Smart India Hackathon is the best-known government hackathon, but it is not the only one. In 2026, the Ministry of Textiles, TCOE India, the GSMA and the Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) each ran national challenges, and many were open to professionals, startups and researchers as well as students. As of 12 October 2026, all of the ones below have closed, so use this as a guide to what to watch next year.
Handloom Hackathon 2026: "Weaving Innovation"
Organised by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, as part of National Handloom Day 2026 celebrations.
- Registration: 1 to 20 July 2026, online through www.youthideathon.in/handloom
- Selection: 21 to 25 July
- Grand finale: scheduled for 1 August 2026, offline at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi
- Who could enter: students in textiles, fashion, design, engineering, management and technology, plus handloom weavers, artisans, researchers, startups, entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals
- Themes: innovation in design and operations, market access and digital integration, sustainability and environmental impact, and weaver livelihoods and financial inclusion
One roundup lists a ₹4,00,000 prize pool, which is not confirmed in the ministry statement.
Emerging Technologies Hackathon 2026: Road to IMC
Run by Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) India with partners including IIT Delhi and the Department of Telecom.
- Launch and registration: 1 July 2026, with the deadline extended to 31 July
- Tracks: nine tracks and 21 published problem statements, covering 5G and 6G, satellite communication, AI, quantum communication, semiconductors, robotics and drones, cybersecurity, IoT, green technology and digital services
- Team size: one to five members
- Format: online registration and project submission, expert screening, mentoring for the shortlisted and a live demonstration
- Finale: India Mobile Congress 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, scheduled for 7 to 10 October 2026
India Mobile Congress was scheduled for 7 to 10 October under the theme "Scale Without Boundaries", with the Prime Minister due to inaugurate it on 8 October. Results of the hackathon were not found.
GSMA Open Gateway Hackathon at IMC
GSMA's own page describes an online hackathon running from 1 July to 30 September 2026, in which teams use CAMARA network APIs and AI to build real-world solutions. Ten shortlisted teams were invited to IMC26 in Delhi for a "Dragon's Den" style final, with cash prizes for the top three.
1st India Computer Vision Hackathon 2026
Organised by ISAC for students and working professionals.
- Dates: 5 and 6 August 2026
- Venue: RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru (one roundup labels it online, while the competition listing describes a venue-based event)
- Registration deadline: 15 July 2026
- Teams: 2 to 5 members
- Prize pool: up to ₹5,00,000
- Problem areas: face recognition, tampering detection, industrial inspection, accident detection and video retrieval
Idea competitions closing this week
A startup-funding directory also lists two government-backed idea competitions closing soon: MeitY Startup Hub's GENESIS Idea World Competition, closing 13 October with up to ₹50,000, and the Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge 2027 from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, closing 15 October with prizes from ₹30,000 to ₹1.5 lakh. These come from a listing site only, so verify them on the official pages before applying.
What these have in common
- Registration windows are short, usually 2 to 3 weeks.
- Many run in July, ahead of a finale tied to a government event.
- A few ask for an idea submission and a short screening before the finale.
- Eligibility is wider than a typical campus hackathon, so mixed teams with professionals or researchers may qualify.
What to do now
SIH is the main government track open this season, and its evaluation stage runs through November. See Brabble's SIH 2026 timeline and the October to December 2026 calendar for what is still open.