CASCADE

CASCADE  is the flagship hackathon of TantraFiesta 2026 at IIIT Nagpur, organised by CRISPR × ELEVATE. It is a 24-hour offline hackathon  with a prize pool of upto 2 lakhs including cash & goodies, where teams build practical solutions to real-world problems across four themes.

Team Formation & Eligibility

• Team Size: 3–4 members. [Inter-college teams allowed]
• Registration: Only the Team Leader needs to submit the team registration.
• Round 1 Requirements: GitHub profile links of all members, along with relevant repositories, projects, or portfolio links.
• Offline Shortlist: Top 60 teams from Round 1.

Round 1: Online GitHub & Portfolio Screening

• Dates: 14–18 October 2026
• Mode: Online
• Format: GitHub profiles, repositories, previous projects, and portfolio screening

Teams will be evaluated on their previous work, technical skills, individual contributions, and problem-solving ability. The Team Leader must provide the required links and details for every team member. The top 60 teams will qualify for the offline hackathon.

Round 1 Evaluation Criteria

• Project Quality & Technical Depth: Quality, complexity, functionality, and relevance of previous projects.
• Individual Contribution & Collaboration: Evidence of each member's contribution and collaborative development.
• Portfolio & Problem-Solving Ability: Project documentation, practical thinking, and ability to build usable solutions.

Round 2: CASCADE '26 — 24-Hour Offline Hackathon

• Dates: 25–26 October 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM on 25 October to 11:00 AM on 26 October
• Mode: Offline
• Venue: IIIT Nagpur Campus
• Format: 24-hour hackathon across four real-world themes

Shortlisted teams will develop practical solutions to real-world problems. The round will feature a Mid-Evaluation, peer engagement through the Stars system, and a separate Side Quest.

Round 2 Evaluation Criteria

• Problem Understanding & Relevance: How effectively the team addresses the chosen problem.
• Innovation & Creativity: Originality and usefulness of the solution.
• Technical Implementation: Quality of implementation and demonstrable progress.
• Feasibility & Real-World Impact: Practicality and potential impact.
• Execution & Completeness: Quality and completeness of the solution within the given time.
• Demo & Presentation: Clarity of the demonstration and explanation.

Mid-Evaluation

The Mid-Evaluation will take place at approximately 11:00 PM on 25 October 2026. Mentors will assess the team's problem understanding, solution approach, technical progress, technologies used, feasibility, and implementation plan.

Teams should be prepared to explain their progress and demonstrate the work completed so far.

Stars — Peer Engagement System

The Stars system allows teams to explore other projects and recognise promising ideas and execution.

• Each team will receive Star stickers marked with its own team letter.
• Teams can award their Stars to other teams during designated engagement windows.
• Self-voting is not allowed.
• Stars will contribute a limited portion of the overall evaluation score.

The organisers will supervise and validate the Stars count.

Side Quest

The Side Quest is a separate challenge conducted alongside the main hackathon. It opens at 12:00 AM on 26 October 2026 and has its own winner recognition and evaluation.

Further challenge instructions will be communicated by the organisers.

Multiple Themes & Prize Stacking

Teams may participate in multiple themes and win awards in more than one theme. Prize stacking is allowed, including winning additional awards, provided the team meets the eligibility criteria for each award.

Best Women in Tech Team Award

This award recognises an outstanding team consisting entirely of women. It is separate from the main theme prizes, and eligible teams can receive it alongside other awards.

Rules & Guidelines

• Teams must have 3–4 members and provide accurate registration details.
• All submitted work must be original or appropriately credited; plagiarism and misrepresentation are prohibited.
• Teams may compete in multiple themes and win multiple awards, subject to each award's eligibility criteria.
• Self-voting in the Stars system is not allowed.
• Participants must follow organiser instructions and maintain respectful conduct.
• Judges' decisions will be final, subject to the officially published event rules.