Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only
An online hackathon on AI in road safety for participants from BIMSTEC countries other than India, with a ₹1,00,000 cash prize pool and a 30 June 2026 submission deadline on Unstop.
- Funding amount
- ₹1L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (30 Jun 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
The Road Safety Hackathon 2026 is an online build-and-pitch contest built around one question: how can artificial intelligence make roads safer? It is run by IIT Madras along with RBG Labs and the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS), and the brief steers teams towards solutions built around an AI chatbot.
This is the international track, reserved for the BIMSTEC region — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand. It is not open to Indian participants, who are routed to a separate national track of the same hackathon. The cash prize pool on this track is ₹1,00,000, shared between three winning teams.
Entry is deliberately broad. A single individual can take part, or a team of up to 10 people, and the minimum age is 15. No professional qualification or prior credential is asked for, so students, working engineers and independent problem solvers all compete on the same footing.
Every team picks one of three problem statements to build for:
- DriveLegal — a tool that surfaces traffic law and fine information for a specific location.
- RoadWatch — a way for citizens to track road condition and how public money is being spent on roads.
- RoadSoS — location-based emergency assistance at the scene of a road accident.
The competition runs in two rounds. Stage 1 is an online submission through Unstop, closing on 30 June 2026. Teams that clear it are invited to pitch in person before a live jury at the IIT Madras campus, on a date that has not yet been announced.
Each participant or team is allowed only one entry, and that entry must be tied to a single one of the three topics. All teams that qualify from Stage 1 receive participation certificates, and some participants may be considered for job or internship openings.
Highlights
- Online hackathon on AI in road safety, run by IIT Madras with RBG Labs and the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS).
- Open only to BIMSTEC countries — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand. Indian applicants must use the separate national track.
- Cash prize pool of ₹1,00,000 shared between three winning teams.
- Three problem statements to choose from: DriveLegal, RoadWatch and RoadSoS.
- Submit source code, a 7-slide deck, software list and database (if any) on Unstop by 30 June 2026; shortlisted teams pitch to a live jury at IIT Madras.
- Minimum age 15, no professional qualification needed, and entries can be solo or teams of up to 10.
Who can apply
This track is open to individuals and to teams of 1 to 10 members who are based in BIMSTEC member countries — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand.
The only personal bar is age: participants must be at least 15 years old. No degree, licence, certification or prior professional experience is required, so students, engineers and independent problem solvers all qualify equally.
Indian participants cannot enter this international track. Teams and individuals from India are directed to register through the separate national track link instead.
Nothing in the rules requires DPIIT recognition or MSME registration, and there is no restriction on the type of organisation or the background of the applicant — the only subject matter in play is road safety and artificial intelligence.
Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only 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 Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only closed on 30 Jun 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
The hackathon carries a combined cash prize pool of ₹1,00,000, which is shared among three winning teams.
Beyond the money:
- Every team that qualifies from Stage 1 receives a participation certificate.
- The organisers may consider selected participants for job or internship opportunities.
This is a prize, not an investment, so nothing is given away in return — no equity stake and no repayment is involved.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Stage 1 — online submission (closes 30 June 2026). Entries are filed through Unstop and must include the project's source code, a seven-slide presentation, a list of the software used, and the database as well where the solution relies on one.
Stage 2 — live jury pitch. Teams shortlisted from the first round present their work in person to a jury at the IIT Madras campus. The date for this round is yet to be announced.
Awards. Three winners emerge from the process and share the ₹1,00,000 pool. Every team that makes it through Stage 1 is given a participation certificate, and selected participants may be considered for job or internship opportunities.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only, 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
Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Road Safety Hackathon 2026 and who is behind it?
It is an online hackathon on the theme of AI in road safety, organised by IIT Madras together with RBG Labs and the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS). Participants build a solution around an AI chatbot and submit it online, with shortlisted teams going on to present before a live jury.
Who is eligible to take part?
Anyone based in a BIMSTEC country — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or Thailand — can apply. You can enter as an individual or as part of a team of up to 10 members. You must be at least 15 years old, but no degree, professional qualification or prior experience is required.
Can Indian participants apply to this hackathon?
No. This is the international BIMSTEC track and Indian participants are not eligible for it. Indian applicants are asked to register through the separate national track link instead.
How much prize money is offered?
There is a total cash prize pool of ₹1,00,000, which is distributed among three winning teams. On top of that, every team that qualifies from Stage 1 receives a participation certificate, and selected participants may be considered for job or internship opportunities.
What are the three topics I can build for?
You choose one topic for your submission. DriveLegal covers traffic law and fine information for a specific location. RoadWatch is about citizens monitoring road quality and public spending on roads. RoadSoS deals with location-based emergency services at accident sites.
Is there a minimum or maximum team size?
Yes. You can apply on your own or as a team of between 1 and 10 members. There is no separate founder or company requirement — the only personal condition is that every participant is at least 15 years old.
What is the deadline and how do I apply?
Register and submit through Unstop, with the Stage 1 deadline falling on 30 June 2026. Each participant or team is allowed only one submission, and that submission must be based on one of the three topics.
What exactly do I need to send in Stage 1?
Your Stage 1 entry must include the source code of your solution, a presentation of seven slides, a list of the software you used, and the database if your project depends on one. All of this is filed through the Unstop listing.
What happens if my team is shortlisted?
Shortlisted teams move to Stage 2, where they present their work to a live jury at the IIT Madras campus. The date for that round has not been announced yet.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration?
No. Neither DPIIT recognition nor MSME registration is part of the eligibility criteria for this hackathon. Entry rests only on your country of residence, the minimum age of 15, the team size limit of 1 to 10 members, and an interest in road safety and AI.
Does Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only take equity?
No. Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only is competition and is non-dilutive — the provider does not take an equity stake in your startup.
Alternatives to Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only
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