Opportunity brief
KaalDrishti, presented as part of XAVIESTA 5.0 – KAALCHAKRA, is a business analytics competition that challenges participants to step into the role of Data Investigators and uncover the truth behind a company's crisis. Teams of four will work with fragmented financial records, internal communications, customer data and other business information to identify hidden patterns, detect anomalies and establish the real cause of a problem. Across three challenging rounds, participants will investigate an unsolved business crisis, tackle analytical challenges and defend their conclusions through hypothesis testing and a live boardroom presentation. The event tests analytical thinking, data interpretation, statistical reasoning, problem-solving and the ability to convert data into meaningful business decisions.
ROUND 1 – THE CRIME SCENE: FIND THE STORY
Project Mirage – Uncover the Hidden Truth
- Participants will receive a business scenario, problem statement and relevant datasets. The case file will contain fragmented information such as financial records, internal communications, customer data and other business evidence.
- Teams must independently understand the situation, identify relevant patterns and anomalies, determine the root cause of the crisis and develop a hypothesis explaining what went wrong and why.
- Based on their analysis, teams must propose feasible business solutions while complying with the given constraints.
Round Details:
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Mode: Online on Unstop
- Format: Open-Ended Data Investigation + Written Hypothesis Brief - Submission: PDF deck of maximum 10 pages, excluding the Introduction and Closing slides. - Qualification: Top 12 Teams advance to Round 2. -
Evaluation Criteria:
- Understanding of the problem and root cause analysis. - Analytical rigour specific to the dataset. - Methodology adopted. - Feasibility and quality of the proposed business solution.
ROUND 2 – THE LOCKED DATA: UNLOCK THE EVIDENCE
Xcelerate – Excel E-Sports
- The qualifying teams will enter an analytical challenge where they will be provided with a dataset and a problem statement. Participants must analyse the given information and develop an optimised solution or analytical model according to the requirements.
- Teams will be required to demonstrate their analytical capabilities using Microsoft Excel. They can use Excel charts, VBA, Macros and other Excel plugins to develop and present their solutions. However, the final solution must be presented entirely in Excel.
- The methodology adopted and the plugins used must be explicitly mentioned.
Round Details:
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Mode: Offline
- Format: Dataset-Based Analytical Modelling and Excel Challenge. - Tools: Microsoft Excel, Excel Charts, VBA, Macros and other Excel plugins. - Submission/Presentation: The solution must be presented in Excel only. - Qualification: Top 5 Teams advance to Round 3. -
Evaluation Focus:
- Analytical reasoning. - Data interpretation and modelling. - Problem-solving ability. - Efficiency and accuracy of the solution. - Methodology and effective use of Excel tools.
ROUND 3 – THE FALSE TRAIL & THE BOARDROOM TRIAL: DELIVER THE VERDICT
Find the Real Cause. Defend It Under Fire.
- The finalists will be presented with multiple plausible explanations for the company's crisis, each supported by a different set of evidence. Only one explanation will represent the actual cause.
- Teams must test each hypothesis against the evidence collected in the earlier rounds, identify explanations based on bias, false correlation or manipulated data, and trace the crisis back to its Point of No Return — the exact past decision that set the crisis in motion.
- Participants will then present their final verdict and business recommendations before a jury acting as the company's Board, which will cross-examine their assumptions and conclusions.
Round Details:
- Mode: Offline – Live Defence, Grand Finale. - Format: Hypothesis Testing + Live Verdict Presentation + Jury Cross-Examination. - Submission: PDF presentation deck of maximum 10 pages, excluding the Introduction and Closing slides. - Finalists: Top 5 Teams from Round 2. -
Evaluation Criteria:
- Understanding of the problem and root cause analysis. - Analytical rigour specific to the dataset. - Methodology adopted. - Feasibility and quality of business solutions. - Causal reasoning and data validation. - Hypothesis testing and business judgement. - Boardroom communication and ability to defend conclusions.
OVERALL RULES & REGULATIONS
- Team Size: 4 members per team across all rounds; no substitutions once registered. - Eligibility: Open to all college students; valid ID required for offline rounds. - Structure: Round 1 (Online) – Top 12 teams advance to Round 2 (Offline) – Top 5 teams advance to Round 3 (Offline Grand Finale) – Day 2. - Continuity: Evidence and hypotheses built in earlier rounds carry into the final verdict; no new external data may be introduced after Round 1. - Round 1: Based solely on the provided dataset; AI tools permitted only for language polishing, not for generating the analysis itself. - Devices: Laptops can be used for analysis and submissions; scientific calculators allowed; mobile phones strictly prohibited offline. - Submissions: Prescribed format, official channel, stipulated deadline; no late entries or resubmissions. - Conduct: No inter-team communication or collaboration during any round — violation means disqualification. - Judging: Judges' and committee's decisions are final and binding at every stage.