Indian Army Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 registrations open, apply by Aug 20

The Territorial Army has opened registrations for the Indian Army Terrier Cyber Quest 2026, inviting students, cybersecurity professionals, innovators, researchers, ethical hackers, Armed Forces personnel, and technology enthusiasts to participate in the national competition.

The initiative, organized in collaboration with the CyberPeace Foundation, seeks to promote innovation in cybersecurity and strengthen India's cyber defense capabilities.

Interested candidates can register through the official portal by Aug 20.

According to the schedule, the registration window opened on July 30 and will remain active until Aug 20. The online shortlisting round will be held from Sept 1 to Sept 10, followed by the Grand Finale in New Delhi from Oct 6 to Oct 8. The award ceremony is scheduled for Oct 9.

The competition will begin with an online Capture-The-Flag (CTF) qualifying round. Teams shortlisted from this stage will advance to a 36-hour in-person finale, where they will develop customized cybersecurity solutions for the Indian Army in a simulated national infrastructure environment.

During the final round, participants will identify system vulnerabilities, document exploits, and submit cybersecurity certifications or domain badges as part of the evaluation process.

The competition is open to students, cybersecurity professionals, ethical hackers, researchers, technology enthusiasts, and Armed Forces personnel. Teams can consist of up to three members, including the team leader.

Submissions in the Grand Finale will be evaluated by an expert panel based on the severity of vulnerabilities identified, methodology, originality, and technical complexity.

The top 10 teams selected from the online qualifier will compete in the final round in New Delhi, where participants will conduct live vulnerability assessments on a customized system stack using realistic dummy data.

Their findings will be verified by experts, and the top three teams will be declared winners based on their overall performance.

The Territorial Army will present medallions and certificates to participants in recognition of their performance during the competition. Finalists will also receive certificates, compete for prizes, interact with senior Indian Army and government officials, and visit key defense establishments.

The organizers said the competition also offers participants an opportunity to collaborate with the Territorial Army, work alongside defense professionals, and contribute to India's national defense ecosystem.

The Indian Army Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 is a national platform focused on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging defense technologies.

Building on the earlier editions of the competition, the initiative aims to bring together talent from across the country to develop innovative solutions for evolving cybersecurity challenges while enhancing India's cyber resilience.