Overview: Build with AI. Compete Pan-India. Win from a ₹20 Lakh Cash Prize Pool. The GITAM National AI Challenge 2026 is a national-level AI competition inviting Class 11 and 12 students, as well as students from undergraduate colleges, to identify real-world problems, build AI-powered solutions, and compete against some of the strongest student teams from across India. Participants can enter individually or in teams of up to 4 members and progress from an online prototype submission to expert-led strategy workshops, competitive pitches, semifinals, and the Grand Finale.
Winner: ₹9
Lakh Second Prize: ₹6
Lakh Third Prize: ₹3
Lakh 1st Runner-Up: ₹1
Lakh 2nd Runner-Up: ₹1 Lakh Total Cash
Prize Pool: ₹20
Stage 1: Idea & Prototype
Submission Format: Online Last
Date of Submission: 12th November 2026 Participants must identify a meaningful problem and present an AI-powered solution through a 5-slide pitch deck.
Problem & Relevance: What problem are you solving, who does it impact, and why does it matter?
AI Integration: How is AI being used in the solution – LLMs, APIs, custom models, automation, open-source tools, AI agents, or other technologies?
Prototype: A working demo, functional prototype, wireframe, application interface, or proof of concept. Top 200 teams advance to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Workshops + Quarter
Online Timeline: 24th November 2026 – 2nd December 2026 The Top 200 teams will enter a high-intensity development and pitching phase featuring: Expert workshops. Quarter-final pitches before a jury. Teams will receive guidance from startup founders, CXOs, product leaders, and industry professionals to strengthen: Product concept and functionality. User experience. Problem statement and value proposition. Business or social-impact model. Pitch deck and storytelling. Jury Q&A preparedness. Following the Quarter Finals, the Top 100 teams will progress to the Semi Finals.
Stage 3: Semi Finals + Grand
Offline Timeline: 19th and 20th December 2026
Day 1: Semi Finals The Top 100 teams will pitch their solutions before jury panels. From these, only the Top 20 teams will move to the Grand Finale.
Day 2: Grand Finale The Top 20 teams will make their final pitch before the jury and compete for the ₹20 Lakh cash prize pool.
Venue
GITAM Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, India
Evaluation Criteria: AI Application & Technical Depth – 30%: Originality, relevance, sophistication, and effectiveness of AI implementation. Practical Utility & Scalability – 25%: Real-world usefulness, market or societal relevance, adoption potential, and scalability. Working Prototype & Execution – 25%: Prototype quality, functionality, technical execution, UI/UX, and overall implementation. Pitch & Business Clarity – 20%: Clarity of problem, solution, target users, value proposition, impact, market potential, and future roadmap.
Eligibility & Team Rules: Participants may register individually or in teams of up to 4 members. Each participant/team must submit one original AI-powered solution. The solution must address a clearly identified problem. Participants may use AI APIs, LLMs, open-source models, automation tools, and other relevant technologies. Major external tools and technologies used should be disclosed. Inter-institution and inter-specialization team rules will be specified in the final participation guidelines.
Competition Rules: All submissions must be the participant’s/team’s original work. Plagiarism, falsification, or misrepresentation may lead to disqualification. Participants must adhere to the submission format, deadlines, and round-specific instructions. Teams may continue refining their solutions between rounds. Shortlisted teams must participate in scheduled workshops and pitching rounds. Jury decisions across all stages will be final. Detailed pitch durations, schedules, and final round instructions will be communicated to shortlisted teams separately. The same student cannot compete in multiple teams.