Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions founders most often ask about Road Safety Hackathon 2026 — ₹1L AI Prize, BIMSTEC Nations Only — who qualifies, the funding amount, required documents and how the application works.
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.
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