NIELIT Launches CYBER KUSHTI 2026 Hackathon for Cybersecurity Assessment

The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) has launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026, a nationwide hackathon aimed at evaluating human judgment in cybersecurity assessments. Registration for the event opened on August 15 and will remain open until September 10, with free participation for teams of three from students and independent researchers. Unlike traditional cybersecurity competitions, this hackathon focuses on assessing participants' ability to evaluate and prioritize security risks rather than merely identifying vulnerabilities. Each team will receive a deliberately imperfect Security Assessment Package containing AI-generated findings, source code, and application logs, which includes both genuine and false findings. Participants must produce a corrected and prioritized security assessment, defending their decisions. The competition will consist of three rounds, culminating in a final event on October 9, 2026. The initiative reflects the increasing need for professionals capable of distinguishing real threats from false positives generated by automated systems.

Key Points: • CYBER KUSHTI 2026 is a hackathon focused on human judgment in cybersecurity assessments. • Registration is free and open until September 10, 2026, for teams of three. • Participants will analyze a Security Assessment Package with both genuine and false findings.