FAMT HackForge 2026: A Two-Day “Mystery Engineering Challenge” Organised by the EXTC Department
The Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering (EXTC), through the Association of Students of Electronics and Telecommunication (ASENT) and in association with the IETE Students’ Forum (ISF), organized FAMT HackForge 2026 on 9th and 10th October 2026 at the EXTC Department, Finolex Academy of Management & Technology (FAMT), Ratnagiri.
Themed “Where Constraints Create Innovation” and built around Technology for Social Good, it was a 6-hour hackathon combining Hardware, Software and AI in which each team took part on one of the two days.
A total of 50 teams of four students each (200 participants) took part. Every team received an Arduino Uno and a set of mystery components (25 different combinations were prepared). Teams could not choose their components and had no ready problem statement. They had to decide on a real-world problem on their own, build a working hardware prototype supported by software, and align the solution with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The brainstorming round was held without mobile phones, AI tools or internet. After it, AI use was limited to three 15-minute “lifelines”, with progressive mark deductions for any extra use. Projects were judged out of 100 marks on Brainstorming, Hardware Implementation, Software/Coding, Working Prototype, SDG alignment and Presentation.
Inauguration
The inauguration was held on Friday, 9th October 2026 at 09:15 a.m. in the Seminar Hall, EXTC Department. The Chief Guest was Dr. Sudhir G. Akojwar, Principal, Loknete Shamrao Peje Government College of Engineering, Ratnagiri. The ceremony began with lamp lighting and Saraswati Poojan, and was hosted by Ms. Anushka Ghanekar, who also welcomed the guests. It was attended by the Principal of FAMT, Dr. Kaushal Prasad, the Vice Principal of FAMT, Dr. Milind Yadav, the Head of the Department, Dr. Sharada V. Chougule, and the Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Girish G. Bhide, along with faculty, student organisers and participants.
The Chief Guest appreciated the event and its management. He spoke about the energy of young people and encouraged them to keep a habit of continuous learning and a positive, smiling outlook. He also urged the students to build a community around upcoming events and bring a large number of young people together for collective contribution. The HoD appreciated the organising team and the collective effort of the entire HackForge team. Dr. Kaushal Prasad, Principal, appreciated the organisers and noted that the team had spent about two months in discussion and brainstorming for the event. He also shared an experience from his time at IIT Kharagpur, where he sat an open-book test that was among the hardest he had faced, as the answers were not easy to find even with books open, and only a few students could frame them. Dr. Girish G. Bhide, Faculty Coordinator, also addressed the gathering.
