National Level MIT India Hackathon 2026
Organised by MIT Academy of Engineering (MITAOE), Pune, the National Level MIT India Hackathon 2026 is a premier student innovation competition that challenges teams to solve real-world problems across multiple sectors. With a total prize pool of ₹25.88 lakh, the hackathon features a two-stage format: a Pune Qualifier and a Grand Finale at the IES 2026 event in New Delhi.
Who Should Apply
This competition is open to students from Management, Design, Engineering, and Science streams. Teams of exactly four members are mandatory. A total of 100 teams will compete at the Pune Qualifier — 70 teams in the Engineering/Science/Management (ESM) track and 30 teams in the Design track.
Tracks / Themes
Participants choose between two tracks:
- Engineering/Science/Management (ESM): For teams focused on technical and business solutions.
- Design: For teams emphasising user experience, product design, and creative problem-solving.
Problem statements will be released on Day 1 (21 August 2026) across six sectors: Government, Social, Defence, Healthcare, Technical, and Industrial. The same problem statement will carry through to the Delhi Grand Finale.
Format & Timeline
- Registration opens: 10 July 2026
- Registration deadline: 16 August 2026
- Pune Qualifier: 21 August 2026 (on-the-spot problem statement, 100 teams)
- Grand Finale: 24 October 2026 at IES 2026, New Delhi (top 30 teams)
The top 30 teams (20 ESM + 10 Design) will have a two-month refinement period (August to October) to develop their ideas into product-grade solutions. Judging follows a rubric-based evaluation by panels of three industry experts each — 48 professionals in total across both stages.
Prizes
The total prize pool is ₹25.88 lakh, distributed across both rounds and tracks. Cash prizes range from ₹10,000 to ₹2,00,000 per winning team. All 30 Grand Finale teams receive AWS Global Certification Vouchers worth approximately ₹10,000 per team member, and cloud credits up to ₹20,000 per team. Additional cash prizes and cloud credits are awarded at the Qualifier round.
Eligibility
Open to Indian students from Management, Design, Engineering, and Science streams. Teams of exactly four members are required. Registration fees apply: ₹4,000 per team (mandatory) for the Pune Qualifier, with optional add-ons for executive lunch and accommodation. Shortlisted teams for the Delhi Grand Finale pay ₹10,000 per team (mandatory) with optional add-ons.
About the Organiser
MIT Academy of Engineering (MITAOE), Pune, is a well-known engineering institution in Maharashtra, India, affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University. It regularly hosts national-level hackathons and innovation challenges to foster entrepreneurship and technical skills among students.
How to Apply
Register via the official Unstop page linked above. Teams must complete registration by 16 August 2026. Further event details will be communicated via email to registered teams.
