E-Rakshak

E-Rakshak is a comprehensive cybersecurity and innovation hackathon collaboratively organized by Surat City Police, NEXUS, and NIT Surat. This event is designed to inspire and empower college students to develop impactful technological solutions that address critical challenges in digital safety, cybercrime prevention, forensic intelligence, and the broader online security ecosystem.

Who Should Apply Participation is strictly limited to college students (Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs). Teams must be composed of members all belonging to the same institute; inter-college teams are not permitted. Teams should consist of 3 to 4 members.

Hackathon Structure & Timeline The competition unfolds in three distinct rounds:

• Round 1 – Online CTF Challenge (June 20, 2026): Participants will engage in a Capture-the-Flag (CTF) cybersecurity challenge. This round tests skills in ethical hacking, digital investigations, and problem-solving. Teams scoring above a predefined cutoff advance to the next phase.
• Round 2 – Prototype Development + Mentorship (July 1, 2026 onwards): Shortlisted teams receive specific problem statements and undergo a month-long guided mentorship period. They work with mentors to develop a functional prototype or proof-of-concept. Progress is periodically evaluated based on scoring criteria, leading to selection of top teams for the final round.
• Round 3 – Final Presentation at NIT Surat (1st Week of August 2026): Teams present their solutions offline at SVNIT Surat before a panel of experts from Surat City Police, academia, and industry. They must demonstrate prototype functionality, technical strengths, and real-world impact. Winners are determined by jury scoring.

Prizes Total cash prize pool of ₹2,25,000 distributed among top teams.

Eligibility Open exclusively to undergraduate and postgraduate college students in India. Teams must have 3 to 4 members, all from the same institution.

How to Apply Registrations opened on May 15, 2026. The final deadline is June 12, 2026. Apply via the official event page.

• ₹2.25 lakh cash prize pool
• Open to college students (UG & PG)
• Teams of 3-4 from same institute
• Month-long guided mentorship for shortlisted teams
• Focus on digital safety, cybercrime prevention & forensic intelligence

Open to undergraduate and postgraduate college students in India. Teams of 3–4 members are allowed, but all members must belong to the same academic institute. Inter-college teams are not permitted. The hackathon focuses on cybersecurity and innovation.

E-Rakshak is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for E-Rakshak closed on 12 Jun 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

• Total cash prize pool of ₹2,25,000.
• Winners receive ₹1,00,000.
• 1st Runners-up receive ₹75,000.
• 2nd Runners-up receive ₹50,000.
• Shortlisted teams receive a month-long guided mentorship period during Round 2 for prototype development.

The selection happens through three rounds:

• Round 1 – Online CTF Challenge (June 20, 2026): Teams participate in a Capture-the-Flag cybersecurity challenge. Those scoring above a predefined cutoff advance.
• Round 2 – Prototype Development + Mentorship (July 1, 2026 onwards): Shortlisted teams receive problem statements and a month of mentorship to build a prototype. Periodic evaluations based on scoring criteria select the top teams for the final round.
• Round 3 – Final Presentation at NIT Surat (1st Week of August 2026): Teams present their prototype offline at SVNIT Surat. A jury of experts from Surat City Police, academia, and industry judges presentations based on functionality, technical strength, and real-world impact. Final winners are determined by jury scores.

Before you apply to E-Rakshak, 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.

E-Rakshak is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2.3L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.