Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions founders most often ask about Grand Hack IPEC — 24-Hour Hackathon for Indian Students — who qualifies, the funding amount, required documents and how the application works.
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.
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