Territorial Army launches Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 to tackle emerging cybersecurity threats
The Territorial Army and CyberPeace have launched Terrier Cyber Quest 2026, a national hackathon focused on AI, cybersecurity, threat mitigation and digital awareness for national security.
TCQ 3.0 will be conducted across three competition tracks: Bug Hunting, AI Kavach and Creators Challenge.
NEW DELHI: The Territorial Army, in collaboration with CyberPeace, has launched Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0), a national-level hackathon aimed at developing solutions to emerging defence, cybersecurity and information-domain challenges.
The third edition of the competition seeks participation from academia, industry, research institutions, government organisations and the Armed Forces, with a focus on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, threat mitigation and digital awareness.
TCQ 3.0 will be conducted across three competition tracks: Bug Hunting, AI Kavach and Creators Challenge.
The Bug Hunting track will begin with an online Capture-the-Flag qualifier and culminate in an in-person live sandbox finale. Participants will identify and document vulnerabilities in simulated critical infrastructure environments.
AI Kavach will focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions for predictive threat intelligence, automated defence mechanisms and anomaly detection.
The Creators Challenge will invite content creators, communicators and influencers to develop digital media and storytelling campaigns addressing threats including deepfakes, phishing, online scams and misinformation.
The initiative is intended to encourage the development of indigenous technological solutions relevant to national security while bringing together technical talent from multiple sectors.
Registrations for Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 are open until August 31, 2026. The online shortlisting phase will be held from September 1 to 10, followed by the Grand Finale in New Delhi from October 6 to 8.
The award ceremony is scheduled for October 9, 2026.
