CSJMU & IBM

Event Dates

1. Eligibility Criteria

1. Open only to currently enrolled regular students of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) and its affiliated colleges/institutes, regardless of branch or department.
2. Passed-out students, alumni, and working professionals are not eligible.
3. Registration is free.
4. Participants must provide valid College ID Cards or verification documents upon request.
5. Registration is not a guarantee of participation in the Grand Finale; teams must qualify in Round 1.

2. Team Formation Rules

1. Teams must consist of 2 to 4 members, all from the same college/institute.
2. Participants can only be on one team; associating with multiple teams will result in immediate disqualification.
3. The Team Leader must complete the registration process for the entire team.
4. All submitted registration information must be accurate and verifiable; false information will lead to cancellation or disqualification.

3. Coach Rules

1. Each team must have one mandatory Coach who is a faculty member from the same college/institute.
2. Teams without a registered Coach will not be allowed to participate.
3. The Coach acts as the official point of communication, receiving all important announcements and updates from the Organizing Committee for the team.
4. Teams are advised to maintain regular communication with their Coach.
5. One Coach is allowed to guide multiple teams.

4. Registration Details

Registration for the Hackathon will be conducted through the official IBM-supported registration platform/website.

5. Code of Conduct & Discipline Rules

1. All participants are expected to maintain professional, respectful, and ethical behavior throughout the Hackathon.
2. Any form of misconduct, harassment, verbal abuse, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior towards participants, mentors, judges, volunteers, or organizers will not be tolerated.
3. Participants must follow all instructions and guidelines provided by the Organizing Committee during the event.
4. Any attempt to cheat, copy projects, submit plagiarized work, or use unfair means during the Hackathon may result in immediate disqualification.
5. Participants must not damage any university property, technical equipment, or event infrastructure during the Hackathon.
6. The use of offensive language, disruptive activities, or any action affecting the smooth conduct of the event may lead to disciplinary action or disqualification.
7. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to remove or disqualify any participant/team found violating the Hackathon rules, code of conduct, or ethical standards.

6. Organizer Rights & Final Authority

1. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to modify schedules, rules, guidelines, or event structure if required.
2. The organizers reserve the right to verify all participant information and supporting documents.
3. Any unforeseen situation not covered in these guidelines shall be resolved by the Organizing Committee.
4. The decision of the organizers and evaluation panel shall be final and binding in all circumstances.

1. Official Event Schedule

The event follows a strict timeline. Teams are advised to manage their development sprints according to the phases below.

2. Guidelines for Participants

3. Final Deliverables and Submission Guidelines

Teams are required to submit three mandatory and clearly defined components for evaluation. Failure to submit any of these deliverables will result in a zero-score for the submission phase.

4. Venue Conduct and Professional Etiquette

1. Event Overview & Pre-Event Phase

Round 2 is an intensive, 24-hour offline hackathon on 12-13 August held on the university campus.

2. Official 24-Hour D-Day Schedule

The Grand Finale will be conducted in Offline Mode at the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, UIET, CSJMU, Kanpur.

3. Evaluation Structure

The Grand Finale features a three-tier judging system focused on iterative progress and final execution:

• Mentorship Round: Scheduled for 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Day 1, this session allows judges to provide early guidance and direction to teams.
• Evaluation 1 (Ideation & Direction): Judges will evaluate teams based on four key criteria: Problem Understanding & Relevance, Innovation & Originality, Technical Plan & Feasibility, and Vision & Roadmap Clarity.
• Evaluation 2 (Build Progress & Execution): Judges will assess the implementation progress, technical quality, and the execution of assigned features.
• Final Presentation: Following Evaluation 2, only the top 15 teams will advance. These teams will have 2 hours (11:00 AM - 01:00 PM on Day 2) to prepare their official slide deck before presenting their final solution to the jury.

4. Guidelines for Participants

5. Code & Prototype Submission Guidelines

6. Do's and Don'ts for the University Campus

7. Eligibility and Team Composition Rules

• Eligibility: Participation is restricted to currently enrolled regular students of colleges/institutes affiliated with Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University. Passed-out students, alumni, and working professionals are not eligible.
• Team Size: Each team must consist of a minimum of 2 members and a maximum of 4 members. Solo participation is not permitted.
• Mandatory Coach: Each participating team must have one mandatory Coach, who must be a faculty member of the respective college/institute. Teams without a registered Coach will not be considered valid.

