Terrier Cyber Quest 2026: Indian Army National Defence Hackathon

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Key takeaways

The Territorial Army of the Indian Army launched the 3rd edition of Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0) in collaboration with CyberPeace.
TCQ 3.0 features 3 tracks, including a 36-hour live sandbox finale in New Delhi for critical infrastructure bug hunting.
The initiative aims to build indigenous cybersecurity tools and protect national networks against AI-driven cyberattacks and disinformation.

The Territorial Army of the Indian Army has teamed up with CyberPeace, a non-profit think tank, to launch the 3rd edition of Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0).

Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0) is an apex national defense hackathon and cyber challenge. It acts as an open innovation bridge between the Armed Forces and civilian tech experts like ethical hackers, software developers, AI researchers, and digital communicators.
The lead organization conducting this initiative is the Territorial Army (TA) under the Indian Army.
The main aim of this challenge is to build indigenous cyber solutions, find security vulnerabilities, and boost India's defense against cyber and information warfare.

Track 1 focuses on Bug Hunting for infrastructure defense. It includes an online Capture-the-Flag (CTF) qualifier and ends with a 36-hour live sandbox finale in New Delhi to discover flaws in simulated national infrastructure.
Track 2 is called AI Kavach, which centers on machine learning security. It aims to develop AI/ML algorithmic systems for detecting threat intelligence, tracking telemetry anomalies, and triggering automated defense responses.
Track 3 is the Creators Challenge aimed at cognitive domain defense. Digital creators and communicators work together to make counter-strategies against deepfakes, phishing scams, state-backed disinformation, and social-engineering threats.
The program follows a structured multi-phase evaluation. It starts with nationwide registration, moves to online shortlisting, and concludes with a Grand Finale in New Delhi.
It creates strong civil-military technical synergy. This model brings together academic institutions, civilian tech startups, and military specialists under the Citizens' Army mandate of the Territorial Army.

The event promotes local cybersecurity tools and technologies. This reduces India's reliance on foreign systems to protect critical networks.
It builds strong resilience against AI-driven cyberattacks, malware, and digital fake news. As a result, it strengthens national readiness against grey-zone warfare.