TCS HackQuest 2026 (Season 11) | Eligibility, Registration, Prizes, Exam Date & Selection Process | Apply Now
Table of Contents
TCS HackQuest 2026 : It is an exciting opportunity for students and fresh graduates who are passionate about cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and digital security. Organized by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), this competition gives aspiring cybersecurity professionals a platform to test their technical skills, solve security challenges, and demonstrate their problem-solving abilities.
TCS HackQuest Season 11 invites eligible students to participate in a competitive Capture the Flag (CTF) event and compete for prizes worth up to ₹5 lakhs. Top performers may also receive an interview opportunity with the TCS Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, certificates of merit, exclusive merchandise, and potential job offers.
Candidates pursuing B.E., B.Tech., M.E., M.Tech., BCA, MCA, B.Sc., or M.Sc. degrees can participate, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. The competition will be conduct online initially, follow by further rounds for shortlisted participants.
Interested candidates should complete their registration on or before 16 November 2026. Below, you can find the important dates, eligibility criteria, competition rounds, prizes, and registration process for TCS HackQuest 2026.
About TCS HackQuest 2026
TCS HackQuest was launch in 2016 to identify and encourage talented individuals who enjoy solving cybersecurity challenges. The competition follows the popular Capture the Flag (CTF) format, in which participants solve security-related problems and capture digital flags to demonstrate their skills.
In the first round, participants will have six hours to attempt challenges across three difficulty levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert. They can choose challenges from different categories and are encourag to attempt as many as possible to showcase their cybersecurity knowledge.
The competition progresses through multiple rounds, allowing TCS to evaluate participants on their technical expertise, approach to problem-solving, and ability to handle real-world security scenarios. Outstanding performers can earn recognition, prizes, and potential career opportunities within the TCS cybersecurity division.
TCS HackQuest 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition Name | TCS HackQuest Season 11 |
| Organization | Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) |
| Participant Category | Students and fresh graduates |
| Program Type | Cybersecurity Competition |
| Job Opportunities | Potential TCS Ninja / Digital offers for top performers |
| Eligible Qualifications | B.E., B.Tech., M.E., M.Tech., BCA, MCA, B.Sc., M.Sc. |
| Eligible Batch | 2027 |
| Experience | Freshers |
| Total Prize Value | Up to ₹5 Lakhs |
| Competition Mode | Online, followed by further rounds |
| Registration Deadline | 16 November 2026 |
| Round 1 Date | 5 December 2026 |
| Round 1 Timing | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates interested in participating in TCS HackQuest Season 11 should review the eligibility requirements before registering.
Educational Qualification
The competition is open to students enrolled in a recognized college, university, or academic institution in India who are pursuing or hold one of the following qualifications:
- Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)
- Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.)
- Master of Engineering (M.E.)
- Master of Technology (M.Tech.)
- Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA)
- Master of Computer Applications (MCA)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. / B.S.)
- Master of Science (M.Sc. / M.S.)
Candidates should check the official contest terms for any additional eligibility conditions. TCS reserves the right to request documents to verify a participant’s educational qualifications and compliance with the competition rules.
Other Eligibility Requirements
- Participation is permitte only on an individual basis. Team or group entries are not allow.
- Candidates must follow all the official rules and instructions throughout the competition.
- Participants may be ask to provide supporting documents to confirm their eligibility.
- TCS reserves the right to reject an entry if the participant does not meet the prescribed requirements.
- There are no registration, participation, or submission fees. However, any personal expenses associat with participating in the competition must be cover by the participant.
The competition may be consider void wherever participation or the conduct of the event is prohibited by applicable rules.
TCS HackQuest 2026: Prizes and Benefits
TCS HackQuest Season 11 offers more than just an opportunity to test your cybersecurity skills. Participants who perform well can receive recognition and gain exposure to potential career opportunities.
The major benefits include:
- Prizes worth up to ₹5 lakhs: Top-performing participants can compete for the total prize pool.
- Interview opportunity: Outstanding candidates may receive an interview opportunity with the TCS Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.
- Certificates of merit: High-performing participants can earn certificates recognizing their achievements.
- Exclusive merchandise: Top performers may receive special merchandise.
- Potential job offers: Eligible top performers may be consider for TCS Ninja or Digital offers, as specified in the competition details.
The exact distribution of prizes and the terms governing job opportunities will be determine by TCS.
Competition Rounds
TCS HackQuest 2026 will be conduct in three rounds. Candidates who qualify in each stage will progress to the next round.
Round 1: Online Capture the Flag Competition
The first round is an online, challenge-based competition in which participants must solve cybersecurity problems and submit the flags they capture through the contest portal.
The challenges will be divide into three difficulty levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Expert
Participants will have six hours to work on the available challenges and demonstrate their understanding of ethical hacking and information security.
The evaluation will consider the following factors:
- Number of flags successfully captured
- Quality of the report submitted
- Approach and methodology used to solve the challenges
Participants are encourage to attempt challenges across different difficulty levels to demonstrate their ability to handle a variety of security problems. The contest application URL will be share before the competition begins.
