Gujarat Police Innovation Challenge 2026: AI Winners Get ₹18 Lakh
Winning teams of the Sentinel Hackathon 2026 receive ₹18 lakh as Gujarat Police embraces AI and CCTV for smart policing.
The future of law enforcement in India took a massive leap forward at the conclusion of the Gujarat Police Innovation Challenge 2026, also known as the Sentinel Hackathon. Held at i-Hub in Ahmedabad, this landmark event, recognized as India’s largest AI-CCTV hackathon, concluded with the distribution of ₹18 lakh in cash prizes to the winning teams of its first phase.
The two-day intensive competition brought together researchers, startups, and innovators from across the country to tackle real-world security challenges using cutting-edge technology. The initiative aims to revolutionize how the state manages public safety by integrating Artificial Intelligence with existing CCTV infrastructure.
A Human-Centric Approach to Technology
Presiding over the valedictory ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi highlighted that the true goal of this technological shift is to support the people behind the uniform. He noted that the challenge received an overwhelming response, with over 3,100 registrations and 1,000 unique innovative solutions submitted.
"This challenge is not merely about technological infrastructure; it is about saving the ‘human hours’ of our police personnel through AI and software integration. By reducing the workload on officers, we aim to improve the quality of their social and family lives," said Deputy Chief Minister Sanghavi.
While the first phase awarded ₹18 lakh, the total prize pool for the entire two-phase initiative is set at a staggering ₹51 lakh.
Breaking New Ground with Live CCTV Integration
In a first for the country, the hackathon moved beyond theoretical models to practical, real-world applications. Participants utilized live CCTV feeds to demonstrate high-tech capabilities, including:
- Real-time Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR): Instantly identifying vehicles.
- Advanced Vehicle Tracking: Monitoring movement across networks.
- Watchlist Matching: Using AI to flag suspicious individuals instantly.
State Police Chief G. S. Malik emphasized that merging the state's extensive CCTV network with video analytics will shift policing from reactive to proactive. He stated that these tools will be instrumental in preventing crimes and generating real-time alerts to identify suspicious activities before they escalate.
New Digital Tools Launched for Identity Verification
The event also served as a launchpad for two significant digital systems developed by the Ahmedabad City Crime Branch, designed to tighten security in public and private spaces:
- Prati Raksha: This is India's first UIDAI-recognized, consent-based digital identity verification system.
- Pathik 2.0: A specialized system for hotels, PGs, and industrial units to verify employee identities accurately using real-time QR codes and facial recognition technology.
The Sentinel Hackathon is set to create a unified, data-driven platform that brings together CCTV cameras from various state departments, establishing a new national benchmark for smart policing and integrated public safety management.