Hack The Winter

Rules and Regulations

Event Details

  • Date: 22nd - 23rd January 2026
  • Team Size: 4 members (Inter-college allowed)
  • Fees: ₹250 per member
  • Mode: On-site
  • Venue: GEHU Bhimtal Campus
  • Eligibility: UG/PG students across India
Samantha

Stages

Round 1 - Online Prototype Submission (Elimination)

25 Dec ‘25, 12:00 AM IST - 31 Dec ‘25, 11:59 PM IST

Blues
  • Teams submit their ideas through the Unstop event portal, themes and problem statements will be given by us.
  • Submission must include: problem statement, proposed solution, tech stack, and prototype plan.
  • Duration: 7 days.
  • Evaluation based on innovation, feasibility, and impact.
  • Top 60% teams will advance to the next round.

Round 2 - System Design Round (Elimination)

9 Jan ‘26, 12:00 AM IST - 11 Jan ‘26, 11:59 PM IST

  • Ensuring teams can think out of the box, and know how they can scale their system.
  • This will be a round testing your cache, docker, load balancer, and LLD skills.
  • Duration: 3 days.
  • Evaluation based on innovation, feasibility, and impact.
  • Top 100 teams will advance to the physical hackathon.
Hatchlings

Round 3 - Onsite Hackathon (24 Hours)

22 Jan ‘26, 09:00 AM IST - 23 Jan ‘26, 05:00 PM IST

Zach
  • Teams will work continuously for 24 hours at the venue.
  • Mentors and domain experts will be available for guidance.
  • Mid-review checkpoints will be conducted at the 6th, 12th, 18th, and 24th hours to track progress.
  • Teams must submit their final project along with a working demo and presentation.

General Rules:

  • Internet usage is allowed for references, but plagiarism leads to disqualification.
  • A.I. agents usages is prohibited.
  • All work must be original and completed during the hackathon timeframe.
  • Teams must adhere to the provided theme.
  • The decision of the judges will be final and binding.
  • Misconduct, inappropriate behavior, or rule violations will result in disqualification.
  • Teams cannot change members once registration closes.
  • All shortlisted teams must attend the physical hackathon in person.
  • No judgement in UI/UX part, so rather than code we focus on concept, research and basic implementation.
Hatchlings2

Judging Criteria:

To ensure fairness and transparency, project evaluations will take place every 6 - 10 hours throughout the hackathon. Each team’s progress, creativity, and implementation will be continuously assessed and displayed live on the public leaderboard, allowing participants to track their standing in real time.

After the hackathon concludes, a final evaluation will be conducted by three specialized judging panels, each focusing on different domains such as technology, innovation, design, and business impact. These panels will consist of industry experts, professors, and experienced developers who will evaluate every project holistically.

Rainbow

Evaluation Criteria:

Each project will be scored out of 100 points based on the following criteria:

Innovation and Creativity (25%)

Originality of the idea, uniqueness of the approach, and how creatively the problem has been solved. Judges will look for out-of-the-box thinking and new perspectives on existing challenges.

Technical Implementation (25%)

Depth and quality of the technical work — including code quality, architecture, functionality, and the technologies used. Teams should demonstrate solid technical execution and problem-solving skills.

Feasibility and Scalability (20%)

Practicality of the solution and its potential to scale in real-world environments. Judges will assess how realistic the idea is and how easily it could be expanded or deployed.

Design and Usability (15%)

User interface, experience, and overall design clarity. The product should be intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing, offering a seamless experience to users.

Presentation and Impact (15%)

How effectively the team communicates their solution, its potential social or business impact, and the clarity of their final pitch or demo.