Rules & Regulations

Overview

The Quantumard National Hackathon 2026 ("Event") is a multi-stage national innovation challenge organized by Quantumard. This document describes the official rules and procedures for participation, submission, evaluation, and awarding. By registering and participating, each team confirms acceptance of these rules.

Eligibility

• Participation is open to students enrolled in recognized colleges and universities in India. Participants must provide valid institutional affiliation during registration.
• Team size: minimum 2 and maximum 5 members. Any team exceeding this limit will be disqualified.
• Each participant may be a member of only one team. Simultaneous membership in multiple teams is prohibited.
• Participants must be at least 18 years old or hold parental/guardian consent if required by their institution.

Team & Registration

Registration

• Register via the official registration form on the hackathon website before January 31, 2026.
• Provide accurate contact information — team leader's email and WhatsApp number will be used for all official communications.
• Upon successful registration, each team will receive a unique Document ID (e.g., QNH-REG-2026-0001), which must be quoted in all communications and submissions.

Team Changes

• Substitutions to team members are allowed only up to the shortlisting date (February 14) and must be communicated in writing to contact@quantumard.com.
• After Phase 1 shortlisting, any change to team composition requires prior approval from the organizing committee; unauthorized changes may lead to disqualification.

Submission Guidelines

Phase 1 — Idea Submission (Free)

• Submit your idea via the registration form fields: Project Title, Domain, and Idea Summary (200–400 words).
• Optional: Teams may upload supporting files (PDF, PPTX, images) or prototype links (GitHub, demo URLs). File size limit: 20 MB.
• Submissions must be in English. If submitted in another language, include an English summary.
• Deadline for Phase 1 submissions: January 31, 2026, 23:59 IST. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Phase 2 — Prototype Round (Paid)

• Shortlisted teams invited to Phase 2 must complete payment (if applicable) by the deadline specified in the shortlisting communication.
• Required deliverables for Phase 2 typically include: a working prototype/demo (if available), a 6–10 slide PPT, and a 3-minute demo video or screen recording.
• Submission deadline for Phase 2: February 21, 2026, 23:59 IST. Exact file formats and submission portal instructions will be provided to shortlisted teams.

Final Round

• Finalist teams will pitch live (online) to the judges. Presentation format and schedule will be provided in the finalist notification.
• Each team will have a limited slot (3–5 minutes) for the pitch followed by a short Q&A with judges.

Formatting & Naming Conventions

• Files should be named as: QNH-2026-[DocumentID]-[TeamName]-[FileType] (e.g., QNH-2026-QT-REG-0001-TeamA-PPT.pdf).
• Ensure all uploaded documents are virus-free and accessible. Organizers are not responsible for files that cannot be opened.

Judging & Evaluation

All submissions will be evaluated by an expert panel. The judging process is conducted in stages and follows the rubric below.

Judging Rubric (Weighted Criteria)

Judges' Decision

• Judges' scores and rankings are final and binding. The organizing committee reserves the right to resolve ties or adjust awards.
• Feedback may be provided to teams at the committee's discretion.

Intellectual Property

• Each team retains ownership of its idea, code, and deliverables. Quantumard does not claim ownership of participant submissions.
• By participating, teams grant Quantumard a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to use project titles, brief summaries, screenshots, or short excerpts for promotional purposes.
• If a team wishes to keep their submission confidential for commercial or patent reasons, they must state this clearly in writing and contact the organizers prior to submission.
• Teams are responsible for ensuring they have the rights to all third-party content they include (libraries, media). Unauthorized use may lead to disqualification.

Code of Conduct

• Participants must behave respectfully in all communications, group chats, and during presentations.
• Harassment, hate speech, discriminatory language, or abusive conduct is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate expulsion.
• Teams must not attempt to disrupt other teams' work or communications.

Collaboration & Assistance

• Teams may seek mentorship and advice from non-team members; however, core implementation must be done by team members only.
• Outsourcing substantial portions of a project to third parties is not allowed.

Disqualification & Penalties

• Grounds for disqualification include—(but are not limited to)—plagiarism, falsified data, impersonation, multiple team membership, and violation of the code of conduct.
• Any attempt to game the registration or referral system will result in sanctions, including removal of the team and disqualification from future events.
• If disqualified, teams will forfeit any prizes and recognitions associated with the event.

Prizes, Certificates & Recognition

• Prizes and award structure will be published on the main event page. Quantumard reserves the right to alter prize amounts depending on participation and sponsorship.
• Certificates (Participant, Finalist, Winner) will be issued digitally to verified team members only.
• Top teams may be offered internships, mentorships, or further engagement opportunities at the discretion of Quantumard and partner organizations.

Data & Privacy

Participant data collected during registration and submission is handled under the Event Privacy Policy. Data will be used for event administration, communication, judging, and permitted promotional activities only.

Frequently Asked Questions