New Delhi: With cybersecurity threats becoming increasingly sophisticated and the use of artificial intelligence transforming the digital security landscape, more than 600 teams have already registered for CyberKushti 2026, a national-level AI and cybersecurity hackathon aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging cyber talent across India.
Organised by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the National Security Database (NSD) and ISAC Foundation, CyberKushti 2026 is designed to test participants on practical cybersecurity skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving and cyber defence.
The competition is open to students, independent researchers and working professionals. Participants will compete in teams of three through a series of progressively challenging rounds. Registrations for the hackathon will remain open until September 10, 2026.
The first round, “The Akhada,” will be held online on September 15. The six-hour challenge will focus on identifying false positives and testing participants’ ability to analyse cybersecurity scenarios effectively. The top 50 teams from this round will advance to the next stage.
The second round, “The Dangal,” is scheduled for September 24 and will also be conducted online. Participants will have eight hours to construct the correct cybersecurity kill chain, testing their ability to understand, analyse and respond to simulated cyberattack scenarios. The top 10 teams will qualify for the grand finale.
The final round, “The Kesari,” will be conducted in person in New Delhi on October 9 as part of NCCDFI 2026. The finalists will compete in a full-day challenge focused on developing the best virtual patch for zero-day vulnerabilities. The winners will be announced during the NCCDFI 2026 closing session on October 10.
The winning team will receive the title “Cyber Kesari 2026” and a traditional gada (mace), which will be presented during the NCCDFI 2026 valedictory session. The second- and third-place teams will receive the titles “Rustam” and “Pahalwan,” respectively. The competition also carries total cash prizes of ₹2.5 lakh, along with certificates, individual scorecards and NSD recognition credits.
Recognition will extend beyond the winners. Participants in the first round will receive certificates of participation and individual scorecards, while teams progressing beyond Round 1 will also receive National Security Database recognition credits.
The ISAC Foundation will oversee the technical execution of the hackathon, including the development of technical challenges, competition structure, evaluation framework and constitution of the jury responsible for assessing participating teams.
The organisers are also encouraging participation from women and individuals from rural and underserved communities, with an emphasis on creating broader access to opportunities in cybersecurity. Educational institutions, companies, professional networks and cybersecurity communities are being encouraged to share the competition with students, employees and members who may be interested in participating.
With 600-plus teams already registered, CyberKushti 2026 is emerging as a major national platform for cybersecurity talent to demonstrate practical skills, compete against peers and gain recognition in the rapidly evolving field of AI and cyber defence.
Registrations are free and close on September 10, 2026.
