Raksham hackathon 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, in collaboration with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) and Amazon, has launched ‘Raksham’, a national-level AI cybersecurity hackathon 2026. The Raksham hackathon 2026 is organised by IIT Delhi’s student technical clubs, Aries IITD and Dev Club.
What the Hackathon Aims to Solve?
The institute is inviting student innovators from across the country to build next-generation, AI-powered prototypes that address critical cyber threats, including:
- Voice-cloning scams
- Deepfakes
- Online fraud
The goal is to produce practical tools that can protect people from fast-evolving cyber scams, not just academic projects.
Registration and Eligibility
Registration and concept submissions for Raksham have started online and will stay open until October 12. The eligibility rules are:
- All undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students can participate
- Participants must compete in teams of two to four members
With only a few days left, interested teams will need to finalise their concept submissions quickly.
How Teams Will Be Judged?
Participating teams will be assessed on four main criteria, according to IIT Delhi:
- Technical architecture
- Real-world feasibility
- Responsible AI practices
- Their capability of converting into tools that could protect millions of Indians from evolving cyber scams and frauds
The institute described the last criterion as the most significant, which means a working, usable solution matters more than a purely technical demonstration.
The 48-Hour Finale
The top 30 teams will advance to a 48-hour in-person finale at IIT Delhi on October 24-25. At the finale, they will build, test and demonstrate their prototypes before an expert jury of academic, industry and cybersecurity experts.
Chance to Showcase at Amazon Sambhav 2026
According to the institute, high-impact solutions and winning teams will also get the opportunity to be showcased at Amazon Sambhav 2026, giving them visibility beyond the hackathon itself.
Why the Timing Matters?
IIT Delhi said the hackathon comes as the festive shopping season approaches, a period when increased digital activity and consumer transactions give fraudsters more opportunities. The initiative also strengthens the ongoing collaboration between IIT Delhi, I4C and Amazon under #ScamSmartIndia.
What Interested Students Should Do Now?
- Form a team of two to four engineering students
- Prepare a concept submission focused on voice-cloning scams, deepfakes or online fraud
- Register and submit before October 12
- Keep October 24-25 free in case the team is shortlisted for the in-person finale at IIT Delhi
Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Hackathon | Raksham, national-level AI cybersecurity hackathon 2026 |
| Organisers | IIT Delhi (Aries IITD and Dev Club) |
| Partners | I4C and Amazon |
| Registration and concept submission deadline | October 12, 2026 |
| Eligibility | UG and PG engineering students |
| Team size | 2 to 4 members |
| Finalists | Top 30 teams |
| Finale | 48 hours in person at IIT Delhi, October 24-25 |
| Showcase opportunity | Amazon Sambhav 2026 |
| Theme | Voice-cloning scams, deepfakes, online fraud |
Why This Matters?
Deepfakes and voice-cloning scams have become a growing concern for ordinary users, and a hackathon backed by a national cybercrime agency and a major e-commerce company links student talent directly to real-world fraud prevention. The judging emphasis on responsible AI and real-world feasibility signals that organisers want solutions that can scale, not only technically impressive prototypes. For engineering students, it is a short-window opportunity to work on a live national problem and get in front of industry and cybersecurity experts.
