New Delhi: As cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated and artificial intelligence continues to reshape the digital security landscape, more than 600 teams have registered for CyberKushti 2026, a national-level AI and cybersecurity hackathon focused on identifying and nurturing emerging cyber talent across India.
CyberKushti 2026 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. The competition is structured to assess practical cybersecurity skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving capabilities and cyber defence competencies.
The hackathon is open to students, independent researchers and working professionals. Participants will compete in three-member teams through progressively challenging rounds. Registrations will remain open until September 10, 2026.
The first stage, “The Akhada,” will take place online on September 15. The six-hour challenge will centre on identifying false positives, testing participants’ ability to analyse cybersecurity scenarios effectively. The top 50 teams will qualify for the second round.
The second stage, “The Dangal,” will be conducted online on September 24. Participants will receive eight hours to construct the correct cybersecurity kill chain, evaluating their ability to understand, analyse and respond to simulated cyberattack scenarios. The top 10 teams will progress to the grand finale.
The final stage, “The Kesari,” will be held in person in New Delhi on October 9 as part of NCCDFI 2026. The finalists will participate in a full-day technical 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 earn the title “Cyber Kesari 2026” and receive a traditional gada (mace) during the NCCDFI 2026 valedictory session. The second- and third-place teams will be recognised as “Rustam” and “Pahalwan,” respectively. The competition carries ₹2.5 lakh in total cash prizes, along with certificates, individual scorecards and NSD recognition credits.
Recognition will extend beyond the winning teams. Participants in the first round will receive certificates of participation and individual scorecards, while teams progressing beyond Round 1 will additionally receive National Security Database recognition credits.
The ISAC Foundation will oversee the technical execution of the hackathon, including technical challenge development, 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 expanding access to cybersecurity opportunities. Educational institutions, companies, professional networks and cybersecurity communities are being encouraged to share the competition with interested students, employees and members.
With 600-plus teams already registered, CyberKushti 2026 is emerging as a national platform for cybersecurity talent to demonstrate practical capabilities, compete with peers and gain recognition in the rapidly evolving domain of AI and cyber defence.
Registrations are free and close on September 10, 2026.
