Code for Nagaland Hackathon Concludes at ICFAI University: 113 Students Compete in 26-Hour Innovation Challenge
The inaugural Code for Nagaland hackathon concluded on October 16, 2026, at ICFAI University Nagaland in Sovima, bringing together 113 students from eight colleges and universities. The 26-hour technology competition challenged participants to build practical, technology-driven solutions while working under strict time limits. Organisers announced a total prize pool of ₹1 lakh, recognising six teams across three competition tracks.
The event was organised by NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA in collaboration with ICFAI University Nagaland. It aimed to encourage students to move beyond classroom learning and apply their technical knowledge to real-world problems through coding, collaboration, project development and rapid decision-making.
Three Innovation Tracks Featured in the Competition
Code for Nagaland was divided into three tracks, allowing teams to work on different types of challenges:
- Naga Heritage, Culture and Community Tech: This category focused on technology-based ideas connected with local heritage, culture and community development.
- Campus, Youth and Community Life: Participants explored solutions addressing student experiences, campus activities and community needs.
- Wildcard Track: Open Innovation: This category gave teams greater freedom to develop ideas beyond the predefined themes.
The format encouraged students to identify problems, develop concepts, build prototypes and prepare their projects for evaluation within a limited timeframe. Working continuously for 26 hours also tested their ability to divide responsibilities, troubleshoot technical issues and prioritise essential features.
Code for Nagaland Hackathon 2026: Winners List
Six teams secured the first and second positions across the three tracks.
| Competition track | Position | Winning team | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naga Heritage, Culture and Community Tech | First | Team 4th Dimension | School of Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University, Meriema Campus |
| Naga Heritage, Culture and Community Tech | Second | Team Merge Conflict | St. Joseph’s University, Chümoukedima |
| Campus, Youth and Community Life | First | Team Brogrammer | ICFAI University Nagaland, Sovima |
| Campus, Youth and Community Life | Second | Team L | National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Kohima |
| Wildcard Track: Open Innovation | First | Team Set Kalua | School of Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University, Meriema Campus |
| Wildcard Track: Open Innovation | Second | Team Ostereo-Ai | National Institute of Technology Nagaland |
The results reflected participation from multiple institutions across Nagaland, with teams competing in categories ranging from cultural and community technology to campus-focused projects and open innovation.
Industry and Academic Experts Evaluated the Teams
The judging panel combined experience from entrepreneurship, business and higher education. It included Neikepekho Shosahei, Associate Director (Entrepreneurship) at YouthNet; Rishav Sethi, Chief Executive Officer of NITI Group; and Er Shanchamo Yanthan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Technology at Nagaland University's School of Engineering and Technology.
The involvement of professionals and academic experts gave participants an opportunity to present their work to evaluators with different perspectives on technology, entrepreneurship and practical implementation.
Why Hackathons Matter for Engineering Students
Hackathons can help engineering and computer science students strengthen skills that are difficult to develop through theoretical study alone. Participants must translate an idea into a working solution, coordinate with teammates, troubleshoot problems and communicate their results clearly.
These experiences can also help students build portfolios for internships and entry-level technology roles. A well-documented project may demonstrate practical abilities in programming, software development, teamwork and problem-solving. However, participation in a hackathon does not guarantee an internship or job; students should continue developing their technical knowledge and project experience.
Organisers Plan to Develop the Event Further
NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA's leadership said the inaugural event was intended to become a recurring platform for student innovation in Nagaland. Organisers also highlighted the importance of participant feedback, mentorship and institutional collaboration in improving future editions.
The ₹1 lakh prize pool recognised the leading teams, but the broader objective was to encourage students to experiment, connect with peers and continue developing their ideas beyond the competition.
Conclusion
The conclusion of Code for Nagaland 2026 marks an opportunity for students across the state to demonstrate practical technology skills outside the classroom. With 113 participants, eight participating institutions and six awarded teams, the 26-hour hackathon brought together academic learning and hands-on innovation. If expanded as planned, future editions could provide more students with opportunities to collaborate, develop prototypes and explore technology-led solutions to community challenges.
