ET AI Hackathon 2.0: Eligibility, Prize Money, Registration & Phases (2026)

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ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is a national-level AI competition organized by The Economic Times in partnership with Unstop. The hackathon is designed for students, professionals, developers, founders, and AI enthusiasts to build real-world AI solutions and compete for a ₹10 lakh prize pool, PPIs, internships, and national recognition.

The competition includes multiple stages such as an online AI assessment, prototype-building round, and a final live pitch in front of industry experts and hiring leaders.

If you're looking for one of the biggest AI hackathons in India in 2026 with real career opportunities and strong industry visibility, ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is one of the most important competitions currently open.

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 — Latest Update

Last Updated: May 2026

Registrations for ET AI Hackathon 2.0 are currently open on Unstop. The competition is being conducted online across India and the registration deadline is June 1, 2026. Participants can compete individually or in teams of up to 4 members.

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 — Quick Highlights

What is ET AI Hackathon 2.0?

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is the second edition of The Economic Times’ flagship AI innovation competition conducted in collaboration with Unstop. The hackathon focuses on solving real-world problems using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Generative AI, and Large Language Models (LLMs).

Participants are required to build practical AI prototypes across areas like:

• business innovation,
• social impact,
• workflow automation,
• AI productivity,
• and GenAI applications.

Unlike many traditional hackathons that focus only on coding, ET AI Hackathon 2.0 also evaluates:

• problem-solving,
• innovation,
• scalability,
• business viability,
• and presentation skills.

The competition has become one of the most recognized AI hackathons in India because of its industry visibility, career opportunities, and large prize pool.

Why ET AI Hackathon 2.0 Stands Out

There are hundreds of hackathons conducted every year, but ET AI Hackathon 2.0 stands out because of the scale, brand credibility, and career exposure attached to it.

With a ₹10 lakh prize pool and nationwide participation, ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is quickly becoming one of the biggest AI hackathons in India in 2026.

1. Backed by The Economic Times

The Economic Times is one of India’s most trusted business and financial media platforms. Being recognized in an ET-backed competition adds strong credibility to student and professional profiles.

2. ₹10 Lakh Prize Pool

The hackathon offers one of the biggest prize pools among AI competitions in India.

Prize Structure

Additional Rewards

Participants may also receive:

• PPIs,
• internship opportunities,
• networking access,
• mentorship,
• and visibility through ET platforms.

3. Career Opportunities Beyond Prize Money

The competition is not limited to cash rewards. Participants may also receive:

• Pre-Placement Interviews (PPIs),
• internship opportunities,
• mentorship access,
• and full-time job opportunities with AI-first companies.

For students and early-career developers, this is one of the biggest advantages of participating.

4. Free Certificate for Participants

Every participant who successfully submits a valid prototype in Phase 2 receives a free Certificate of Participation.

This becomes useful for:

• resumes,
• LinkedIn profiles,
• internship applications,
• and AI project portfolios.

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 Eligibility Criteria

One of the biggest advantages of ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is its broad eligibility criteria. The competition is open to participants from different academic and professional backgrounds across India.

Who Can Apply?

The hackathon is open to:

• college students,
• working professionals,
• AI enthusiasts,
• developers,
• designers,
• startup founders,
• freelancers,
• and product managers.

Participants from any academic stream can apply as long as they are interested in AI and innovation.

Team Rules

Important Participation Rules

• All submissions must be original
• Plagiarized or pre-built projects may lead to disqualification
• Participants must register through Unstop before attempting the assessment
• Each participant can join only one team

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 Registration Process

Registration for ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is completely free and takes place through Unstop.

How To Register

• Step 1 - Visit the official ET AI Hackathon 2.0 page on Unstop.
• Step 2 - Log in or create your Unstop account.
• Step 3 - Register individually or create a team of up to 4 members.
• Step 4 - Complete the registration before June 1, 2026.
• Step 5 - Attempt the online AI assessment for Phase 1.

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 Phases Explained

The hackathon follows a three-phase structure that takes participants from an online assessment to a live final pitch.

Phase 1: Online AI Assessment

The competition starts with an MCQ-based online assessment designed to test foundational AI knowledge.

Topics Covered

The assessment may include:

• AI & ML basics,
• Python concepts,
• neural networks,
• NLP fundamentals,
• logical reasoning,
• and Generative AI concepts.

The assessment is conducted online and shortlisted participants move to the next stage.

