The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), has launched the second edition of the Cyber Security Grand Challenge (CSGC 2.0). The initiative, unveiled by S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, aims to enhance the country’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
The challenge has seen a significant increase in prize money from ₹3.2 crore in its first edition to ₹6.85 crore. The program invites innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs to develop solutions addressing key cybersecurity issues. Participants will retain the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the products developed during the challenge, with mentorship provided at every stage.
The competition focuses on six problem areas: API Security, Data Security, Wearable Device Security and Privacy, Clone and Fake App Mitigation, AI for Threat Detection and Incident Response, and Securing Next-Generation Biometric Systems.
The structure of CSGC 2.0 has been expanded with four stages, including the Idea Stage, Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Stage, Final Product Stage, and the new Go-to-Market Stage. A total of 36 startups will be selected in the early Idea Stage, each receiving ₹5 lakh. From this pool, 18 startups will proceed to the MVP Stage and receive ₹10 lakh each.
At the Final Stage, six winners, one for each problem statement, will receive ₹25 lakh each. In the concluding Go-to-Market Stage, the Platinum Winner will secure ₹1 crore, while Gold and Silver Winners will receive ₹50 lakh and ₹25 lakh, respectively.
Speaking at the launch, S. Krishnan emphasized the program’s focus on fostering innovation in cybersecurity. He stated that the problem statements align with the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape and the initiative supports the vision of Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat.
Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, said, “We need continuous innovation to combat emerging threats, especially with the advent of new technologies like AI and quantum computing to enhance cyber security capabilities of the nation. We hope that the Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 will serve as a momentum to ideate and innovate cutting-edge solutions.
Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said, “We thank MeitY for hosting the Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 and increasing the prize money to foster innovation. The support of government bodies, PSUs, and industry experts has been crucial in shaping the challenge and its problem statements.
Registrations for CSGC 2.0 are now open. Details regarding the challenge and registration process can be accessed at [https://innovateindia.mygov.in/cyber-security-grand-challenge/].
