Punjab National Bank Hosts Prize Distribution Ceremony For “Code Against Malware” Cybersecurity Hackathon
The ceremony was graced by M. Nagaraju, IAS, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, as the Chief Guest
Punjab National Bank (PNB), one of India’s premier public sector banks, hosted the Prize Distribution Ceremony of the “Code Against Malware” Hackathon at its Head Office today. The event marked the culmination of a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering innovation in cybersecurity and engaging the nation’s top young technical talent.
The hackathon was organised in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
The ceremony was graced by M. Nagaraju, IAS, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished dignitaries included Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur; Atul Kumar Goel, Chief Executive, IBA; and PNB’s Managing Director & CEO, along with senior bank officials, faculty members, jury members, and student participants.
Launched in December 2024, the “Code Against Malware” hackathon invited student teams from IIT Kanpur and other premier institutions to develop innovative endpoint security solutions capable of detecting ransomware using behavioural analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), and heuristic techniques.
The initiative witnessed an overwhelming response, with 90 student teams registering, of which 15 advanced to the development stage. Ultimately, seven working prototypes were submitted and evaluated by a jury of experts.
Addressing the gathering, M. Nagaraju emphasised the critical role of cybersecurity in the banking ecosystem, stating that initiatives like this are vital for enhancing national digital resilience in the face of rising cyber threats.
PNB’s MD & CEO reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to technological innovation, cyber risk mitigation, and collaborative partnerships between industry and academia to future-proof India’s financial infrastructure.
The winners of the hackathon, along with top teams from similar initiatives at other public sector banks, will be given the opportunity to showcase their solutions at the Global Fintech Festival (GFF) 2025, scheduled to be held in Mumbai.
PNB continues to lead from the front in digital innovation and cyber resilience. The Bank was recently recognised with multiple accolades, including:
- Winner – Cyber Security Team of the Year
- Winner – Incident Response Maturity
- Winner – Digital Payments Award (FY 2024–25)
Through initiatives like “Code Against Malware,” PNB is not only safeguarding its digital ecosystem but also nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.
