Technologies are playing a vital role in education, businesses, and day-to-day life. Disciplines like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and finance have found new approaches to problem-solving and ideation. For Class 11 and 12 students, engaging in such subjects early on will give them clarity about their interests and guide them when choosing college courses. One such platform for students to explore such disciplines is India’s Premier Tech Hackathon conducted by edept, wherein participants can participate free of cost in an online event that has a total prize pool of ₹4 crore.
What Is India’s Premier Tech Hackathon?
India’s Premier Tech Hackathon is an online technology competition for Class 11 and 12 students from schools across India. It brings together three subject areas: Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Finance. Main target of the program is for students to introduce to technology-related fields through learning activities and competitive rounds. Participants select one track based on their academic background.
Organized by edept, ConQuest brings together specialist track partners, including ThinkCyber India for Cybersecurity, Base44 for AI, and CMT Association for Finance. The event is conducted entirely online, allowing eligible students to participate from home or their own school’s computer lab.
Who Can Participate in India’s Premier Tech Hackathon?
India’s Premier Tech Hackathon is open to students who are currently enrolled in class 11 and 12 at any school across India. The main eligibility criteria depend on the student’s stream:
- Science students: Can participate in either the Cybersecurity or AI track
- Commerce students: Can participate in the Finance task
Interested students can enter the hackathon individually. Each participant must select only one track during the registration process. A laptop/Computer along with a fast WiFi connection is mandatory. There is no need for any prior coding experience for students.
What Is the Competition Format?
The four-step process for ConQuest Olympiad begins with registration and ends with the online grand final:
| Stage | Date | Details |
| Registration | 20 November 2026 | Last date to register and select a track |
| Online workshop | 21 November 2026 | Free introductory workshop covering track fundamentals |
| Round 1 | 22 November 2026 | First online competition round |
| Grand Final | 29 November 2026 | Top 20 participants from each track compete |
The students first register for the desired track and attend the orientation workshop. Next comes Round 1, wherein the top 20 students from each track move on to the finale.
The competition is completely online. The official website does not currently publish a detailed question format or scoring rubric, so participants should check event instructions for assessment-related updates.
How to Register for India’s Premier Tech Hackathon?
Interested students can complete the registration process through the official ConQuest Platform. Follow the instructions below to register:
- Visit the official ConQuest Tech Olympiad website.
- Select the registration option.
- Choose one competitive track according to your academic stream.
- Complete the online registration form with the requested information.
- Review your details and submit the registration form.
Registration is actually free, and the deadline is 20 November 2026. Interested students should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and select the correct track before submitting their application.
Register for India’s Premier Tech Hackathon
Important Dates and Competition Timeline
Some important dates to remember for students who are interested in participating in India’s Premier Tech Hackathon:
- 20 November: Registration deadline
- 21 November: Free online workshop
- 22 November: Round 1
- 25 November, 7:00 pm IST: Complimentary online parent counselling session by Apexr
- 29 November: Online grand final
25 November session is intended for parents and focuses more on how universities assess student profiles. It starts with the competition rounds.
What Prizes and Rewards Can Students Win?
ConQuest has announced a combined prize pool of ₹4 crore in cash prizes and scholarships. The cash reward is the same across all the competition tracks.
- First place: ₹1,00,000
- Second place: ₹70,000
- Third place: ₹30,000
The top 20 participants in each track can also receive scholarships of up to 100% for the edept x World University of Design (WUD) B.Tech programme, subject to applicable terms and conditions. Moreover, a certificate and an option for a scholarship are provided to each participant. Eligibility and conditions for the scholarship are provided in the respective terms and conditions. It should be noted that the amount of ₹4 crores is inclusive of both prize money and scholarship amount.
Why Should Students Participate in a Technology Olympiad?
A technology Olympiad like India’s Premier Tech Hackathon can give students room to grow and excel in their subjects beyond their regular academic curriculum. Participating in an event covering AI, cybersecurity, and finance may help students:
- Explore new topics: Understand different technology-related fields before selecting a higher education programme.
- Develop problem-solving skills: Work on challenges that improve your logical thinking.
- Gain practical exposure: Get an introduction to tools and technologies used in emerging fields.
- Build confidence: Excel in organised competitions and improve your confidence by working under pressure.
- Discover academic interests: Identify the subjects they may want to explore through further education.
How Can Students Prepare for India’s Premier Tech Hackathon?
Students may start by gaining knowledge about the fundamentals of their chosen track. As there will be a free introductory session held on 21 November, students may get to know about the basics from the session itself.
A few useful preparation tips include:
- Understand your chosen field: Study the basic concepts associated with either of the three tracks: Cybersecurity, AI, or Finance.
- Explore the introductory resources: Use beginner-friendly learning materials to build familiarity wth the subject.
- Practise logical thinking: Work on simple exercises that actually develop reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
- Attend the workshop: Use the 21 November session to understand the fundamentals and follow the event guidance.
- Check official instructions: Review any updates about the competition format, participation requirements, and schedule.
No prior coding experience is required for students, which can let them actually focus on understanding their preferred subject rather than learning advanced programming beforehand.
Get Ready to Be Part of India’s Premier Tech Hackathon
India’s Premier Tech Hackathon gives Class 11 and 12 students an opportunity to explore Cybersecurity, AI, and Finance through an online competition. With free registration, introductory learning sessions, cash prizes, and scholarship opportunities, it offers an additional way to discover interests beyond school subjects. Eligible students can visit the official ConQuest platform, review the participation requirements, and register before 20 November 2026.