NIELIT Launches CYBER KUSHTI 2026 under MeitY

National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) launches CYBER KUSHTI 2026, a national Cybersecurity and AI Hackathon, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The hackathon is conducted with ISAC Foundation under the National Security Database (NSD), with CERT-In as Knowledge Partner, and runs through 3 rounds culminating in a final in New Delhi.

CYBER KUSHTI 2026 (National Cybersecurity and AI Hackathon):

Dimension	Key Details
Focus area	The hackathon focuses on human judgment in cybersecurity, rather than only detecting vulnerabilities.
Assessment input to teams	Teams receive a security assessment containing genuine, false, duplicate, and missed vulnerabilities generated through different security tools and AI systems.
Participant task requirements	Participants identify real threats, reject false findings, prioritise risks, and justify their decisions.
AI tools usage	Participants may use AI tools of their choice.
Competition rounds and dates	The competition comprises 3 rounds: Round 1, Akhada, online on 15 September with 50 teams qualifying; Round 2, Dangal, online on 24 September with 10 teams qualifying; Final round, Kesari, on 9 October at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Final round feature	The final round compares machine-generated analysis with human judgment.
Participation rules	Participation is free and open to students and independent researchers in teams of 3.
Recognition and titles	The winner receives the title “Cyber Kesari 2026”, runners-up are recognised as “Rustam” and “Pahalwan”, participants receive certificates and scorecards, and teams progressing beyond Round 1 receive NSD recognition credits.
Event linkage	The final is held as part of the 3rd National Conference on Cyber Security, Digital Forensics and Intelligence (NCCDFI 2026).
NIELIT status and role	NIELIT is an autonomous scientific society under MeitY and focuses on E&ICT skill development and digital empowerment.
ISAC Foundation status and focus	ISAC Foundation is a registered not-for-profit cybersecurity foundation operating as a Section 8 organisation in India and focuses on Cyber Security, AI, and professional ethics.
NSD description	The National Security Database (NSD) comprises a professional recognition and certification initiative for information-security practitioners.
CERT-In role	CERT-In is the national agency for responding to cybersecurity incidents and serves as Knowledge Partner for the hackathon.