8. Submission Deliverables (Round 3 Final Product)

Teams must submit three mandatory deliverables for evaluation:

1. GitHub Repository Link: The private link to the final, functional codebase, following the Naming Convention (TeamName_UniqueID) given by the organizers.
2. Project Presentation (PPT/PDF): The official slide deck for the presentation and Q&A session.
3. Project Documentation (README.md): A detailed guide for project setup, including exact, step-by-step terminal commands to run the project locally.

9. Certificates, Awards, and Prizes

• Certificates
  • Participation Certificates.
  • Winner Certificates.
  • Coach/Mentor Certificates.
  • Finalist Certificates.
• Prizes & Awards
  • Winners and runners-up will receive large cheques and trophies.
  • Awards will be announced for: Winner Award, Runner-Up Award, Innovation Award, Best Presentation Award, and Special Category Awards.
• Declaration: The final results will be officially declared during the Prize Distribution Ceremony on 15 August 2026.

10. General Rules and Technical Support

• Code of Conduct: All participants are expected to maintain professional, respectful, and ethical behavior. Any form of misconduct, harassment, or plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in immediate disqualification.
• Equipment: Teams are encouraged to carry their own laptops, chargers, and other necessary equipment. Computer systems may be provided by the organizers subject to availability for teams without access to a laptop.

1. Who is eligible to participate in BOB Hacks'26?

Only currently enrolled regular students of the University Campus and affiliated colleges of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) are eligible. Passed-out students, alumni, and working professionals are not eligible.

2. Do I need prior coding experience to join?

Basic coding knowledge is recommended. However, teams benefit from a mix of skills — development, design, and problem-solving. What matters most is innovation and teamwork.

3. How do I participate in BOB Hacks'26?

Click the Register button to create an account. You’ll need a valid ID to register. After creating and activating your login, you’ll be directed to the event registration page, where you can sign up and follow the instructions provided in the registration confirmation email.

4. Is there a limit on team size?

Yes. Each team must have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 members. Solo participation is not permitted. All members must be from the same college or institute.

5. Is a faculty coach mandatory?

Yes. Every team must have one registered faculty coach from their own institute. Teams without a coach will not be considered valid. Coach attendance at the Grand Finale is optional — remote support is allowed.

6. Can team members be from different college?

No. All team members must belong to the same affiliated college or institute. Cross-institution teams are not permitted.

7. What constitutes a valid submission?

A valid submission includes three mandatory deliverables — a ZIP of the final codebase, a PPT/PDF presentation, and a simple project documentation guide. All must be submitted before the deadline.

8. When and where is Round 1 conducted?

Round 1 is conducted at your assigned nodal center between 25–31 July 2026. The exact date will be communicated to your team based on your institute's nodal center assignment.

9. When are problem statements revealed?

Problem statements are revealed on the event day itself — at the start of Round 1, and at 11:30 AM on Day 1 of the Grand Finale (12 August 2026).

10. What should participants bring to the event?

Participants must bring their own laptop, charger, and a valid college or government-issued photo ID. Hardware not brought by the participant will not be arranged by the organizing committee.

11. Are meals provided during the event?

Meals are not provided in Round 1. For the Grand Finale at CSJMU, all meals are fully catered — including lunch, dinner, breakfast, midnight energy drinks, and morning tea.

12. Are there prizes for winners?

Yes. Winners and runners-up receive trophies and large prize cheques. Additional awards include Innovation Award, Best Presentation Award, and Special Category Awards. All results are declared on 15 August 2026.

13. How are projects judged?

Round 1 uses a 60/40 framework — Presentation & Q&A (60%) and Prototype Implementation (40%). The Grand Finale uses a 150-mark system across Innovation, Technical Complexity, UI/UX, Problem-Solving, Presentation, and Working Demo.

14. Can we use external APIs or pre-built templates?

No. All core logic must be written during the event. Unauthorized external APIs result in zero evaluation. Open-source libraries are permitted only if properly attributed.

15. Can teams leave the campus during the Grand Finale overnight?

No. This is a continuous 24-hour event. Teams must remain on campus overnight. Designated rest rooms are available. Wandering into restricted university buildings will lead to disqualification.

16. How will I be informed about sessions, deadlines, and updates?

All communications will be sent via this platform and through your registered faculty coach. Ensure your coach's contact details are accurate at the time of registration.