Join this exciting hackathon to design innovative tech solutions that address real-world sustainability challenges and create a positive impact on our planet.

Codeathon 2026 is the flagship technical hackathon of the institution, designed to bring together the brightest engineering minds to innovate, collaborate, and create solutions with real-world impact. The event serves as a premier platform for students to showcase their technical expertise, creativity, and problem-solving abilities while addressing pressing challenges across diverse domains.

The hackathon unfolds in two competitive rounds—an online idea submission and evaluation phase, followed by an intense 24-hour on-campus hackathon where shortlisted teams transform their ideas into working solutions under real-time constraints, mentorship, and industry-aligned problem statements.

All official themes and problem statements are available at:
https://codeathon-26.vercel.app

Eligibility
Participants must be currently enrolled in an engineering program in India.

Eligible programs include:

B.E / B.Tech

Integrated / Dual Degree (Engineering)

Students from any engineering department and year of study are eligible.

Cross-department teams are permitted.

Each participant may be a member of only one team.

Participants must produce a valid college ID card upon request at any stage for verification.

Any violation of eligibility criteria will result in immediate disqualification.

Team Formation
Each team must consist of 4 to 5 members.

Cross-department teams are allowed.

No changes in team composition will be permitted after registration.

Teams shortlisted for the on-campus round must participate with the same registered members.

Round 1 – Idea Submission (Online)
Format:

Participants must submit their ideas based on the official themes and problem statements.

Idea submissions must be uploaded only through the Unstop platform.

Submissions must strictly adhere to the provided PPT template.

Important Dates:

Idea Submission Deadline: 10 January 2026

Submission Details:

Mode: Online

Submission Platform: Unstop

PPT Template:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nbTB2sSYRtkuBGkMWP1DHAnf0JHU8s6F/edit

Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Evaluation and Shortlisting:

Ideas will be evaluated based on innovation, feasibility, relevance to the theme, and clarity of presentation.

Shortlisted teams will be invited to participate in the on-campus hackathon.

Round 2 – On-Campus Hackathon
Dates: 4th and 5th February 2026
Venue: Sri Eshwar College of Engineering

Participation Details:

Only teams shortlisted from Round 1 are eligible to participate.

Each shortlisted participant must pay an on-campus participation fee of ₹350.

Food and beverages will be provided to all participants.

Accommodation will be provided to all shortlisted participants for the duration of the hackathon (3rd and 4th February 2026).

Accommodation allocation will be at the discretion of the organizing committee, and participants must adhere to all accommodation rules and regulations.

Reporting and Conduct
Participants must report at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Late entries will not be permitted.

Participants may leave the venue only with explicit permission from the organizing committee.

All instructions issued by the organizing committee must be strictly followed throughout the event.

Development Rules
All development must take place strictly at the venue during the hackathon.

Pre-developed or partially developed projects are strictly prohibited.

Use of pre-written code, previously created GitHub repositories, or reused modules is not allowed.

Open-source libraries, frameworks, and APIs may be used unless explicitly restricted.

Participants must bring their own laptops, chargers, and required peripherals.

Internet and AI Usage Policy
Internet access is permitted only for:

Development

Documentation

Technical research

Any unrelated use, including streaming, gaming, or non-event browsing, may result in disqualification.

AI tools may be used only for learning and reference purposes.

Direct copy-pasting of AI-generated code is not encouraged.

Teams are fully responsible for ensuring the originality and integrity of their work.

Rewards, Awards & Special Highlights
Prizes and Rewards
Exciting prizes and rewards will be awarded to the top-performing teams of Codeathon 2026.

Exclusive internship opportunities will be offered to selected participants based on their performance and innovation.

Winners and shortlisted teams will receive certificates of excellence and merit.

All eligible participants will receive e-certificates.

All finalist students are eligible to attend the Thiran 2026 celebratory events and pro shows on 5th February 2026.
Internships and Career Opportunities
Selected participants will be offered exclusive internship opportunities with partner organizations and startups.

Internship selections will be based on technical skills, problem-solving ability, and overall performance during the hackathon.

Internship opportunities are subject to the eligibility criteria and selection process defined by the respective organizations.

Goodies and Merchandise
Participants can look forward to exciting goodies, swags, and exclusive merchandise throughout the event.

Special giveaways and surprise rewards will be distributed during the hackathon.

Discipline and Safety
Participants must maintain cleanliness and comply with all venue safety regulations.

Any form of misconduct, rule violation, or damage to property may result in immediate disqualification or removal from the event.

CTFQuest is a multi-round CTF designed to test participant’s skills in ethical hacking, problem-solving, and cyber-defense techniques.

• The competition consists of three rounds with increasing difficulty.
• Each team must consist of exactly 2 members.
• Cross-department teams are allowed.
• Participants must register with accurate details; fake or duplicate entries lead to disqualification.
• Round 1 is held online for 24 hours in Jeopardy format & focuses on Basic Web, OSINT, Cryptography, Steganography, and Linux/Forensic. Based on results teams are shortlisted for round 2.
• Round 2 is also conducted online for 24 hours. Includes Advanced Web, Forensics, Binary Exploitation, and Reverse Engineering. Dynamic scoring used in Round 2.
• Round 3 is an 8-hour offline final round conducted on campus and follows the Jeopardy format.
• For Round 3, all team members must be physically present.
• Participants must not attack the event infrastructure or platforms.
• Brute-force attacks are prohibited unless a challenge explicitly requires it.
• Sharing flags, answers, hints, or solutions with other teams is not allowed.
• The standard flag format for the event is: SECE{…}
• External tools and open-source utilities are allowed unless restricted in a specific challenge.
• Each challenge carries a predefined score.
• Dynamic scoring will be applied.
• Tie-breakers are based on fastest solve time, high-value solves and first-blood count.
• Participants will receive challenge access details upon registration.
• Teams must ensure a stable internet connection for online rounds.
• Technical or access issues must be reported immediately to coordinators.
• The event is open to students from all Engineering departments.
• A valid institutional ID is required for participation.
• Participants must follow institutional rules and code of conduct.
• Allowed activities include using Linux tools, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Ghidra, and writing custom scripts.
• Restricted activities include attacking organizers or judges, creating multiple accounts, plagiarism, and harassment.
• Unauthorized attacks, solution sharing, misconduct, and scoreboard manipulation result in disqualification.
• Communication will be maintained through an official WhatsApp/Discord group.
• Queries must be directed only to event coordinators.
• Decisions made by judges are final.
• CTFQuest is strictly for educational and ethical purposes.
• Techniques used in the competition must not be applied to unauthorized systems.
• The institution is not responsible for any misuse outside the competition.
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