Arbiter Hacks V1 — ₹27,600 Online ML & AI Hackathon — Frequently Asked Questions

The total prize fund is ₹27,600, which the organisers describe as a $300 pool. That is the full amount available across winners. Arbiter has not published a breakdown showing how much goes to first place, runners-up or any other category.

The event window opens on 14 September 2026 and the submission deadline is 15 November 2026. That gives you about two months of build time, and everything is done remotely, so there is no schedule of in-person sessions to plan around.

Anyone can enter. The organisers have not listed any restriction based on country, age, qualification, employment status or prior experience. The hackathon is pitched at beginners in particular, but students, early-career developers and seasoned builders are all welcome.

Yes. The hackathon is open worldwide and there is no geographic restriction, so Indian participants can register and submit on the same terms as entrants from anywhere else. Because it is fully virtual, nothing about the format requires travel.

The brief is deliberately open-ended — you choose the problem and the project. The only stated steer is a focus on Machine Learning and AI, so a submission in that space fits the event best.

No. This is a competition with a cash prize fund of ₹27,600, not an investment programme. There is no equity component, no dilution of your stake and nothing to repay.

No. Arbiter Hacks V1 does not ask for DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or any Indian corporate entity. It is a hackathon open to individuals and teams rather than a government or institutional funding scheme.

Yes. Both individual and team entries are allowed. The organisers have not published a maximum team size, so if you plan to build with others, treat the size as flexible until you confirm on the hackathon page.

Both registration and project submission happen through Devpost, the platform hosting the hackathon. The official page is https://arbiter-hacks-v1.devpost.com/, and you should submit there before the 15 November 2026 deadline.

Yes — it is designed with beginners in mind. The open-ended format means you can pick a project at whatever scale you are comfortable with, and the two-month window from 14 September to 15 November 2026 gives first-timers room to learn as they build.

The application deadline for Arbiter Hacks V1 — ₹27,600 Online ML & AI Hackathon is 15 Nov 2026. Deadlines can be revised, so reconfirm on the official source before applying.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.