Kanpur, April 9, 2026: The much-anticipated Grand Finale of HACK IITK 2026, an All-India Level Cybersecurity Hackathon, officially kicked off today at the Outreach Auditorium, IIT Kanpur. Organized by C3iHub, the event marks a significant milestone in India’s journey toward building a cyber-resilient future by bringing together the nation’s brightest minds to tackle critical digital security challenges.

The day commenced with a high-profile Inaugural Session, where leaders from academia and government gathered to set the tone for the two-day event. The ceremony emphasized the growing importance of indigenous cybersecurity solutions in protecting India’s critical infrastructure.

The ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest, Shri Binod Kumar Singh, IPS, Director General, Cyber Crime, Uttar Pradesh Police, who delivered a compelling address on the evolving cyber threat landscape and the critical role of young innovators in strengthening national cyber resilience.

The event also witnessed thought-provoking addresses by Guests of Honour, including Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Scientist ‘F’, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Govt. of India, and Shri M.C. Balasubramaniam, CMD, Gliders India Limited, who shared valuable insights on secure-by-design innovation and the role of industry-academia collaboration in cybersecurity advancement. The ceremony was also graced by the presence of Director IIT Kanpur Prof. Manindra Agrawal, along with Prof. Somitra Sanadhya, Program Director C3iHub, and CEO Dr. Tanima Hajra.

Following the inauguration, the event transitioned into a series of invited talks and panel discussions. The first invited talk featured Prof. MAKP Singh from IIT Kanpur, followed by Panel Discussion on “Towards Resilience: Need of Secure-by-Design Innovation,” bringing together experts from government and industry to deliberate on building resilient digital systems.

HACK IITK 2026 focuses on critical domains such as network security, cryptography, hardware security, IoT security, digital forensics, automotive security, and cybercrime. With two competitive tracks—Solution Track and Capture the Flag (CTF)—the hackathon provides a dynamic platform for participants to solve real-world cybersecurity challenges.

A major highlight of the morning was the high-powered panel discussion titled “Towards Resilience: Need of Secure-by-Design Innovation.” Moderated by Dr. Ras Dwivedi, CTO of C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, the panel featured industry and government stalwarts, including Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Scientist 'F', Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Shri Nisarg Acharya, Head of Business & Go-to-Market, Adani Cybersecurity. The panelists explored the shift from reactive security measures to a “secure-by-design” philosophy, stressing that innovation must have security embedded into its foundation rather than being added as an afterthought.

Post the lunch break, the focus shifted from strategic dialogue to intense competition as the finale tracks officially went live. Finalists in the Solution Track moved to the Technopark Auditorium to begin their high-stakes presentations, showcasing innovative prototypes designed to solve real-world security bottlenecks. Meanwhile, at the Multipurpose Hall, C3iHub, the Capture The Flag (CTF) competition went live at 3:00 PM, where elite ethical hackers began competing in a real-time environment to identify vulnerabilities and secure digital assets.

The Grand Finale will continue over the next two days with keynote sessions, panel discussions, interactive talks, and final evaluations, culminating in the valedictory session and prize distribution ceremony.

In another significant development during the event, C3iHub at IIT Kanpur unveiled its indigenously developed Learning Management System (LMS), marking a major step toward domestic technological self-reliance in digital education. The platform was launched during the high-energy grand finale of Hack-IITK, signalling a new era for flexible, transparent, and impactful digital learning.

Built by the expert team at C3iHub, the LMS is designed to empower students, educators, and institutions through a smarter, more integrated approach to learning. The platform follows a “Simple, Secure, Scalable” philosophy, providing a robust infrastructure capable of meeting the evolving demands of modern digital innovation. With a focus on accessibility, transparency, and performance, the LMS offers a seamless learning experience through features such as interactive dashboards, real-time analytics, integrated academic calendars, and robust course management tools.

Key Features of the C3iHub LMS: Personalized Student Dashboard: Enables learners to track courses, assignments, and progress through intuitive visual analytics; Advanced Time Analytics: Helps students evaluate learning patterns and improve performance; Comprehensive Admin Control: Simplifies course creation, content management, and student engagement monitoring; Real-Time Content Delivery: Instant publishing of lectures and materials for uninterrupted learning; Integrated Communication Tools: Facilitates seamless interaction between students, faculty, and administrators; Integrated Academic Calendar: A comprehensive tool to ensure students never miss a lecture, quiz, or deadline.

Speaking on the launch, Dr. Anand Handa, CSO of C3iHub, said, “In the world of digital innovation, learning today needs to be flexible, transparent, and impactful. Our indigenous LMS is more than just a tool; it is a commitment to redefining how we learn and lead by putting total control and powerful analytics into the hands of those who need them most.”

The C3iHub LMS is now accessible to institutions looking to modernize their educational delivery, further strengthening the ecosystem of secure and technology-driven learning platforms. For more information, please visit: lms.c3ihub.iitk.ac.in.

By bringing together leading experts, innovators, and aspiring cybersecurity professionals, HACK IITK 2026 not only showcases cutting-edge solutions to emerging digital threats but also reinforces IIT Kanpur’s leadership in advancing cybersecurity innovation and technological self-reliance in India.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialized schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in