PSBs Cyber Shield Hackathon 2026
Bank of India
📌About the Event
The PSBs Cyber Shield Hackathon 2026, officially titled the PSB’s Cybersecurity, Fraud & Artificial Intelligence Hackathon 2026, is a national-level innovation challenge hosted by the Bank of India in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad. The hackathon invites participants to develop practical AI, machine learning and cybersecurity solutions for detecting fraudulent mobile applications, financial fraud and suspicious mule accounts. The initiative is powered by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, and coordinated through the Indian Banks’ Association.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Event level: National-level hackathon
- Mode of conduct: Hybrid
- Registration and initial idea submission will be completed online.
- Shortlisted participants will develop prototypes during the development phase.
- The final prototype presentations will be conducted physically at IIT Hyderabad on August 27 and 28, 2026.
- Focus areas: Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, banking fraud detection, malware analysis and financial technology.
- Total prize pool: ₹20 lakh
- Participation format: Individual participation or teams of two to four members, according to the latest live registration portal.
- Official problem statements:
- Develop a Generative AI-based system for reverse engineering, static and dynamic analysis, threat classification and risk scoring of fraudulent Android applications and malware.
- Develop an AI/ML solution to identify suspicious transactions and mule accounts using transaction data, fraud alerts, government cybercrime inputs and cross-channel banking data.
📅 Important Dates
- Registration opening date: May 7, 2026
- Extended registration and idea-submission deadline: June 22, 2026
- Resubmission deadline: June 22, 2026
- Shortlisting of teams: June 23–30, 2026
- Announcement of shortlisted participants: June 30, 2026
- Prototype development and progress-report period: July 1–August 17, 2026
- Final prototype presentations: August 27–28, 2026
- Prize announcement and closing ceremony: August 28, 2026
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibility:
- The hackathon is open to:
- Students from recognised colleges, institutes and universities
- Students who have discontinued their studies
- Young entrepreneurs
- Startup founders
- Aspiring innovators and non-student participants
- Applicants may register individually or in a team.
- Teams can have a minimum of two and a maximum of four members on the latest registration portal.
- Organisers prefer teams to include at least one female participant as part of the women-empowerment initiative.
- Participants must provide a government-approved identity document during registration.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Total prize pool: ₹20 lakh
- Separate prizes will be awarded for each of the two problem statements:
- First prize: ₹5 lakh
- Second prize: ₹3 lakh
- Third prize: ₹2 lakh
- The prize money for each problem statement totals ₹10 lakh.
- Prize money will be released in three instalments:
- 50%: On the day of the grand finale
- 30%: On or after completion of the Global FinTech Fest
- 20%: After successful completion of product development
- The first-prize-winning team will be invited to participate in the Global FinTech Fest 2026.