CyberKushti 2026 Crosses 600-Team Registration Mark for National AI and Cybersecurity Hackathon

New Delhi: More than 600 teams have already registered for CyberKushti 2026, a national-level AI and cybersecurity hackathon bringing together cybersecurity talent from across the country. The challenge is structured to enable students, researchers and professionals to apply technical capabilities to real-world cybersecurity problems.

Organised by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in association with the National Security Database (NSD) and ISAC Foundation, CyberKushti 2026 places emphasis on practical cybersecurity skills, analytical reasoning, structured problem-solving and cyber defence.

The competition architecture consists of three progressive stages, each designed around a distinct cybersecurity capability. Teams will comprise three members, with registrations open until September 10, 2026.

The initial stage, “The Akhada,” is scheduled online for September 15. The six-hour challenge will test participants on the identification of false positives. Based on performance in this round, the top 50 teams will qualify for the next stage.

Round 2, “The Dangal,” will take place online on September 24. Teams will receive an eight-hour challenge requiring them to construct the correct cybersecurity kill chain. The progression mechanism will reduce the field to 10 finalist teams.

The final technical challenge, “The Kesari,” will be conducted in New Delhi on October 9 as part of NCCDFI 2026. The finalists will face a full-day, in-person challenge focused on the creation of the best virtual patch for zero-day vulnerabilities. The final results will be declared during the NCCDFI 2026 closing session on October 10.

The winning team will be designated “Cyber Kesari 2026” and will receive a traditional gada on stage during the valedictory session. The second- and third-ranked teams will receive the titles “Rustam” and “Pahalwan,” respectively. The competition additionally carries ₹2.5 lakh in total cash prizes, as well as certificates, scorecards and National Security Database recognition credits.

CyberKushti 2026 will also provide performance-based recognition outside the final rankings. Participants competing in Round 1 will receive certificates and individual scorecards, while teams progressing beyond the opening round will receive NSD recognition credits.

The technical framework of the competition will be managed by the ISAC Foundation, covering challenge design, competition architecture, evaluation methodology and the jury responsible for assessing participating teams.

Inclusive participation remains a key focus of the organisers, who are particularly encouraging women and cybersecurity enthusiasts from rural and underserved communities to participate. Companies, academic institutions, professional groups and cybersecurity communities are also being encouraged to distribute the opportunity through their respective networks.

With participation already surpassing 600 registered teams, CyberKushti 2026 is expected to assemble a diverse national pool of emerging cybersecurity talent while providing a competitive environment for participants to test their technical capabilities.

Registrations are free and close on September 10, 2026.