Tech Genesis '26 — ₹1.5L Tech Credits Hackathon for Students — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a national-level hackathon held completely online by the Computer Society of India (CSI) Student Chapter at VIT Chennai, together with the Office of Student Welfare and CodeCrafters. Student and early-career developers form teams, select a theme and build a technology-driven project over two days before presenting it to a panel of expert judges.

The prize pool is worth ₹1.5 Lakhs. It is paid in tech credits — for example cloud credits, software licences or platform subscriptions — rather than as cash. On top of that, every participant gets a certificate and access to additional learning opportunities, whether or not their team wins.

The hackathon is open to Indian university students and early-career developers. You do not need an incorporated company, a finished product or any prior funding to enter, and the organisers do not list a DPIIT or MSME registration requirement.

Teams of 2–4 members are encouraged, but solo participants are welcome to register. If you sign up alone, you may be matched into a team with other applicants so you still take part on equal footing.

There are three broad tracks to pick from: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning; Smart Cities, Sustainability & Social Impact; and Cybersecurity, Cloud & Emerging Technologies or Open Innovation. You choose the track that best fits your idea when you register.

It runs online over two days, June 26 and June 27, 2026. The registration deadline shown for the programme is June 27, 2026 — the same as the closing day — so applying well before that date is strongly advisable.

Applications are submitted through the official Devfolio listing at https://tech-genesis.devfolio.co/. Registration and the hackathon itself are both handled online, so you can participate from anywhere in India without travelling.

An expert panel of judges reviews every submission. Projects are assessed on four things: innovation, technical complexity, impact and presentation.

No. This is a competition rather than an investment programme, and the rewards are tech credits and certificates. No equity stake in your project or company is taken in return for participating.

You still finish the event with a certificate and access to the additional learning opportunities offered to all participants, along with a completed project and feedback from the judging panel.

The application deadline for Tech Genesis '26 — ₹1.5L Tech Credits Hackathon for Students is Closed (27 Jun 2026). Deadlines can be revised, so reconfirm on the official source before applying.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Tech Genesis '26 — ₹1.5L Tech Credits Hackathon for Students, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.