The Global SDG & AI Hackathon 2026 is a two-round, AI-focused hackathon organised by the ACM Student Chapter at Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) College of Engineering, Pune, under the
Department of Computer Science & Engineering. It challenges student teams to build practical, responsible AI solutions for real-world problems tied to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prize money is funded by ACM India. Who Should Apply Any student currently enrolled in a recognised college or university. Teams must have 2 to 4 members, and all members must be 18 or older on the day of registration (participants under 18 must contact the organisers in advance for guardian consent). Tracks / Themes Teams pick one main problem area (SDG track) from: Hunger, Health, Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water, Clean Energy, Jobs & Economy, Infrastructure, Reducing Inequality, Smart Cities, Responsible Consumption, Climate Change, Ocean Life, Land & Nature, or Justice & Good Governance. Each topic has specific real-world challenges listed on the official website with challenge IDs, which teams must quote in their submission. Format & Timeline The hackathon runs in two rounds. In Round 1, teams register and submit a short idea deck (5–7 slides in PPT or PDF) covering the problem, the connected SDG goal, the proposed solution, how AI genuinely helps, the technical plan (data, models, tools, risks), and expected impact plus team roles. Reviewers screen all ideas remotely on 21–22 September, and the top 20 teams are announced on 23 September. Finalists attend an online orientation on 25 September at 6 PM, then come onsite to Pune for a two-day build on 26–27 September (11 AM–7 PM both days). This is explicitly not an overnight or 48-hour hackathon — no overnight stay is needed or allowed. Day 1 covers reporting, opening brief, build, mentor check-in and progress review; Day 2 continues the build with mentor support, final code submission, judging, top-team presentations, and the closing ceremony by 7 PM. Judging Criteria Projects are scored out of 100 points: real-world impact (25), how well it works / technical build (25), creativity (15), safe and responsible use of AI (15), practicality (10), and how well the team explains and demos it (10). Prizes Total prize pool of ₹15,000, funded by ACM India: 1st place ₹8,000, 2nd place ₹5,000, and 3rd place ₹2,000. Additional sponsor prizes may be added later. Eligible finalists also receive certificates. Rules Any reused code, data, AI models, or prompts must be clearly disclosed, along with data sources and how AI use is kept safe and responsible. Final submissions must include a working prototype, code repository, slide deck, and demo. Teams retain ownership of their original work, though third-party tools and data follow their own terms. Registration & Logistics There is a one-time registration fee of ₹100 per team (not per person). The venue provides Wi-Fi, power, seating and workspace, food and refreshments, mentor support, jury feedback, and certificates for eligible finalists. Participants should bring a laptop, charger, valid college ID, any datasets or API keys they plan to use, personal essentials, and a demo-ready prototype by Day 2. Travel and accommodation are not provided or reimbursed by the organisers. About the Organiser The hackathon is run by the ACM Student Chapter at BV(DU) College of Engineering, Pune, part of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering. ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) India funds the prize pool, connecting the event to the wider ACM student and computing community. How to Apply Register your team and submit your Round 1 idea deck by 20 September 2026, 11:59 PM. Full problem statements and challenge IDs are available on the official website at https://www.sdg-hackathon.in/.
Eligibility
Open to students currently enrolled in a recognised college or university. Teams of 2–4 members, all 18+ on the day of registration (under-18 requires prior guardian consent).
