Citadel 1.0 Hackathon: ₹57,040 Prize Pool at UEM Kolkata — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a 30-hour hackathon hosted by the University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata (UEM Kolkata). Participants spend the event building a tech solution and then present it to a panel of industry experts. The format is hybrid, so you can attend on the UEM Kolkata campus or take part online.

The total prize pool is USD 620, which works out to roughly ₹57,040 at ₹92 per US dollar. Winners receive cash prizes and the results are announced at the closing ceremony. The organisers have not shared how that pool is divided between first, second and any other winning positions.

Indian participants can enter. That covers university students, founders at an early stage of building, and independent or solo builders. No state-wise restriction is mentioned, and no age limit is stated.

Registrations close on July 1, 2026. That is the only deadline mentioned for the event, so make sure your sign-up is completed before it passes.

No. This is a competition with a cash prize pool rather than an investment programme, so nothing is diluted and no equity changes hands. Whatever you build during the hackathon remains yours.

Not at all. The hackathon runs in a hybrid format, so you can build in person at the UEM Kolkata campus or join virtually from wherever you are. Both routes lead to the same presentations and judging round.

Both options work. Individual builders are welcome and the organisers do not specify a required team size. If you turn up without a team you can form one at the venue, or you can pre-register as a group in advance.

No. Neither DPIIT recognition nor MSME registration appears among the entry requirements. Citadel 1.0 is a hackathon rather than a government grant or loan scheme, so those certificates are not part of the eligibility criteria.

Registration takes place through the official Internshala competition page for the event. Complete your sign-up there before the July 1, 2026 deadline to confirm your place.