The Social Hackathon 2026

The Social Hackathon ’26 marks the 5th edition of this national-level innovation challenge, proudly hosted by CMR Institute of Technology (CMRIT), Bangalore. Established in 2019, this hackathon serves as a dynamic platform bringing together innovators, developers, and changemakers to collaboratively develop impactful solutions for real-world societal challenges. It is a 24-hour event designed to foster creativity and problem-solving across both software and hardware domains, while also providing valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and career advancement.

Who Should Apply This hackathon is ideal for students, developers, and innovators from across India who are passionate about creating social impact. Participants can form teams of 1 to 4 members, bringing diverse skills to tackle complex problems.

Tracks / Themes Participants are encouraged to develop solutions under the following key domains:

• Smart Cities & Infrastructure
• Education & Digital Empowerment
• Health & Inclusivity
• Agriculture & Animal Welfare
• Climate Tech & Sustainability
• Student Innovation & Social Good

Format & Timeline The competition features a two-round format. Round 1 involves an online idea submission and shortlisting process. Selected teams will then proceed to Round 2, an intensive 24-hour on-campus hackathon at CMR Institute of Technology. Projects will be evaluated separately for hardware and software categories. Food, accommodation, snacks, and Wi-Fi will be provided to participants during the offline round.

Prizes The Social Hackathon ’26 offers a total cash prize pool of ₹50,000 for top-performing teams. Additionally, participants will have the chance to secure internship opportunities with partner organizations. All participants will benefit from national-level exposure, expert mentorship, and the experience of working on impactful problem statements.

Eligibility Open to innovators, developers, and changemakers across India. Teams must consist of 1 to 4 members. Participants are expected to build innovative solutions that demonstrate real-world applicability and impact.

How to Apply Interested teams must register and submit their initial idea (in PPT format) by April 26, 2026, to be considered for shortlisting. A final round fee of ₹750 per team is applicable for shortlisted teams. Further details and registration can be found on the official event page.