C3iHub, IIT Kanpur
HACK IITK
IIT Kanpur's national cybersecurity hackathon, run by its C3iHub research centre - a hybrid Capture-the-Flag and applied-security competition open nationally and free to enter.
Brabble editorial · Updated 12 Aug 2026 · Official page
Particulars
- Organiser
- C3iHub, IIT Kanpur
- Mode
- Online qualification/challenge rounds, in-person finale at IIT Kanpur
- Prize / outcome
- Cash prizes, amount set per edition
- Team size
- Varies by track - check current edition's rules
- Application fee
- Free
- Rounds
- 3
What it is
HACK IITK is a national cybersecurity hackathon organised by C3iHub, IIT Kanpur's dedicated cybersecurity research centre. It runs two tracks: a Capture-the-Flag (CTF) track for classic security challenges, and a Solution Track for practical cybersecurity problem-solving against real infrastructure-security themes - recent editions focused on critical infrastructure security spanning network security, cryptography, hardware security, IoT/AI security, and digital forensics. Qualification and challenge rounds run online through the C3iHub Arena platform; the grand finale is held in person at IIT Kanpur.
Rounds
01. Qualification round
MCQ-based assessments and preliminary coding/CTF challenges, run online through C3iHub Arena.
02. Challenge round
Deeper CTF and Solution Track challenges for those who clear qualification, still online.
03. Grand finale
Held in person at IIT Kanpur for the strongest performers across both tracks.
Who can enter
- Open nationally to students; some tracks also open to working professionals - check the current edition's specific rules
- Free to enter
- Registration through the official C3iHub Arena platform
What you actually get
Winners get cash prizes, direct visibility with C3iHub researchers and IIT Kanpur faculty, and a credential specifically in applied cybersecurity - a narrower but deeper credential than a general-purpose hackathon, useful for students specifically targeting security roles.
Frequently asked questions
- Three: an online qualification round (MCQ-based assessments and preliminary CTF/coding challenges), a deeper online challenge round, and an in-person grand finale at IIT Kanpur.
- The Capture-the-Flag (CTF) Track is a classic security-challenge format - find flags by exploiting deliberately vulnerable systems. The Solution Track is applied problem-solving against real infrastructure-security themes, closer to a build-a-fix hackathon than a pure CTF.
- Yes, participation is free.
- It's aimed at students with genuine interest in security - network security, cryptography, hardware security, IoT/AI security, and digital forensics all feature in recent editions' themes - but exact prerequisite knowledge isn't gatekept at registration; the qualification round is what actually filters skill level.
How many rounds does HACK IITK have?+−
What's the difference between the CTF Track and Solution Track at HACK IITK?+−
Is HACK IITK free to enter?+−
Do you need prior cybersecurity experience for HACK IITK?+−
More guides
Checked against IIT Kanpur's own official hackathon pages (iitk.ac.in) for the 2026 edition, 12 Aug 2026. Themes, tracks and dates are republished each edition - confirm on iitk.ac.in before registering.