Introduction
The fourth edition of the Central India Hackathon is the deep-tech one. CIH 4.0 runs as a three-phase competition: registration and idea submissions in November, a virtual round in December, and a 24-hour offline grand finale at Suryodaya College of Engineering and Technology in Nagpur on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 January 2027. The prize pool is 1,00,000 INR plus goodies.
Event Overview
Central India Hackathon 4.0 is a national-level deep-tech innovation hackathon organised by Suryodaya College of Engineering and Technology and the Suryodaya Technology Business Incubation Foundation. Phase 1 is registration and PPT submission, 1 to 30 November 2026 on Unstop. Phase 2 is a virtual round, 15 to 25 December 2026. Phase 3 is the grand finale, a 24-hour offline hackathon at the college campus in Nagpur.
Teams must have exactly four members, no exceptions. Each team picks its own deep-tech problem statement aligned with one of five tracks, and builds a solution presentation using the official CIH 4.0 PPT template.
What to Expect
The first phase is about the idea: your team chooses a problem statement, builds a presentation on the official template, and submits it by 30 November. The organisers are strict about the template: unauthorised changes to it, or a submission on another template, lead to disqualification. In December, shortlisted teams present virtually and get judged on innovation, feasibility, scalability and real-world impact. The teams that get through advance to Nagpur, where the finale runs from team verification and inauguration through on-the-spot problem statements, 24 hours of prototype building with expert mentorship, and on to final presentations and winner announcements. Teams must arrange their own hardware and equipment.
Who Should Attend
The hackathon is aimed at students, developers, designers and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to build in deep tech. The five tracks cover AI and Cognitive Systems, Robotics and Automation, Semiconductors and EdgeTech, SpaceTech and Aerospace, and Biotechnology and Life Sciences.
Key Highlights
- National-level deep-tech hackathon with a 24-hour offline grand finale in Nagpur.
- Five tracks: AI, robotics, semiconductors, space tech and biotech.
- Prize pool of 1,00,000 INR plus goodies.
- Record attempt: recognition sought from the International Book of Records.
- CIH 3.0 was recognised by the India Book of Records.
- Registration and PPT submission close 30 November 2026.
Agenda and Speakers
There is no speaker lineup for a hackathon, but the timeline is the agenda. Registration opened 1 November 2026 and closes 30 November 2026, with the PPT submission due the same day. The virtual round runs 15 to 25 December 2026. The grand finale runs 22 to 23 January 2027.
Registration Information
Registration is open from 1 November to 30 November 2026 on Unstop, via the official Central India Hackathon 4.0 site. Teams must have exactly four members, and registration is free. Each team selects its own deep-tech problem statement aligned with one of the five tracks, then prepares a presentation using the official CIH 4.0 PPT template. Teams selected for the finale pay 1,500 INR per team to confirm, payable only after selection. Ideas must be original: plagiarism or pre-built projects lead to disqualification.
Venue and Location
The grand finale venue is Suryodaya College of Engineering and Technology, Near Dighori Naka, Vihirgaon, Umrer Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441204, along with the Suryodaya Technology Business Incubation Foundation (STBIF). The first two phases are online, so travel is only needed for the finale in January.
Why This Event Matters
Central India does not get many national-level hackathons, and CIH has built something real over four editions. The second went pan-India with 500+ teams and 2,000+ developers. The third earned official recognition from the India Book of Records. The deep-tech focus sets this edition apart: five tracks spanning AI, robotics, semiconductors, space tech and biotech ask for harder problems than the usual web and app building contest.
Event Details
- Event: Central India Hackathon 4.0 (CIH 4.0, The Deeptech Edition)
- Grand finale: Friday 22 to Saturday 23 January 2027 (24-hour offline hackathon)
- Finale time: Not Announced
- Venue: Suryodaya College of Engineering and Technology, Near Dighori Naka, Vihirgaon, Umrer Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra 441204
- City: Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Format: In-person grand finale; registration and virtual round online
- Organiser: Suryodaya College of Engineering and Technology (SCET), Nagpur, and Suryodaya Technology Business Incubation Foundation (STBIF)
- Team size: exactly 4 members
- Prize pool: 1,00,000 INR + goodies
- Entry fee: Free to register; 1,500 INR per shortlisted team for the finale
- Registration deadline: 30 November 2026 (registration and PPT submission)
Last verified: 14 November 2026.
