Mandatory Registrations on: https://techfest.org/competitions/cycloprop
About: CycloProp is Grand Challenge of the PUSHPAK Grand Challenge 2026, a national innovation challenge under the
PUSHPAK: National Mission on Drone Technology, funded by MeitY, Government of India, and hosted by IIT Bombay. Unlike a conventional hackathon or idea competition, this challenge takes promising technical concepts through evaluation, mentoring, and deployment-oriented development. Teams work with researchers, domain experts, and industry mentors to design an indigenous cycloidal rotor module for drone applications, targeting at least 10 N thrust and a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 2.5. The goal isn't immediate prototype fabrication, but identifying strong, build-ready cyclorotor designs. Selected winning teams get invited to a post-challenge Prototype Development Support Programme to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world deployment.
Structure: The Grand Challenge runs about 4 months across three stages, ending with final presentations at Techfest, IIT Bombay, in December 2026.
Eligibility: Open to academic institutions, faculty-led student teams, startups, MSMEs, and academia-startup-industry consortia with expertise in UAVs, rotorcraft, aerodynamics, robotics, controls, or mechanical design.
Team size: Up to 5 members per team.
Objective: Teams work on a single objective, the CAE-supported design of an indigenous cycloidal rotor module for drone applications, targeting at least 10 N thrust and a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 2.5. Stage 1 - Preliminary
Design Submission: Teams get about a month to submit a preliminary cyclorotor design covering configuration, rotor sizing, blade-pitch concept, estimated thrust and weight, and a manufacturing approach. No funding at this stage; up to 15 teams qualify and receive INR 1 Lakh each. Stage 2 - Detailed
Design Development: Over about two months, shortlisted teams build a complete,
CAE-supported design package: CAD model, kinematic and aerodynamic analysis, structural assessment, material selection, and a build-and-test plan. Up to 10 teams advance to the finale with travel and accommodation support. Stage 3 - Grand
Challenge Finale: Finalists present and defend their detailed design before the evaluation committee at Techfest, IIT Bombay, with a technical viva. Up to 5 winning teams are selected and considered for further funding, mentoring, and resources in the post-challenge Prototype Development Support Programme.
Timeline: Grand Challenge announcement & registrations open - 22nd August 2026 Stage 1 work period - 22nd August - 27th September 2026 Stage 1 submission deadline - On or before 27th September 2026 Stage 1 results announcement - 2nd October 2026 Stage 2 work period - 3rd October - 2nd December 2026 Stage 2 submission deadline - On or before 2nd December 2026 Stage 2 results announcement - 6th December 2026 Grand Challenge Finale (Techfest) - 16th-18th December 2026
Rules: Participants must register on the official Techfest website (techfest.org > Competitions > PUSHPAK Grand Challenge) before taking part. All Stage 1 and Stage 2 submissions must be made via email to pushpak_gc2026@aero.iitb.ac.in ; no submission links or forms are used. No financial support is provided at Stage 1; funding and support begin only for teams shortlisted into Stage 2 and beyond. The process for disbursement of prize money and support will be communicated at a later stage; teams are advised to regularly check the official website and their registered email for updates. The decision of the organizing team and evaluation committee shall be treated as final and binding on all. Travel or participation support for finalist teams is subject to approved budget norms and IIT Bombay's guidelines, to be shared at a later stage.