India Launches 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026 Under 100 Use Case Labs Initiative
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under India’s Ministry of Communications has launched the second edition of the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026 to accelerate practical applications of 5G and allied technologies. Announced on 20 March 2026, the national initiative invites students, start-ups, MSMEs and innovators to develop solutions aligned with public and economic priorities. The hackathon is organised under the government’s 100 5G Use Case Labs programme and builds on strong participation in its first edition.
The announcement was issued by the Press Information Bureau and is available via the official government release. The initiative reflects the government’s wider approach to strengthening the telecom innovation ecosystem, complementing efforts such as national centres of excellence that support telecom and cybersecurity research, as explored in India’s telecom and cybersecurity innovation programmes.
Focus on applied 5G, AI and IoT solutions
The hackathon seeks proposals that demonstrate practical and scalable uses of 5G and 5G Advanced technologies. Priority areas include artificial intelligence and machine learning for network operations, IoT-enabled applications across healthcare, agriculture, education and industrial automation, and 5G-supported disaster management solutions. Additional focus areas include network security, non-terrestrial networks, network slicing, quality of service and advanced native 5G capabilities.
By encouraging cross-sector applications, the programme aligns with India’s broader digital transformation and innovation agenda, including policies aimed at building an inclusive and future-ready start-up environment, as discussed in national start-up ecosystem initiatives.
Structured evaluation and national lab access
Proposals are open for submission from 20 March 2026 until 17 April 2026 and must be routed through designated institutions hosting the 100 5G Use Case Labs, which act as nodal centres. Entries will undergo a multi-stage evaluation process, beginning with institutional screening, followed by regional and national-level assessments, prototype development support and final evaluation based on physical demonstrations.
Selected teams will receive both financial and infrastructural support to convert concepts into working prototypes. An initial funding pool of ₹5 million has been earmarked to support early-stage development, alongside access to advanced testing and validation facilities within the 5G laboratories hosted at leading academic institutions.
Prize funding and intellectual property support
The total prize pool exceeds ₹1 million. The top prize carries ₹500,000, followed by ₹300,000 for the runner-up and ₹150,000 for the second runner-up. A special award of ₹50,000 will be given for the best idea. In addition, up to 25 teams will receive support for filing intellectual property rights, recognising the importance of protecting indigenous innovation.
Final results will be announced on 1 October 2026. Winning innovations will be showcased and awarded at India Mobile Congress 2026, providing national visibility and potential pathways for further development and adoption.
Strengthening India’s telecom innovation ecosystem
Applications are to be submitted online through the DoT portal. By combining funding, laboratory access and IPR support, the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026 is positioned as a practical mechanism for translating emerging technologies into deployable solutions. The programme reinforces the government’s ongoing commitment to indigenous technology development and to embedding advanced digital capabilities across key sectors of the Indian economy.
