IIM Bangalore CDPG Case Challenge 2026:The Centre for Digital Public Goods (CDPG) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has invited undergraduate and postgraduate students from across India to participate in the CDPG National Student Case Challenge 2026. The competition will focus on technology, policy and governance issues related to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), with DigiYatra serving as the central case.
The competition will be conducted in two stages. Shortlisted teams will compete in the national finals at the IIM Bangalore campus on September 30, 2026. The total prize pool for the competition is ₹5 lakh, with the winner of each of the three tracks receiving ₹1 lakh.
IIM Bangalore CDPG Case Challenge 2026: Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | CDPG National Student Case Challenge 2026 |
| Institute | IIM Bangalore |
| Organiser | Centre for Digital Public Goods |
| Central Case | DigiYatra |
| Total Prize Pool | ₹5 lakh |
| Team Size | 5 students |
| Stage I Deadline | September 7, 2026, 6 PM IST |
| Shortlisted Teams | 9 |
| National Finals | September 30, 2026 |
| Final Venue | IIM Bangalore campus |
Who Can Participate in IIMB Case Challenge 2026?
The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in a recognised college or university in India. Students from any academic discipline can participate, making the challenge suitable for interdisciplinary teams.
Each team must have five students, and every participant can be part of only one team. The organisers are encouraging interdisciplinary, gender-balanced and multi-year or multi-programme teams.
Three Tracks for the Case Challenge
Participants will work on the DigiYatra case through one of three tracks:
- Technology & Design
- Policy & Regulation
- Governance & Ecosystem Management
The case requires students to examine how India’s existing Digital Public Infrastructure could potentially be expanded into new areas while considering issues such as privacy, innovation, inclusion, governance and public value.
IIM Bangalore Case Challenge 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Stage I submissions opened | August 14, 2026 |
| Stage I submission deadline | September 7, 2026, 6 PM IST |
| Shortlisted teams announced | By September 15, 2026 |
| National Finals | September 30, 2026 |
How Will Teams Be Evaluated?
For Stage I, participants will be required to submit a presentation deck consisting of one title slide and up to four content slides.
The submissions will be evaluated on the quality and originality of analysis, systems thinking, feasibility of recommendations, understanding of technology-policy-governance trade-offs and presentation quality.
| Evaluation Criteria | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Quality and originality of analysis | 30% |
| Depth of systems thinking | 20% |
| Feasibility of recommendations | 20% |
| Technology, policy and governance trade-offs | 20% |
| Clarity and presentation | 10% |
The organisers have emphasised that strong submissions should balance innovation with trust, inclusion, proportionality and long-term sustainability.
Prize Money and National Finals
The competition has a total prize pool of ₹5 lakh. The winner of each of the three competition tracks will receive ₹1 lakh. Nine teams, including three teams from each track, will be shortlisted for the national finals at IIM Bangalore on September 30.
Students interested in participating should complete their Stage I submission by September 7, 2026, at 6 PM IST and refer to the official competition brochure for detailed instructions.
FAQs
Question: What is the IIM Bangalore CDPG Case Challenge 2026?
Answer: It is a national student case competition organised by CDPG at IIM Bangalore focusing on Digital Public Infrastructure and DigiYatra.
Question: What is the total prize pool?
Answer: The total prize pool is ₹5 lakh.
Question: Who can participate?
Answer: UG and PG students enrolled in recognised colleges or universities in India can participate.
