National Hackathon 'Vimarsh-2023' introduced on 5G technology use for police

Vimarsh 2023, Hackathon on 5G is a critical endeavor aimed at developing potential solutions, ideas and prototypes in the form of Minimum Viable Products, designed to empower LEAs in their ongoing efforts against cybercrime and cybersecurity threats within the dynamic landscape of 5G communication technology.

5G technology represents a significant advancement compared to 4G, offering substantial improvements in terms of speed, peak data rates, reduced latency, enhanced spectrum efficiency, and increased connection density. One of its most notable features lies in its diverse applications across various economic sectors. Vimarsh 2023 aims and developing India-specific use cases of Law Enforcement Agencies harnessing the capabilities of 5G and beyond technology.

*The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) is conducting the Hackathon as it has been nominated by Ministry of Home Affairs' Centre of Excellence for the purpose of 5G applications use cases within MHA. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (l4C) is partnering with the BPR&D to have some solutions to the issues being faced by LEAs.*

Registration and idea submission for this Hackathon will be opened between November 1 and December 9, 2023, and the grand finale of Vimarsh 2023 will be on February 28, 2024.

In this Hackathon, nine problem statements have been formulated and the Department of Telecom (DOT) with its subsidiary Telecom Centre of Excellence (TCOE) have joined hands with BPR&D to conduct Hackathon with students, startups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Develop a robust framework to get real time location of mobile users with Internal authentication App (permissions); 3D capturing (AR/VR/XR) of crime scenes using 5G enabled devices also used for capacity building and operations; App and framework for integration of surveillance wearables gadgets using lnternet of Things and subsequent analysis and analytics using Artificial lntelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are among the nine problem statements.

Others are intelligent traffic management 5G enabled Al cameras crime scene management including 3D(AR/VR); develop a data analytic using 5G metadata for predictive policing, HoT spot detection, crime mapping and geo fencing; APP for Emergency response vehicle ( incl. fire dept vehicles ) embedded with 5G CPEs for critical voice/video/data communications; aPP for 5G enabled drones (control and data ) for surveillance, security and safety; create software routing security framework for private network for 5G communication network; and develop an app to give assistance to LEAs in investigation, evidence collection, drafting of charge sheets.

The Hackathon will involve three stages of ideas screening-- stages I and II shall be done in virtual mode whereas stage III will be held at nodal centres in physical mode-- where the 5G testbeds, private networks and labs would be available. The jury for all three stages shall comprise of members from BPR&D, l4C, DOT and Industry. Post completion of stage III, the final names for one winner for each problem statements will be announced during the valedictory session in February 2024. An award money of Rs 1.5 lakh is fixed for winner for each problem statements.

An amount of Rs 2.5 lakh has been earmarked for the productization of winning ideas, proof of concepts (POCs) leading to further incubation, incentivisation and funding to obtain workable tools and solutions for the usage of LEAs.

Director General BPR&D Balaji Srivastava, Chairman of Telecom Centre of Excellence Ajay Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary in MHA Chandraker Bharti, and Rajesh Kumar, CEO, I4C were present during the curtain raiser of Vimarsh-2023. (ANI)