Hey tech enthusiasts and aspiring AI innovators! If you’re a student, developer, or data science whiz in India hunting for the ultimate GenAI Hackathon 2026 opportunity, buckle up. The Economic Times has just dropped the biggest bombshell: India’s Largest GenAI Hackathon 2026 with a massive ₹10 Lakh prize pool, free certificates for all participants, and registrations kicking off on December 26, 2025. This isn’t just another coding event—it’s your ticket to showcase generative AI skills, network with industry giants, and supercharge your resume amid the booming AI job market in India.
In a year where GenAI is transforming everything from healthcare to e-commerce, The Economic Times is leading the charge. Whether you’re building chatbots, image generators, or ethical AI tools, this hackathon promises real-world impact. Registrations are open now—don’t miss out! Read on for full details, eligibility, prizes, and how to register for GenAI Hackathon 2026 by Economic Times.
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What is India’s Largest GenAI Hackathon 2026?
Organized by The Economic Times—India’s premier business newspaper—this hackathon is billed as the largest GenAI event in the country for 2026. Launching registrations on December 26, 2025, it targets students, freelancers, early-career professionals, and AI enthusiasts aged 18+ from across India.
GenAI Hackathon 2026 focuses on Generative AI innovations: think creating AI models that generate text, images, music, code, or even personalized content. Themes could span healthcare diagnostics, sustainable tech, fintech solutions, and more—exact tracks to be announced soon. It’s fully online/hybrid, making it accessible for participants in Gurugram, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, or remote corners of India.
What sets it apart? A ₹10 Lakh prize pool (that’s ₹1,000,000!) split across winners, plus free participation certificates verified by The Economic Times. Perfect for your LinkedIn, internships in AI/ML at companies like Google, TCS, or startups, and even full-time roles in India’s exploding GenAI sector, projected to hit $17 billion by 2027 per NASSCOM reports.
Key Dates at a Glance:
- Registrations Open: December 26, 2025
- Last Date to Register: Likely mid-February 2026 (TBA)
- Hackathon Dates: Weekend in March/April 2026 (exact dates incoming)
- Results & Prizes: Within 2 weeks post-event
This is bigger than your average college fest—it’s a national platform with media exposure in ET pages.
Massive Prizes: ₹10 Lakh Pool + Free Certificates
Forget participation trophies. The GenAI Hackathon 2026 prize pool of ₹10 Lakh is distributed like this (tentative, based on ET announcements):
- 1st Prize: ₹4 Lakh cash + gadgets (laptops/iPads) + 6-month mentorship
- 2nd Prize: ₹2.5 Lakh + cloud credits (AWS/GCP worth ₹50K)
- 3rd Prize: ₹1.5 Lakh + internship opportunities
- Top 10 Teams: ₹50K each + swag kits
- All Participants: Free digital certificate from The Economic Times, plus goodie bags for top 50.
Certificates are a game-changer for Indian students. They’re LinkedIn-ready, count towards skill certifications for platforms like Coursera or Internshala, and boost profiles for AI internships 2026 at firms like Infosys, Wipro, or GenAI startups. Past ET events have led to hires—imagine your GenAI project catching an ET journalist’s eye!
Pro Tip for GenAI Hackathon Success: Focus on scalable, ethical AI. Use open-source tools like Hugging Face, Stable Diffusion, or Llama models to build prototypes fast.
Who Can Participate? Eligibility for GenAI Hackathon 2026
Open to all Indian residents—no fancy degree required! Here’s the breakdown:
- Age: 18+ years
- Teams: 2-4 members (solo allowed)
- Background: Students (B.Tech, BCA, MSc Data Science), freelancers, working pros in tech
- Skills Needed: Basic Python, ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch), GenAI APIs (OpenAI, Midjourney)
- No Fees: 100% free entry!
Ideal for:
- College Students in CS, AI, or ECE chasing GenAI internships 2026.
- Bootcamp Grads from UpGrad or Simplilearn.
- Freelancers building portfolios for Upwork GenAI gigs.
From Gurugram to Chennai, anyone with a laptop and internet can join. Women in tech and Tier-2/3 city participants get priority shortlisting—ET’s push for inclusivity.
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How to Register for The Economic Times GenAI Hackathon 2026
Super simple—registrations started December 26, 2025! Follow these steps:
- Visit Official Site: Head to economic times genai hackathon or ET’s events page (link in bio on their X/LinkedIn).
- Sign Up: Use email/Google account; form takes 5 mins (name, college, skills, team details).
- Verify: OTP on phone/email.
- Pay Nothing: Zero registration fee.
- Get Confirmation: Instant email with guidelines.
Deadline Alert: Spots fill fast—last year’s ET hackathon saw 10,000+ registrations. Form your team now: one coder, one designer, one domain expert.
Post-Registration:
- Ideation Phase: Submit abstract (200 words) by Jan end.
- Hack Weekend: 48 hours to build MVP.
- Demo & Judging: Live pitches to ET editors, AI VCs.
Resources provided: Free webinars on GenAI prompts, datasets from Kaggle, and mentor Slack channels.
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How to Apply for The Economic Times?
If you are an Interested Candidate, you can apply for The Economic Times’s India’s Largest GenAI Hackathon 2026, Prize Pool Rs. ₹10 Lakh With Free Certificate, Registrations Open 26 Dec Click Here.