IIT Delhi partners with CyberPeace to promote AI and digital safety solutions

India’s leading cybersecurity think tank, CyberPeace, in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (eDC) of IIT Delhi, has launched the national-level eRaksha Hackathon 2026 to address pressing digital safety challenges.

The hackathon, scheduled from Jan 16 to 18 at IIT Delhi, is part of IIT Delhi’s annual entrepreneurship conclave BECon’26 and serves as a pre-summit event to the AI Impact Summit’26.

It brings together student innovators from across the country to develop deployable solutions in cybersecurity, defense AI, and digital trust.

The 36-hour event aims to foster innovation, practical problem-solving, and industry-oriented exposure through mentorship from experts in academia and industry.

Participants will tackle problem statements in domains including AI and machine learning, threat detection, blockchain, and secure software development.

Key focus areas include agentic AI systems, deepfake detection, IoT security, and edge-based security architectures, with emphasis on scalable solutions with real-world applicability.

“We are proud to team up with CyberPeace and aim to develop practical, scalable solutions that address defense-related problems and enhance national security. This E-Raksha Hackathon works as a catalyst for innovation-led cybersecurity solutions—strengthening India’s digital safety ecosystem while inspiring the next generation of leaders to build secure, responsible, and trustworthy digital technologies,” said Prof Lakshmi Narayan Ramasubramanian, in charge of eDC at IIT Delhi.

“This hackathon reflects the institute’s continued commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and technology-led nation building. By providing a collaborative ecosystem where ideas can evolve into deployable solutions, eDC IIT Delhi seeks to nurture future-ready innovators who can contribute meaningfully to India’s digital economy,” Ramasubramanian added.

“We are proud to see the commencement of a hackathon that fosters real-time innovation and awareness on responsible AI, digital trust, and cybersecurity,” said Maj. Vineet Kumar, founder of CyberPeace.

By engaging diverse stakeholders, including children, educators, senior citizens, and technology leaders, we aim to promote a safe, responsible, and democratic use of AI. This national inclusive platform brings together government, industry, academia, and citizens to strengthen the digital ecosystem,” Kumar added.

The hackathon centers on two key problem statements. The first challenges participants to design agentic AI systems for securing home IoT devices through deception and autonomous defense, creating intelligent, self-defending systems for threat detection and mitigation.

The second focuses on agentic AI for deepfake detection and authenticity verification, inviting teams to develop AI-driven solutions to identify manipulated media and ensure content authenticity.

The event will conclude on Feb 10 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

Selected teams will showcase their solutions and insights, receive national visibility, and compete for a cash prize of ₹3 lakh, along with opportunities to interact with senior dignitaries from government, industry, and the global technology community.