Punjab National Bank Launches PSB Hackathon 2026 with Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Punjab National Bank (PNB), one of the nation’s leading public sector banks, under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and in coordination with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), has announced the launch of PSB Hackathon 2026 — its flagship national innovation initiative aimed at strengthening cybersecurity across Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

The hackathon has evolved into a structured national platform bringing together academia, industry, and the banking sector to collaboratively address emerging cyber threats and enhance digital resilience.

Continuing its strategic partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, PNB will organise a nationwide hackathon series in 2026 focused on building next-generation cyber resilience. This year’s theme, “Quantum-Proof Systems for Public-Facing Applications,” reflects a forward-looking approach to safeguarding digital financial infrastructure against risks posed by rapid advancements in quantum computing. As quantum technologies progress globally, strengthening cryptographic systems for a post-quantum era has become a critical priority.

The previous edition of the hackathon witnessed overwhelming participation from students across premier engineering institutions nationwide. Under the theme “Code Against Malware,” teams developed innovative solutions addressing real-world banking cybersecurity challenges, particularly ransomware threats. The initiative was widely recognised as a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort within the Indian banking sector. Several prototypes developed during the earlier edition are currently under evaluation for potential integration into the banking ecosystem, highlighting the tangible outcomes of academia–industry collaboration.

PSB Hackathon 2026 will focus on developing a software-based cryptographic scanner capable of validating the implementation of quantum-resistant ciphers and generating a comprehensive Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM) for public-facing applications. The proposed solution will assess cryptographic exposure across web servers, APIs, and other mission-critical digital interfaces within the banking ecosystem.

Through this initiative, PNB aims to foster indigenous capabilities in post-quantum cryptography assessment and develop scalable tools to strengthen systemic resilience across public-facing banking applications.

The hackathon is open to students enrolled in recognised colleges, universities, and educational institutions across India. Participating teams must consist of three to four members, with multidisciplinary expertise in cybersecurity, cryptography, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software development strongly encouraged. Winning teams will compete for prizes worth up to ₹11 lakh.

Quantum computing represents both a technological breakthrough and a strategic cybersecurity challenge for the global financial sector. Through PSB Hackathon 2026, PNB seeks to proactively assess cryptographic readiness, promote adoption of post-quantum cryptographic standards, and build indigenous solutions capable of securing India’s banking systems against future quantum-enabled threats. The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in cybersecurity and reinforces PNB’s commitment to innovation-driven national security.

Registrations for PSB Hackathon 2026 are open on the official PNB Hackathon portal. Detailed guidelines, evaluation criteria, datasets, and mentorship schedules will be released as part of the Hackathon Rulebook. Updates will also be available through PNB’s official social media platforms. Queries may be addressed to hackathon@pnb.bank.in.

Making Indian Banking Quantum Safe — Together.