Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad
A three-day national hackathon at SNIST Hyderabad where students, developers and innovators build Digital India solutions for a share of a ₹2,50,000 cash prize pool.
- Funding amount
- ₹2.5L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology (Incubator)
- Application deadline
- Closed (5 Jul 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
The Digital India Hackathon 2026 is a national technology competition run by Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology (SNIST), Hyderabad. It brings together students, developers and innovators from across the country to design solutions that fit the Digital India vision.
The event is a three-day build marathon, held from July 9 to July 11, 2026 on the SNIST campus. Entry happens through a tech abstract — a written proposal of the solution a team plans to build — which is submitted ahead of the event and evaluated for shortlisting.
Teams that clear shortlisting spend the event turning their idea into a working prototype and then present it to the judges. The detailed event format and judging criteria are handed to participants after registration.
Winners share a cash prize pool worth ₹2,50,000, with awards reaching up to ₹2.5L. This is a competition rather than a funding scheme, so prizes are paid out in cash and no equity changes hands.
Highlights
- National-level hackathon hosted by SNIST, Hyderabad, for participants from across India.
- Cash prize pool of ₹2,50,000 in total, with prizes going up to ₹2.5L.
- Tech abstract must be submitted by July 5, 2026 to be considered for shortlisting.
- The three-day build event runs from July 9 to July 11, 2026.
- Open to students, developers and innovators — no DPIIT or MSME registration mentioned.
- Applications go through the official Internshala competition page.
Who can apply
The programme is open to participants from across India. The listing names students, developers and innovators specifically, so you do not need to be part of a registered company or a funded venture to take part.
- Who can take part: students, developers and independent innovators based in India.
- Geography: applicants from anywhere in the country can register; the on-site event is hosted at SNIST, Hyderabad.
- Entity type: the listing does not ask for a registered company, LLP or any other business entity.
- Team size: neither a minimum nor a maximum team size is specified in the listing.
- Registration prerequisites: DPIIT recognition and MSME registration are not mentioned as conditions anywhere in the listing.
- Entry format: every team enters the running by submitting a tech abstract, which is what gets evaluated for shortlisting.
Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
The most recent application window for Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad closed on 5 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Winning teams share a cash prize pool worth ₹2,50,000, and individual prize amounts reach up to ₹2.5L.
- Cash prizes: the entire prize pool is awarded in cash to the winning teams — it is not structured as equity, a loan or a revenue share.
- Prototype runway: teams that clear shortlisting get the three-day event to build and present a working prototype.
- Event access: participation runs from July 9 to July 11, 2026 at the SNIST campus in Hyderabad.
- Format and criteria: the judging criteria and detailed competition format are shared with teams once they register.
The listing does not mention incubation support, mentorship, travel reimbursement or any follow-on funding — the stated benefit is the cash prize pool and the hackathon itself.
About the provider
Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad is offered by Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, a startup incubator. It is delivered directly by Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Selection runs through a short set of stages:
- Tech abstract submission — teams register and file a tech abstract for evaluation. The cut-off for this is July 5, 2026.
- Shortlisting — the submitted abstracts are reviewed, and the teams that clear this round are invited to the event.
- Build phase — shortlisted teams develop their prototypes during the hackathon, which runs from July 9 to July 11, 2026.
- Presentation and judging — teams present their prototypes and are assessed against the judging criteria, which are shared upon registration.
The exact judging parameters are not published in the listing, so teams should expect to receive them after they complete registration.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2.5L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much prize money is on offer?
The competition carries a cash prize pool of ₹2,50,000 in total, with individual prize amounts of up to ₹2.5L. That pool is shared among the winning teams.
What is the deadline to apply?
Your tech abstract has to be submitted by July 5, 2026. That date is the cut-off for the submission round, ahead of the hackathon itself.
When and where does the hackathon take place?
The event runs for three days, from July 9 to July 11, 2026, and is hosted by Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology (SNIST) in Hyderabad.
Who is eligible to participate?
The hackathon is open to Indian participants, and the listing specifically names students, developers and innovators. There is no requirement to be a registered company or a funded startup.
Can I enter alone, or do I need a team?
The listing does not specify a team size, so no minimum or maximum is stated. What is clear is the entry route: a team registers and submits a tech abstract.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration?
Neither is mentioned anywhere in the listing. This is a hackathon aimed at students and individual innovators rather than registered business entities.
Does the hackathon take equity in my idea or venture?
No. This is a prize competition, and the winnings are cash prizes. Nothing in the listing points to equity, repayment or a revenue share.
What do I need to submit with my application?
You need to register and file a tech abstract describing the solution you intend to build. The abstract is what gets evaluated during the shortlisting round.
How are teams selected and judged?
Technical abstracts are evaluated first to shortlist teams. Shortlisted teams then build prototypes at the event and present them, with judging criteria provided upon registration.
How do I apply?
Register and file your tech abstract through the official Internshala competition page for the Digital India Hackathon 2026. Make sure it is in before July 5, 2026.
Who offers Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad?
Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad is offered by Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, a startup incubator. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
Alternatives to Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad
Not sure Digital India Hackathon 2026 — ₹2,50,000 Prize Pool at SNIST Hyderabad is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
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