Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students
A national student hackathon held over 24 hours at Inderprastha Engineering College, Ghaziabad, with online idea submission, expert mentorship and an on-campus grand finale on 26–27 September 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies by program
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (15 Sept 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Grand Hack IPEC is a national student hackathon that runs for 24 straight hours on the ground at Inderprastha Engineering College (IPEC) in Ghaziabad. HackShastra organises it together with the college, and the whole event carries a GTA San Andreas theme to keep the build sprint energetic.
The contest is built for students who want to turn an idea into a working prototype in one long stretch. Developers, designers, machine-learning enthusiasts, security folks and would-be founders all fit the brief — teams get guidance from mentors working in industry, then defend their build in front of an expert panel.
Registration closes on 15 September 2026, idea submissions are open now, and the on-campus finale is set for 26–27 September 2026. Everything ahead of the finale happens online.
Highlights
- 24-hour offline hackathon hosted at Inderprastha Engineering College, Ghaziabad
- Organised by HackShastra in collaboration with IPEC
- Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students from any Indian college or university
- Register solo or as a team of 2–4; cross-college and cross-discipline teams allowed
- Registration deadline: 15 September 2026; grand finale on 26–27 September 2026
- Tracks span AI/ML, cybersecurity, Web3 and blockchain, IoT, AR/VR, smart cities and open innovation
Who can apply
Grand Hack IPEC is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled at any college or university in India. There is no restriction on the institution, the course or the city — students from any Indian campus can take part.
- You can register on your own or as part of a team of 2–4 members.
- Teams may mix students from different colleges and different streams, so cross-campus and cross-discipline groups are welcome.
- A participant can join only one team.
- No DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or incorporated company is needed — the stated requirement is current student status.
Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students 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 Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students closed on 15 Sept 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
This is a prize-based competition, not a grant, a loan or an equity deal. Nothing is taken in equity and nothing has to be repaid.
What participants and winners get:
- Prizes and exclusive goodies, with the full prize pool to be announced closer to the event.
- Mentorship from industry experts during the online shortlisting round, used to sharpen the submitted idea.
- A 24-hour overnight build slot at the IPEC campus in Ghaziabad during the grand finale.
- The chance to develop a working prototype and pitch it to an expert judging panel.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Round 1 — Idea submission (online). Teams file a presentation deck covering the problem they are tackling, their proposed solution, how they intend to implement it, the technology stack they will use and the impact they expect. Entries are assessed on how inventive the idea is, whether it is realistically buildable, and how clearly it is explained.
Round 2 — Shortlisting and mentorship (online). The strongest entries move forward and are paired with mentors from industry who help the teams refine their plans. Dates for this stage are shared once idea submissions close.
Round 3 — Grand finale (offline). Shortlisted teams travel to Inderprastha Engineering College, Ghaziabad, for a 24-hour overnight hackathon on 26–27 September 2026, where they build working prototypes and present them to a panel of experts.
Across the competition, judges weigh originality, the quality of the technical build, how relevant the project is to a real problem, user experience and design, scalability, and the strength of the final presentation.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students, 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.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is Grand Hack IPEC?
It is a national hackathon for students that HackShastra runs with Inderprastha Engineering College in Ghaziabad. Teams spend 24 hours on campus building a working prototype, and the event is themed around GTA San Andreas. It runs across two online rounds followed by one offline finale.
Who is eligible to take part?
Any undergraduate or postgraduate student at an Indian college or university. Your institution, course or city does not matter. You can register individually or with a team of 2–4, cross-college and cross-discipline teams are fine, and each person can be part of only one team.
How much prize money is on offer?
The organisers have said that winning teams receive prizes and exclusive goodies, with the full prize pool to be announced closer to the event. No fixed sum has been published, so treat the reward as prize-based rather than a set amount.
When and where does the hackathon happen?
The registration deadline is 15 September 2026, and idea submissions are open now. The offline grand finale takes place at Inderprastha Engineering College, Ghaziabad, on 26–27 September 2026.
Does the programme take equity in my idea or startup?
No. Grand Hack IPEC is a prize competition — it is neither an investment nor a loan, so no equity is taken and nothing has to be repaid.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration?
No. Those registrations are not part of the eligibility criteria here. The only requirement stated is that you are currently an undergraduate or postgraduate student at an Indian college or university.
Can I participate alone, or do I need a team?
You can register on your own or as a team of 2–4 members. Teams may combine students from different colleges and different streams, but each participant may belong to only one team.
Which tracks can I build under?
Open Innovation; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Cybersecurity; Web3 and blockchain; the Internet of Things; AR/VR and immersive technologies; and smart cities and urban innovation. You pick one when framing your submission.
What do I need to submit in the first round?
A presentation deck. It should cover the problem you are solving, your proposed solution, how you will implement it, the tech stack, and the impact you expect. It is judged on innovation, feasibility and clarity.
How and where do I apply?
Registration and idea submission happen through the official Unstop page for the hackathon: https://unstop.com/hackathons/grand-hack-ipec-hackshastra-1704703. Sign up before 15 September 2026.
What is the application deadline for Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students?
The application deadline for Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students is Closed (15 Sept 2026). Deadlines can be revised, so reconfirm on the official source before applying.
How do I apply for Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
Alternatives to Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students
Not sure Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
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