Inkling 2026 — ₹50,000 National Case Competition by Dot & IIM Ranchi — Frequently Asked Questions

The total prize pool is ₹50,000 in cash. The first-placed team receives ₹25,000, the runner-up gets ₹15,000, and the third-placed team takes ₹10,000. Each of the top three also receives goodies and a live project opportunity with Dot. Finalists ranked 4th to 10th receive goodies collectively worth over ₹30,000, including a 1-year Dot subscription, and all eligible participants get certificates.

The competition is open to students from all colleges and institutions across India, from every academic discipline. Students from incoming batches can also take part. The one hard requirement is the team structure — exactly 3 members, all from the same institution.

No. All three members of a team must belong to the same college or institution, so inter-college teams are not allowed. Within that same institution you have flexibility — cross-year and cross-specialisation teams are permitted.

Exactly 3. Teams cannot be larger or smaller than three members, and all three must come from the same college or institution.

No, entry is free. There is no registration charge to take part in Inkling 2026.

Registration closes on July 17, 2026. You need to complete your entry before that date — the application is made through the official Unstop page.

There are three online rounds. Round 1 is a 20-minute quiz of 60 multiple-choice questions based on roughly 50 recent stories published on Dot, held in July 2026. The Top 100 teams then move to Round 2, where they receive a real-world business case based on Dot and have 7 days to submit a one-page solution per problem. The Top 10 teams from there reach the Grand Finale on August 9, 2026, presenting their solutions online to a judging panel.

It is a case competition, not an investment programme. Teams compete for cash prizes, goodies and certificates — no equity is involved and no funding is being raised through it.

The case is built around Dot, a young startup trying to fix the news mess. It spans strategy, marketing and product decisions, and teams are expected to test their assumptions and defend their recommendations the way a founder would rather than through standard frameworks.

Apply through the official Unstop page for the competition. For updates, the organisers point participants to a WhatsApp community — the joining details are in the PDF attached on the event page.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Inkling 2026 — ₹50,000 National Case Competition by Dot & IIM Ranchi, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.