TERRIER CYBER QUEST 2026
Why in News?
The Indian Army’s Territorial Army, in collaboration with the NGO CyberPeace, has launched “Terrier Cyber Quest 2026” (TCQ 3.0), a national-level hackathon/cyber innovation challenge, on 21 August 2026 in New Delhi.
Overview & Objectives
- Organisers: Developed by the Territorial Army alongside CyberPeace, a prominent Indian cybersecurity non-profit organisation.
- Edition: This is the 3rd iteration of the event, building on the initial rollouts in 2024 and 2025.
- Primary Aim: To crowdsource cutting-edge, domestic technological tools tailored for information warfare and defence infrastructure.
- Target Audience: Open to students, ethical hackers, AI professionals, data analysts, drone experts, and digital content creators.
The Three Competition Tracks
- Bug Hunting: A core cybersecurity segment where participants tackle an online Capture-the-Flag (CTF) qualifier before hunting vulnerabilities inside simulated critical military infrastructure.
- AI Kavach: A machine learning-centric track focused on building predictive threat systems, anomaly radars, and automated response frameworks.
- Creators Challenge: A media and digital storytelling tier tasking influencers and communicators with designing campaigns against deepfakes, phishing, and misinformation.
Event Timeline & Schedule
- Registration Deadline: 31 August 2026.
- Online Shortlisting Phase: 1 September to 10 September 2026.
- Grand Finale: A 36-hour live sandbox hackathon held in New Delhi from 6 October to 8 October 2026.
- Award Ceremony: Scheduled for 9 October 2026.
- Rewards: Top performers receive cash prizes and formal commendation certificates.
- Networking: Finalists directly engage with senior military leadership and top government tech officials.
- Exclusive Access: Select winners will secure exclusive visits to premier, restricted Indian Defence Establishments.