Round 1 Date: 5 December 2026
Timing: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Round 2: Remotely Proctored Cybersecurity Challenges
Participants who qualify in Round 1 will be invited to the second round. This stage will take place online under remote supervision by the TCS team.
Candidates will be given hosted security challenges that require them to apply their technical knowledge, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
The challenges may cover areas such as:
- System exploitation
- Security vulnerabilities in AI/ML-based applications
- Web application penetration testing
- Mobile security
- Digital forensics
- Threat hunting
- Incident response
- Source code analysis
- Security Operations Center (SOC) scenarios
Participants will be evaluated based on their performance and the flags they successfully capture in the assigned challenges.
TCS will communicate the duration, proctoring arrangements, and other relevant instructions to candidates who qualify for this round. Participants must keep their cameras switched on throughout the round, as required by the competition rules.
Round 3: Final In-Person Round
The final round will be held in person at a TCS campus. Selected participants will be invited to demonstrate their cybersecurity knowledge and explain how they approached the assigned challenges.
This stage is expected to last approximately three to four hours. Candidates will be required to discuss their problem-solving methods and respond to questions from the jury panel.
Finalists will be evaluated on their technical knowledge, clarity of explanation, practical approach, and understanding of security concepts. The strongest candidates will compete for recognition among the top ethical hackers in HackQuest Season 11.
The venue and other final-round instructions will be shared with shortlisted participants.
Skills That Can Help You Perform Well
Candidates with knowledge of the following areas may have an advantage when participating in TCS HackQuest 2026:
- Application security
- Network security
- Ethical hacking and penetration testing
- Java/J2EE, PHP, Python, and Go
- Information security and risk management
- AI red teaming
- Data analytics and data science
- AI/ML security
- Digital forensics
- Threat hunting
- Malware analysis and reverse engineering
Relevant security certifications, such as Security+, OSCP, CEH, and ISO 27001, may also help participants demonstrate their knowledge of cybersecurity concepts.
However, candidates should review the official competition guidelines for the specific skills and requirements relevant to each round.
How to Apply for TCS HackQuest Hiring 2026?
Eligible candidates can register for TCS HackQuest Season 11 through the designated registration process. Before completing the registration, participants must ensure that they have a valid CT/DT ID, as mentioned in the contest instructions.
Follow these steps to get started:
- Visit the official TCS NextStep portal.
- Click on the Register option.
- Enter the required personal and academic details in the registration form.
- Submit the information to create your CT/DT ID.
- Follow the official TCS HackQuest registration instructions to complete your entry.
- Review the contest rules and save any confirmation or instructions provided after registration.
Candidates should make sure that all the information submitted is accurate and that they complete the registration process before the deadline.
Apply Link : Click Here To Apply
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Important Dates for TCS HackQuest 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Closing Date | 16 November 2026 |
| Round 1: Online CTF Competition | 5 December 2026 |
| Round 1 Timing | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Round 2 | To be communicated to shortlisted candidates |
| Round 3: Final In-Person Round | To be communicated to shortlisted candidates |
Conclusion
TCS HackQuest 2026 Season 11 is a valuable opportunity for students and aspiring cybersecurity professionals to challenge themselves, demonstrate their ethical hacking abilities, and gain recognition from TCS. With prizes worth up to ₹5 lakhs, certificates of merit, exclusive merchandise, and potential interview and job opportunities, the competition can be a useful platform for candidates interested in building a career in cybersecurity.
Eligible students should review the competition rules, strengthen their cybersecurity fundamentals, and register before 16 November 2026. Preparing for the different challenge categories and practising Capture the Flag exercises can help participants approach the competition with greater confidence.
FAQs for TCS HackQuest Jobs 2026
1. What is TCS HackQuest 2026?
TCS HackQuest 2026 is the eleventh season of TCS’s cybersecurity competition. It follows the Capture the Flag (CTF) format and allows participants to solve security challenges, demonstrate ethical hacking skills, and compete for prizes and potential career opportunities.
2. Who can participate in TCS HackQuest Season 11?
Students enrolled in recognized colleges, universities, or academic institutions in India who meet the competition requirements can participate. Eligible qualifications include B.E., B.Tech., M.E., M.Tech., BCA, MCA, B.Sc., and M.Sc.
3. What is the last date to register for TCS HackQuest 2026?
The last date to register is 16 November 2026. Candidates should complete the registration process before the deadline.
4. What is the prize money for TCS HackQuest 2026?
The total prize value for TCS HackQuest Season 11 is up to ₹5 lakhs. Top performers may also receive certificates of merit, exclusive merchandise, interview opportunities with the TCS Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, and potential job offers.
5. What is the Round 1 date for TCS HackQuest 2026?
Round 1 is scheduled for 5 December 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It will be an online Capture the Flag competition featuring Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert-level challenges.
