Eligibility Guidelines Hacknite is open to all undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma students, and recent graduates from any recognized institution. Participants from all disciplines are welcome. Individual registrations are allowed. Team size: 1–4 members . Inter-college teams are allowed. Inter-specialization teams are allowed. A participant can be a member of only one team. Tracks: Participants can build projects under any one of the following tracks: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Open Innovation Cyber Security Internet of Things (IoT) Blockchain & Web3 Gaming & XR Communication & Announcements All important announcements, updates, result notifications, schedule changes, and event-related communication will be shared through the official WhatsApp group. Official WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KcPvJQpSPBT1NJaTVgiNmJ Participants are strongly encouraged to join the group to stay informed about the latest updates. Problem Statements Participants may choose from the official problem statements released before the event or build an open innovation project aligned with one of the hackathon tracks. Teams are encouraged to solve real-world problems with practical and scalable solutions. Selection Process Hacknite – Code Royale 2026 follows a two-phase registration and selection process . These phases are independent registration opportunities and not elimination rounds. Teams may participate only once during the event. Phase 1 (Expected) Registration Window: 21 June 2026 – 05 July 2026 Eligibility: Open to all eligible students. Team Size Minimum: 1 Members Maximum: 4 Members Expected Result Declaration: 06 July 2026 – 10 July 2026 Phase 2 (Expected) Registration Window: 11 July 2026 – 22 July 2026 Purpose Phase 2 is intended for new teams who were unable to register during Phase 1. It serves as an additional registration opportunity and is not a continuation or elimination round of Phase 1. Important Rule Teams that have already registered or participated in Phase 1 will not be eligible to register in Phase 2. Any duplicate registrations may be disqualified. Expected Result Declaration: 23 July 2026 – 25 July 2026 Final Shortlisting (Expected) Based on the evaluation process across both phases, approximately 250–300 participants are expected to be shortlisted for the Offline Grand Finale. Submission: Teams must submit by Google Form: Source Code Repository (GitHub or equivalent) Project Demo Brief Documentation Project Deployed Link Judging Criteria: Projects will be evaluated on: Innovation & Creativity Technical Implementation Problem Relevance Scalability & Feasibility Presentation & Demo Overall Impact Mentorship Industry mentors will be available throughout the hackathon to guide participants on technical challenges, product development, and pitching. Rules Every participant must carry a valid college ID and government-issued ID for verification. Participants must report to the venue before the reporting time. Teams must develop their solution primarily during the hackathon duration. Pre-existing libraries, frameworks, and open-source tools may be used; however, the core project must be built during the event. Plagiarism or submission of previously developed projects will lead to immediate disqualification. AI tools are permitted unless explicitly restricted in a specific problem statement. Teams are responsible for bringing their own laptops, chargers, and other required equipment. Internet access and basic infrastructure will be provided by the organizers. Participants are expected to maintain professional conduct throughout the event. Any form of harassment, discrimination, or misconduct will result in immediate removal from the hackathon. Decisions made by the organizing committee and judging panel shall be final and binding. Organizers reserve the right to modify the schedule, rules, or judging process if required due to unforeseen circumstances. By participating, teams consent to photography, videography, and promotional use of media captured during the event. We look forward to welcoming you to Hacknite: Code Royale —Build. Innovate. Survive.