Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the hackathon
SUTRAM 2026 is a premier AI-powered Cyber Investigation & Digital Forensics Hackathon hosted by IGDTUW (Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women), supported by MeitY and ISEA. It challenges participants to build innovative solutions across cybersecurity and digital forensics domains within 24 hours.
All students currently enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programs at recognized universities/colleges across India are eligible. The hackathon is open to all disciplines — not just computer science students.
Teams can have up to 4 members. All team members must be enrolled students at the time of registration.
Registration is done online through the official SUTRAM 2026 portal. Fill in your team details and submit before the deadline — 5 October 2026. Registration opens on 7 September 2026 and is free of charge.
Problem statements will be released on 28 October 2026 on the Problem Statements page. There are 5 problem statements spanning different cybersecurity and digital forensics themes.
The Online National Quiz is an optional knowledge-based challenge covering cybersecurity concepts, digital forensics, and current events. It is open to all registered participants and winners receive special recognition.
Project / PPT submission is due by 20 November 2026. Teams must upload a working prototype or demo, along with a project report and presentation slides by the specified deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Shortlisted teams will be assigned dedicated mentors from industry and academia. Mentorship sessions run from 1 November to 10 November 2026. Mentors will guide teams on technical approach, feasibility, and presentation skills.
Projects are judged on: Innovation & Creativity, Technical Complexity, Feasibility & Impact, Presentation Quality, and Problem Relevance. See the Evaluation Criteria page for full weightage details.
The Grand Finale is the final in-person hackathon event held on 26–27 December 2026 at IGDTUW, Delhi. Shortlisted teams will present their solutions to a jury panel. The top teams compete for a prize pool of ₹2.5 Lakhs+. Winners will be announced on 27 December 2026.
Yes! All participants who complete the hackathon will receive a digital participation certificate. Winners and runners-up receive additional award certificates and trophies. Mentors and jury members will also receive appreciation certificates.
Teams are free to use any programming language, framework, or platform. Commonly used stacks include Python, JavaScript, React, Node.js, TensorFlow, and cloud platforms like AWS or GCP. The solution must be original work developed during the hackathon.
Yes, open-source libraries, APIs, and tools are allowed and encouraged. However, the core solution and its novelty must be your team's original work. Properly attribute all third-party resources used in your project report.
Teams should bring their own laptops. The venue will provide power outlets and internet connectivity. Specialized hardware (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Arduino) may be used but must be brought by the team. Availability cannot be guaranteed at the venue.
Yes, outstation participants will be provided with accommodation at the IGDTUW campus during the Grand Finale dates. Meals and refreshments during the hackathon event will also be provided. Details will be shared with shortlisted teams via email.
Yes, high-speed Wi-Fi will be available throughout the venue for all participants during the Grand Finale. Teams are advised to also carry backup mobile data connections for redundancy.