Octopus Hackathon 2026
Day-long build + CTF. Build for Bihar. Demo on the main stage.
- Prize pool
- To be announced
- Tracks
- 3 + open
- Finalist teams
- [30]
- Format
- Day-long build + CTF
Idea submission closes 25 Oct 2026
Four steps from idea to main stage
- 01
Register
Free. Solo or a team of 2–4. No college nomination needed.
- 02
Idea round (online)
Submit a 5-slide PPT + a 2-minute video by 25 Oct 2026.
- 03
Shortlist
Top [30] teams announced 28 Oct 2026 by email and WhatsApp.
- 04
Grand finale (on-ground)
Day-long build + CTF at Cyber Security & Awards 2026, Patna, ending with a demo on the main stage at the awards finale.
Three categories, judged separately
Each category has its own prize pool.
Junior
Class 8–12
A teacher mentor is compulsory. Robotics and AI tracks only.
College
UG / PG / diploma students
All four tracks open.
Open
Working professionals and startups
All four tracks open.
Problem statements
Pick one statement ID when you register.
Jeopardy-style CTF with Web, OSINT, Digital Forensics, Mobile Forensics, Crypto and Reverse Engineering categories — live scoreboard on the big screen. Or build one of these:
Prize pool
Prize pool to be announced
Junior
- Winner₹[ ]
- 1st runner-up₹[ ]
- 2nd runner-up₹[ ]
College
- Winner₹[ ]
- 1st runner-up₹[ ]
- 2nd runner-up₹[ ]
Open
- Winner₹[ ]
- 1st runner-up₹[ ]
- 2nd runner-up₹[ ]
Special awards
- — Best CTF Team
- — Best Girls' Team
- — Best School Project
- — Best Use of AI for Citizen Safety
Beyond cash
- — Internship interviews at Cyber Octopus for finalists
- — CCFI certification scholarships
- — Trophies on the Octopus Awards stage
- — A certificate for every finalist
Prizes come from the overall prize pool, not on top of it.
What every finalist gets
Meals & chai all day
Wi-Fi + power at every desk
Mentors on the floor
Participation certificate
Expo delegate pass
Swag kit
Rest zone
How projects are scored
CTF track: ranked purely by scoreboard points, tie-break on time.
- Problem fit & impact25%
- Working demo25%
- Technical depth20%
- Innovation15%
- Presentation15%
The finale-day schedule
3 Nov 2026 · 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM IST. Exact slot times may shift slightly.
[08:00]
Check-in & team verification
[09:30]
Opening + problem briefing
[10:30]
Hacking starts
[15:00]
Mentor checkpoint 1
[20:00]
Dinner
[00:00]
Midnight activity (mini CTF / quiz)
[03:00]
Mentor checkpoint 2
[07:30]
Breakfast
[10:30]
Code freeze & submission (GitHub link + demo video)
[11:00]
Jury round
[15:00]
Top 5 demo on the main stage
[18:00]
Results at the Octopus Awards
Rules & eligibility
Auto-shortlist rules
Your team is shortlisted automatically when all of these are true:
- — Idea file uploaded before the deadline: 25 Oct 2026, 23:59 IST
- — File format: PDF, PPT, PPTX (max 10 MB)
- — Team size: at least 2 members
Miss any one and your team stays at "Idea submitted" for manual review by the jury.
Hackathon partners
Track sponsor
Your logo here → Partner with usPrize sponsor
Your logo here → Partner with usCommunity partner
Your logo here → Partner with usQuestions teams ask
Status tracker
0 registered · 0 shortlisted. Upload your idea on the team dashboard before the deadline to be shortlisted automatically.
No shortlisted teams yet — upload your idea to get shortlisted.
Register your team
Free. Takes two minutes.
26
See you on the floor in November.
Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Adhiveshan Bhawan, Patna