Phase 2: Prototype Build Sprint

This is the main development phase of the competition where shortlisted teams build a working AI prototype.

Participants receive problem statements and must:

• choose a track,
• develop a solution,
• create a functional prototype,
• and submit the required deliverables.

Tracks in ET AI Hackathon 2.0

Business Innovation

AI tools focused on:

• automation,
• operational efficiency,
• workflow intelligence,
• and enterprise productivity.

Social Impact

AI solutions designed for:

• healthcare,
• education,
• financial inclusion,
• and community impact.

Open Innovation

Experimental AI solutions using:

• Generative AI,
• LLMs,
• AI copilots,
• and emerging AI interfaces.

Deliverables for Phase 2

Participants may be required to submit:

• GitHub repository,
• demo video,
• architecture document,
• and impact explanation.

Every team completing a valid submission receives a free certificate.

Phase 3: Grand Finale

Top-performing teams from Phase 2 advance to the Grand Finale where they present their solutions to industry experts and hiring leaders.

What Happens in the Finale?

Finalists:

• demonstrate their prototype,
• explain the technical architecture,
• answer jury questions,
• and pitch the business or social impact of the solution.

Evaluation usually focuses on:

• innovation,
• implementation quality,
• scalability,
• presentation,
• and practical impact.

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 Problem Statements

While the exact problem statements are revealed during Phase 2, the tracks provide a clear idea of the type of solutions expected.

Examples of Expected AI Solutions

Under Business Innovation

• Enterprise workflow automation
• AI sales intelligence tools
• Meeting intelligence systems
• Media operations automation

Under Social Impact

• AI healthcare accessibility tools
• Personalized education systems
• Financial inclusion solutions

Under Open Innovation

• GenAI creative platforms
• LLM-based assistants
• AI productivity tools
• Experimental AI interfaces

The focus across all tracks is on:

• originality,
• practical usability,
• scalability,
• and measurable impact.

How Will Projects Be Evaluated?

Judges evaluate submissions across multiple criteria.

Evaluation Parameters

Projects that are functional and practical usually perform better than overly theoretical ideas.

How To Prepare for ET AI Hackathon 2.0

Most participants preparing for the competition focus on three major areas:

• AI fundamentals,
• prototype-building,
• and presentation skills.

Preparation Tips for Phase 1

• Revise ML basics
• Understand supervised vs unsupervised learning
• Study NLP and LLM fundamentals
• Practice logical reasoning questions
• Revise Python basics

Preparation Tips for Phase 2

• Focus on problem-solution clarity before coding
• Build a working prototype instead of only designing slides
• Use frameworks like LangChain, Hugging Face, or OpenAI APIs for faster development
• Document your architecture from the beginning

Preparation Tips for the Finale

• Practice your demo multiple times
• Prepare for scalability and business-related questions
• Keep the presentation concise and impact-focused
• Clearly explain how the solution solves a real-world problem

Final Thoughts

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is one of the biggest AI competitions currently open in India for students, developers, professionals, and AI enthusiasts.

Beyond the ₹10 lakh prize pool, the hackathon gives participants opportunities to build real AI solutions, network with industry experts, gain visibility through The Economic Times, and unlock internship or placement opportunities.

For anyone interested in Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Machine Learning, or AI product-building, ET AI Hackathon 2.0 can become a strong platform to showcase skills and gain industry exposure.

With registrations already open, interested participants should apply early and start preparing for the assessment and prototype-building stages.

For students and professionals looking to build real-world AI projects and gain industry exposure, the competition offers far more than just prize money.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is ET AI Hackathon 2.0?

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is a national-level AI innovation competition organized by The Economic Times in partnership with Unstop for students, professionals, and AI enthusiasts across India.

Q2. Is registration free?

Yes, registration for ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is completely free.

Q3. Can I participate individually?

Yes. Individual participation is allowed, although teams of up to 4 members are also permitted.

Q4. What is the last date to apply?

The registration deadline for ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is June 1, 2026.

Q5. What is the total prize pool?

The total prize pool for ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is ₹10 lakh.

Q6. Will participants receive certificates?

Yes. Every participant who submits a valid prototype during Phase 2 receives a free Certificate of Participation.

Q7. What are the phases of ET AI Hackathon 2.0?

The competition consists of:

• Online AI Assessment,
• Prototype Build Sprint,
• and Grand Finale Presentation.

Q8. Is the hackathon conducted online?

Yes. The entire hackathon is conducted online, although the final presentation stage may involve live presentations.