Announcements
Indian Army Opens Terrier Cyber Quest 2026; Cybersecurity, AI and Creator Challenges Announced
Published on
23 August 2026
The Indian Army has opened registrations for Terrier Cyber Quest (TCQ) 2026, a national-level cybersecurity and technology competition designed to identify talent in areas including cyber defence, artificial intelligence and digital awareness.
The competition is being organised by the Territorial Army in collaboration with CyberPeace and is open to a broad range of participants, including students, cybersecurity professionals, AI researchers, ethical hackers, software developers, startups, content creators and technology enthusiasts.
Candidates can register for the competition until August 31, 2026.
The competition will move from online shortlisting to an in-person finale in New Delhi.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opened | July 30, 2026 |
| Registration Deadline | August 31, 2026 |
| Online Shortlisting | September 1–10, 2026 |
| Grand Finale in New Delhi | October 6–8, 2026 |
| Award Ceremony | October 9, 2026 |
Shortlisted teams will participate in a 36-hour grand finale from October 6 to 8, with winners honoured the following day.
Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 has been divided into three tracks, allowing participants with different technical and creative skills to compete.
The Bug Hunting track is aimed at participants interested in cybersecurity, vulnerability detection and ethical hacking.
Participants will initially compete in an online Capture-the-Flag (CTF) challenge. Top-performing teams will advance to the in-person finale.
During the final stage, teams will identify and document vulnerabilities within a simulated national infrastructure environment.
The track is open to groups including:
Teams can have up to three members.
The AI Kavach challenge focuses on developing artificial intelligence-based cybersecurity solutions.
Participants are expected to propose systems capable of detecting, analysing and mitigating cyber threats.
Applicants must submit a five-slide presentation explaining their proposed solution during registration.
Shortlisted teams will then develop working prototypes during the grand finale.
AI Kavach teams can include up to three members.
TCQ 2026 is not restricted to programmers and cybersecurity professionals.
The National Creators Challenge has been designed for creators, influencers, students and members of the general public interested in spreading digital awareness.
Participants must create an original 1–3 minute video, reel or carousel addressing topics such as:
Teams can have up to four members.
This track provides an opportunity for students with communication, storytelling, design and content-creation skills to participate even without advanced cybersecurity programming experience.
The competition has deliberately broad eligibility.
Terrier Cyber Quest is open to participants including:
Students → Cybersecurity professionals → AI researchers → Ethical hackers → Software developers → Content creators → Startups → Technology enthusiasts
The specific requirements differ depending on the selected competition track.
This makes the challenge relevant not only to engineering and computer-science students but also to creators interested in cybersecurity awareness.
Interested candidates must register through the official Terrier Cyber Quest platform before the deadline.
Applicants need to select their preferred track, create their participant profile and provide the required information.
Additional submissions depend on the selected challenge. For example, AI Kavach applicants need to submit their five-slide proposal, while National Creators Challenge participants need to submit original awareness content according to the competition guidelines.
Candidates should check the official rules for their chosen track before submitting an entry.
Terrier Cyber Quest offers more than conventional competition prizes.
According to the organisers, finalists can receive:
Winners may also receive opportunities to visit defence establishments and contribute to future cybersecurity initiatives with the Territorial Army.
For students and early-career cybersecurity professionals, such exposure can provide valuable experience beyond the monetary awards.
Cybersecurity has become increasingly important as governments, businesses and individuals depend on digital infrastructure.
Threats involving ransomware, data breaches, deepfakes, phishing, misinformation and attacks on critical systems have increased demand for professionals capable of protecting digital infrastructure.
TCQ 2026 gives students an opportunity to apply skills in a competition connected with real-world cybersecurity challenges.
Instead of being evaluated only through academic examinations, participants can demonstrate abilities such as:
Such competitions can also provide useful project experience for students building portfolios for internships, higher studies or technology careers.
The right track depends on the participant's existing skills.
Choose Bug Hunting if you are comfortable with cybersecurity, CTFs, ethical hacking and vulnerability analysis.
Choose AI Kavach if you have experience with artificial intelligence, machine learning, software development or cybersecurity product ideas.
Choose National Creators Challenge if your strengths are video creation, social media, storytelling, design or public communication.
Students should select the category where they can demonstrate genuine skills rather than choosing a track only because it sounds more technical.
With registration closing on August 31, interested candidates should first read the track-specific rules and identify suitable teammates.
AI Kavach participants should begin preparing their five-slide solution proposal, while creators should carefully review the requirements for their cyber-awareness content.
Technical participants should also prepare for the online shortlisting phase scheduled from September 1 to September 10.
