CyberKushti 2026 Draws 600+ Teams for National AI, Cybersecurity and Cyber Defence Challenge

New Delhi: More than 600 teams have already entered CyberKushti 2026, a national-level AI and cybersecurity hackathon designed to identify and nurture emerging cyber talent across India amid increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats and the growing role of artificial intelligence in the digital security landscape.

The hackathon is being 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. Its technical focus spans practical cybersecurity skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving and cyber defence.

CyberKushti 2026 is open to students, independent researchers and working professionals. Participants will operate in three-member teams and progress through a sequence of increasingly challenging technical assessments. Registration remains open until September 10, 2026.

The competition begins with “The Akhada” on September 15, conducted online. This six-hour assessment focuses on the identification of false positives, requiring participants to effectively analyse cybersecurity scenarios. The 50 highest-performing teams will proceed to the second stage.

Round 2, “The Dangal,” will take place online on September 24. The eight-hour technical challenge requires participants to construct the correct cybersecurity kill chain, testing their ability to understand, analyse and respond to simulated cyberattack scenarios. The qualification threshold will reduce the field to the top 10 teams.

The final stage, “The Kesari,” will be conducted in person in New Delhi on October 9 as part of NCCDFI 2026. The finalists will face a full-day challenge focused on developing the best virtual patch for zero-day vulnerabilities. The winners 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 (mace) during the NCCDFI 2026 valedictory session. The second- and third-place teams will receive the titles “Rustam” and “Pahalwan,” respectively. The competition also features ₹2.5 lakh in total cash prizes, certificates, individual scorecards and NSD recognition credits.

The recognition mechanism extends across the competition rather than being limited to the final rankings. Participants in Round 1 will receive certificates of participation and individual scorecards, while teams progressing beyond Round 1 will additionally receive National Security Database recognition credits.

Technical execution will be overseen by the ISAC Foundation, including technical challenge development, competition structure, evaluation framework and constitution of the jury responsible for assessing participating teams.

The organisers are placing additional emphasis on participation from women and individuals from rural and underserved communities, seeking broader access to cybersecurity opportunities. Educational institutions, companies, professional networks and cybersecurity communities are being encouraged to circulate the competition among students, employees and members who may be interested in participating.

With registrations exceeding 600 teams, CyberKushti 2026 is emerging as a national competitive environment where cybersecurity talent can demonstrate practical skills, compete against peers and gain recognition within the rapidly evolving AI and cyber defence ecosystem.

Registrations are free and close on September 10, 2026.