📌About the Event

Hacktoberfest HackDay Meerut 2026 is a one-day, in-person AI hackathon organized by E-Cell IIMT University, Meerut, in collaboration with the IIMT Business Incubation Foundation. Centered around the theme “AI Belongs to Everyone,” the event encourages students, developers, and innovators to build practical solutions using open-source artificial intelligence and open-weight AI models. Powered by Major League Hacking (MLH) and DEV, with DigitalOcean as the presenting partner, the hackathon offers participants an opportunity to develop real-world AI applications, interact with industry mentors, showcase working prototypes, and compete for exciting prizes and recognition.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Event Type: AI Hackathon, Coding Competition and Open-Source Innovation Challenge
• Theme: AI Belongs to Everyone
• Mode of Conduct: Hybrid selection process — online registration and idea submission followed by an offline, in-person hackathon.
• Venue: IIMT University, O-Pocket, Ganga Nagar, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
• Hackathon Duration: One day, beginning at 9:30 AM on 27 October 2026.
• Team Size: 2–4 members.
• Competition Tracks:
• Track 1 – Best Use of Gemma 4: AI-powered learning support, accessibility solutions and data intelligence.
• Track 2 – Best Open-Source AI Project: Developer workflow agents and AI model evaluation tools.

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📅 Important Dates

• Shortlisted Teams Announcement: 23 October 2026
• Hackathon Date: 27 October 2026
• Event Reporting Time: 9:30 AM onwards
• Final Presentations: 27 October 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• Students from any recognized university or college across India can participate, regardless of their degree or academic discipline.
• Working professionals are also listed as eligible on the official MLH event page.
• Participants must form teams of 2–4 members.
• Participants from institutions other than IIMT University can apply.
• Only shortlisted teams will receive confirmation to attend the offline hackathon.

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Track 1 Winner: Recognition and awards for the Best Use of Gemma 4.
• Track 2 Winner: Recognition and awards for the Best Open-Source AI Project.
• Sponsor Prizes: Winning teams can receive sponsor-backed prizes and rewards.
• Certificates: Official Hacktoberfest participation certificates are available for in-person attendees.
• Cloud Credits: Opportunities to receive cloud-related benefits and credits.
• Hacktoberfest Merchandise: T-shirts, stickers and other event merchandise may be available while supplies last.
• Incubation Opportunities: Promising projects may gain exposure to mentorship and startup incubation opportunities through IIMT-BIF.