CyberKushti 2026 Gains Momentum with 600+ Teams Registered for National Cybersecurity Challenge

New Delhi: Cybersecurity talent from across India is converging for CyberKushti 2026, with more than 600 teams already registered for the national-level AI and cybersecurity hackathon. The competition is designed to provide students, researchers and cybersecurity professionals with a technical environment to demonstrate their capabilities through real-world cybersecurity challenges.

CyberKushti 2026 is being 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. The hackathon is focused on practical cybersecurity competencies, including analytical reasoning, problem-solving, technical assessment and cyber defence.

The competition will operate through three distinct stages, with each round structured to evaluate a different dimension of participants’ cybersecurity capabilities. Each participating team will comprise three members, while registrations will remain open until September 10, 2026.

The first stage, “The Akhada,” will be conducted online on September 15. Participants will have six hours to solve challenges centred on the identification of false positives. At the conclusion of Round 1, the 50 highest-performing teams will advance to the next stage.

The second stage, “The Dangal,” is scheduled to take place online on September 24. The eight-hour cybersecurity challenge will require teams to build the correct cybersecurity kill chain. Only 10 teams will qualify for the final stage.

The competition will conclude with “The Kesari” in New Delhi on October 9, as part of NCCDFI 2026. The finalists will participate in an intensive, full-day, in-person cybersecurity challenge focused on creating the best virtual patch for zero-day vulnerabilities. The results will be announced during the NCCDFI 2026 closing session on October 10.

The winning team will receive the prestigious title of “Cyber Kesari 2026” and will be presented with a traditional gada on stage during the valedictory session. The second- and third-place teams will be recognised as “Rustam” and “Pahalwan.” The hackathon also offers ₹2.5 lakh in total cash prizes, along with certificates, scorecards and National Security Database recognition credits.

Recognition will extend beyond the final rankings. Participants appearing in Round 1 will receive certificates and individual scorecards, while teams advancing beyond the first round will receive NSD recognition credits.

The ISAC Foundation will oversee the technical components of CyberKushti 2026, including challenge design, competition architecture, evaluation methodology and the jury responsible for evaluating participating teams.

The organisers are also emphasising inclusive participation, with particular encouragement for women and cybersecurity enthusiasts from rural and underserved communities. Companies, academic institutions, professional groups and cybersecurity communities are being encouraged to circulate the opportunity through their respective networks.

With registrations already exceeding 600 teams, CyberKushti 2026 is set to bring together a diverse pool of emerging cybersecurity talent and offer participants a competitive national-level environment to assess and demonstrate their technical skills.

Registrations are free and close on September 10, 2026.