CyberKushti 2026 Builds National Scale with 600+ Teams in AI and Cybersecurity Hackathon

New Delhi: CyberKushti 2026 is gaining national participation, with more than 600 teams already registered for the AI and cybersecurity hackathon. The competition is being positioned as a platform for identifying and nurturing emerging cyber talent across India at a time when cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and artificial intelligence is transforming the digital security landscape.

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 structured around practical cybersecurity skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving and cyber defence.

The competition brings together students, independent researchers and working professionals, who will compete in teams of three across progressively challenging stages. Registrations will remain open through September 10, 2026.

The competitive sequence begins with “The Akhada,” scheduled online for September 15. During the six-hour challenge, participants will focus on identifying false positives while demonstrating their ability to analyse cybersecurity scenarios effectively. The top 50 teams will move forward.

The next stage, “The Dangal,” will be held online on September 24. Participants will have eight hours to construct the correct cybersecurity kill chain, with the assessment focused on their ability to understand, analyse and respond to simulated cyberattack scenarios. The top 10 teams will advance to the final round.

The concluding stage, “The Kesari,” will take place in person in New Delhi on October 9 as part of NCCDFI 2026. The finalists will participate in a full-day challenge centred 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” along with a traditional gada (mace) presented during the NCCDFI 2026 valedictory session. The second- and third-place teams will be recognised as “Rustam” and “Pahalwan,” respectively. Beyond these titles, the competition offers ₹2.5 lakh in total cash prizes, certificates, individual scorecards and NSD recognition credits.

CyberKushti 2026 also provides recognition to participants beyond the final winners. Those participating in the first round will receive certificates of participation and individual scorecards, while teams progressing beyond Round 1 will receive National Security Database recognition credits.

The ISAC Foundation will oversee the technical execution of the hackathon, covering 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 emphasis on expanding access to cybersecurity opportunities. 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 taking part.

With 600-plus teams already registered, CyberKushti 2026 is emerging as a significant 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.