In a significant push to bolster India's digital defence capabilities, the domestic cybersecurity think tank CyberPeace has joined forces with the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (eDC) of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The collaboration has led to the announcement of the eRaksha Hackathon 2026, a national-level event dedicated to cybersecurity, defence AI, and digital safety.
A Confluence of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The hackathon is strategically positioned as an official segment of BECon'26, IIT Delhi's annual entrepreneurship conclave. It also serves as a pre-summit event for the upcoming AI Impact Summit'26. Scheduled to run from January 16 to January 18, 2026, at the IIT Delhi campus, the event will assemble student innovators from across the nation. Their mission is to create deployable, real-world solutions to address the most pressing challenges in digital safety.
The core objective of the E-Raksha Hackathon 2026 is to foster innovation, enhance problem-solving skills, and provide industry-aligned exposure through expert mentorship and collaborative development. Participants will dive into key technological domains including AI and machine learning, threat detection, blockchain, and secure software development.
Problem Statements: Tackling Real-World Threats
This intensive 36-hour competition will revolve around two critical, forward-looking problem statements designed to test the mettle of the participants.
The first challenge, titled "Agentic AI for Securing Home IoT Devices through Deception and Autonomous Defence," will task teams with designing intelligent, self-defending systems. These systems must be capable of autonomously detecting, responding to, and mitigating cyber threats within home Internet of Things (IoT) environments.
The second challenge, "Agentic AI for Deepfake Detection and Authenticity Verification," invites innovators to develop cutting-edge, AI-driven solutions. The goal is to accurately identify manipulated media like deepfakes and ensure the authenticity of digital content, a growing concern in the era of information warfare.
Grand Finale and National Recognition
The journey of the eRaksha Hackathon 2026 will culminate on February 10, 2026, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Select groundbreaking solutions and key insights generated during the hackathon will be showcased at the prestigious India AI Impact Summit 2026. The event promises participants not just national visibility but also a cash prize worth Rs 3 lakh. Furthermore, they will get opportunities to engage with and be felicitated by senior dignitaries from industry, government, policymaking bodies, and the global expert community.
Voices from the Leadership
Emphasising the critical need for responsible AI and robust digital safety frameworks, Professor Lakshmi Narayan Ramasubramanian, In-charge of the Entrepreneurship Development Cell at IIT Delhi, stated that the institute is proud to team up with CyberPeace. He highlighted the hackathon's aim to develop practical, scalable solutions for defence-related problems to enhance national security. "This E-Raksha Hackathon serves as a catalyst for innovation-led cybersecurity solutions, strengthening India’s digital safety ecosystem," he said, adding that it inspires the next generation to build secure and trustworthy digital technologies.
Speaking on the initiative, Major Vineet Kumar, Founder of CyberPeace, underscored the urgency of Responsible AI governance. "We are proud to see the commencement of a Hackathon that fosters real-time innovation and awareness on responsible AI, digital trust, and cybersecurity," he remarked. Major Kumar emphasized the inclusive nature of the platform, which brings together government, industry, academia, and citizens to promote a safe and democratic use of AI.
Conceptualised as a bridge between academic brilliance and real-world cyber challenges, the eRaksha Hackathon 2026 stands as a testament to India's growing focus on creating a sovereign and resilient digital infrastructure. By nurturing future-ready innovators, the event aims to make a meaningful contribution to the nation's digital economy and security posture.
