty-somethings far from home for the first time together.

At 5:30 AM, the president received an email. We had qualified for Stage 2.

Day 2: Stage 2 

Six members per team. I was one of them.

The day had three parts running simultaneously.

The first: all teams were given one hour to design a complete event flow and PR strategy. This is where I designed three posters from scratch - built entirely within that window, under competition conditions, on the IIT Bombay campus. No templates. No reference files. Just a task, a deadline, and whatever I knew.

The second: one member from each team went into a Group Discussion round. Our president went for this.

The third - and the one I was chosen for - was the part that stayed with me longest. Once the group task ended, five members of each team were released. One remained per team. I was that one for Pratyasha.

The remaining members were grouped into random three-person teams across colleges. I got one teammate from Bihar and one from Pune. We were given fifteen minutes to align on a position and then pitch it to a panel of evaluators.

The question: a college that previously competed in NEC had not participated for 2-3 years due to COVID. Next year, should they enter the Basic track or Advanced track - given they're eligible for either?

I argued Basic. My reasoning: regardless of prior experience, the current team is likely a mix of new and returning members. New members don't know the competition's rhythms. Rebuilding in Basic gives the team a year to re-calibrate before competing at the harder level. The girl from Pune agreed. The guy from Bihar argued Advanced.

We aligned on Basic and pitched it together.

The counter from the panel landed cleanly: even half the prior team returning would give them a resource advantage no Basic track team would have. Going Basic wastes that advantage. It would be like IPL players dropping to Under-19 because they missed one season.

Looking back - they were right. And what's interesting is that at the time, I was someone who planned extensively before moving, who valued certainty over speed, who disliked the idea of losing enough that I'd choose the safer path. Today I run small experiments to test an idea rather than plan it to perfection first. The answer I gave in that room was a reflection of a version of me that no longer fully exists.

We didn't qualify for Stage 3. We never found out whether it was the group task, the GD, or the pitch that made the difference. That'll probably stay a mystery.

What This Was 

Airport Authority of India, Ahmedabad (2023)

Discover my team's engagement with Airport Authority of India, Ahmedabad, where we presented our innovative drone prototype and explored collaborative opportunities to enhance airport operations.

This unique opportunity allowed us to showcase our innovative drone prototype and its potential applications within the airport environment. The Airport Authority of India, Ahmedabad, responded with keen interest and valuable feedback. Engaging with high-profile individuals including the General Manager of ATM, the Senior IT Manager, the CNS In-charge, the Chief Security Officer, and the Network In-charge, we received insights that further refined our vision and goals.

Our presentation commenced with a comprehensive overview of the drone's configuration, highlighting its technical specifications, capabilities, and operational efficiency. We provided a detailed demonstration of how our prototype could revolutionize various airport services - streamlining workflows and enhancing overall operational efficiency.

One of the key aspects we emphasized was the drone's role in surveillance and security enhancement. We illustrated how it could be utilized for real-time monitoring, incident response, and perimeter patrolling, ensuring the safety and security of airport premises. Furthermore, we discussed the drone's potential in supporting airport infrastructure maintenance - inspecting runways, taxiways, and other critical facilities, emphasizing the potential cost savings and efficiency improvements.

This presentation marked a significant step in my journey towards innovation and collaboration with industry leaders. Walking into that room as students and walking out with the serious attention and substantive feedback of people at that level - on something we'd built from scratch - was a lesson I couldn't have learned in a classroom.

The team

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