The Indian Army has opened registrations for Terrier Cyber Quest (TCQ) 2026, a national competition focused on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital awareness.The challenge is being organised by the Territorial Army in collaboration with CyberPeace. It is open to students, cybersecurity professionals, AI researchers, ethical hackers, software developers, content creators, startups and technology enthusiasts.Interested participants can register through the official TCQ portal. The registration deadline is August 31, 2026, according to the competition schedule.
Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 : Important dates
Here’s a look at the key dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | July 30, 2026 |
| Last date to register | August 31, 2026 |
| Online shortlisting | September 1 to 10, 2026 |
| Grand finale | October 6 to 8, 2026 |
| Award ceremony | October 9, 2026 |
The online shortlisting round will be followed by a 36-hour grand finale in New Delhi from October 6 to October 8. The winners will be honoured at the award ceremony on October 9.
Terrier Cyber Quest 2026: Competition tracks
The competition has three tracks: Bug Hunting, AI Kavach and the National Creators Challenge.
Bug Hunting:
The Bug Hunting track will be conducted as an online Capture-the-Flag (CTF) challenge. Participants will look for and document security vulnerabilities in a simulated national infrastructure environment.The track is open to students, cybersecurity professionals, ethical hackers, researchers and armed forces personnel.Teams can have up to three members. The top teams from the online round will qualify for the in-person finale.
AI Kavach:
AI Kavach focuses on developing artificial intelligence-based cybersecurity solutions that can detect, analyse and help deal with security threats.Participants have to submit a five-slide presentation describing their proposed solution during registration. Shortlisted teams will then work on developing a working prototype during the grand finale.Teams can have up to three members.
National Creators Challenge
The National Creators Challenge is aimed at creators, influencers, students and members of the general public.Participants have to create an original one- to three-minute video, reel or carousel to spread awareness about issues such as deepfakes, cyber fraud and digital misinformation.Teams can have up to four members.
How to register for Terrier Cyber Quest 2026
Participants can register through the official Terrier Cyber Quest portal by selecting their preferred track and creating a participant profile.They will then have to enter the required details and submit the application according to the guidelines for their chosen track. AI Kavach participants must upload their proposal presentation, while those taking part in the National Creators Challenge must submit their original awareness content.
What will finalists get?
According to the organisers, finalists will receive certificates and medallions from the Territorial Army, along with cash prizes and national-level recognition.Participants may also get an opportunity to interact with senior government and defence officials. Winners could further get a chance to visit defence establishments and contribute to future cybersecurity initiatives with the Territorial Army.
