Punjab National Bank Launches PSB Hackathon 2026 with Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
FinTech BizNews Service
New Delhi, 21 February 2026: Punjab National Bank (PNB), nation’s leading public sector bank, under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and in coordination with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), has announced the launch of PSB Hackathon 2026, its flagship annual national innovation initiative aimed at strengthening cybersecurity across Public Sector Banks (PSBs). The hackathon has now evolved into a structured national platform that brings together academia, industry, and the banking sector to collaboratively address emerging cyber threats.
Continuing its strategic partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, PNB
is organising a nationwide hackathon series in 2026 focused on building next-
generation cyber resilience. The theme for this year, “Quantum-Proof Systems for
Public-Facing Applications,” reflects forward-looking approach to safeguarding its
digital financial infrastructure against the emerging risks posed by quantum
computing. As global advancements in quantum technologies accelerate, proactive
preparedness of the cryptographic systems to secure in a post-quantum era is need
of hour.
The previous edition of the hackathon witnessed overwhelming participation from
students across premier engineering colleges and universities nationwide. Under the
theme “Code Against Malware,” teams developed innovative solutions addressing
real-world banking cybersecurity challenges, particularly ransomware threats. The
initiative was widely recognized as a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort within the
Indian banking sector. Notably, several prototypes developed during the previous
hackathon are currently under evaluation for potential integration into the banking
ecosystem, demonstrating the tangible impact of structured academia–industry
collaboration.
PSB Hackathon 2026 will focus on developing a software-based cryptographic
scanner designed to validate the implementation of quantum-resistant ciphers and
generate a comprehensive Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM) for public-facing
applications. The proposed solution will assess cryptographic exposure across web
servers, APIs, and other mission-critical digital interfaces within the banking
ecosystem. Through this initiative, PNB aims to foster indigenous capabilities in post-
quantum cryptography assessment and create scalable tools that enhance systemic
resilience across Public Facing Applications.
The hackathon is open to students enrolled in recognized colleges, universities, and
educational institutions across India. Participating teams must comprise a minimum
of three and a maximum of four members. Multidisciplinary teams with expertise in
cybersecurity, cryptography, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software
development are strongly encouraged to ensure the development of comprehensive
and innovative solutions. Winning teams will compete for prizes worth up to Rs11
lakhs.
Quantum computing represents both a technological breakthrough and a strategic
cybersecurity challenge for the global financial sector. Through PSB Hackathon
2026, PNB seeks to proactively assess cryptographic readiness, promote the
adoption of post-quantum cryptographic standards, and build indigenous solutions
capable of securing India’s public-facing banking systems against future quantum-
enabled threats. The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of
Atmanirbhar Bharat in cybersecurity and reinforces PNB’s commitment to
innovation-driven national security.
Registrations for PSB Hackathon 2026 can be done on the official PNB Hackathon
portal- https://pnb.bank.in/PSBs-Cybersecurity-Hackathon.html. Detailed
guidelines, evaluation criteria, datasets, and mentorship schedules will be released
as part of the Hackathon Rulebook. Updates will also be available on PNB’s official
social media platforms. Queries may be addressed to hackathon@pnb.bank.in.
