Introduction

The Department of Computer Science & Engineering, SRM University Delhi-NCR, Sonepat in collaboration with IBM, organized the IBM Hackathon 2026 - Round 1 Online Assessment on 7th August 2026. The initiative was aimed at providing students with an opportunity to participate in an industry-oriented technical assessment and demonstrate their programming, coding, logical reasoning and problem-solving skills in a competitive environment.

The Round 1 assessment was conducted on the HackerRank online platform and was structured as a 60-minute coding assessment comprising two coding questions. A total of 106 shortlisted students participated in the assessment. The assessment was designed to evaluate students' ability to analyze computational problems, develop appropriate solutions and implement them within a specified time frame.

To ensure the integrity, fairness and standardization of the assessment, the IBM team provided specific guidelines for all participants. The assessment was required to be attempted individually, without any form of collaboration. Students were required to take the examination from the University premises, using the systems provided in the allotted laboratories, with a functional webcam. The assessment was AI-proctored, requiring the student's face to remain clearly visible throughout the examination. These measures were intended to maintain a secure and credible assessment environment. Prior to the assessment, participants were provided with detailed instructions regarding the technical requirements and examination procedure. Students were informed that they would receive the examination link and password before the commencement of the test.

The event commenced with an inaugural session at the Conference Room on the 5th Floor of the Engineering Block, in the presence of senior University leadership and the IBM representative. The presence of the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Deans, HoD In-Charge and IBM representative reflected the institutional importance attached to the initiative and reinforced the University's commitment to providing students with meaningful industry exposure.

The IBM Hackathon 2026 served not only as a technical assessment but also as an opportunity to encourage students to engage with real-world industry practices, competitive programming and technology-driven problem solving. The initiative strengthened the connection between academic learning and industry expectations and provided students with valuable exposure to a professional online assessment environment.

The successful participation of 106 students and the coordinated conduct of the Round 1 assessment demonstrated the strong interest of students in industry-linked technical initiatives. The event further contributed to promoting a culture of coding, innovation, continuous learning and industry-academia collaboration within the University.

Objectives

The IBM Hackathon 2026 - Round 1 Online Assessment was organized with the following broad objectives:

• To provide shortlisted students with an industry-oriented platform for assessing their programming, analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• To enable students to apply their technical knowledge in a competitive and time-bound online assessment environment.
• To expose students to HackerRank, a structured digital platform used for coding and technical assessments.
• To encourage logical reasoning, computational thinking and systematic problem solving among students.
• To motivate students to participate in industry-linked technical challenges and hackathons.
• To strengthen the interaction between the University and IBM through student-centric technical initiatives.
• To provide students with valuable exposure to an assessment process aligned with contemporary technology-industry practices.
• To promote a culture of innovation, continuous learning and participation in competitive technical activities.

Event Details

Programme Schedule

The programme was planned to ensure orderly reporting, system readiness, inauguration, assessment and formal conclusion. The schedule was as follows:

Inaugural Session

The IBM Hackathon 2026 - Round 1 Online Assessment commenced with an inaugural session organized at the Conference Room on the 5th Floor of the Engineering Block. The session provided an appropriate formal beginning to the assessment and brought together the University leadership, academic representatives, the IBM representative and participating students.

The inaugural session highlighted the importance of providing students with opportunities to engage with leading technology organizations and to experience industry-oriented technical activities. The presence of senior University leadership also underscored the institutional importance attached to student skill development, innovation and industry-academia collaboration.

The event was graced by:

• Prof. V. R. Raghuveer, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, SRM University Delhi-NCR, Sonepat
• Prof. V. Samuel Raj, Registrar, SRM University Delhi-NCR, Sonepat
• Prof. Ranjit Roy, Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology
• Prof. Sunny Jose, Dean, Science and Humanities
• Dr. Rama Kant, HoD In-Charge, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
• Ms. Rohini Matta, IBM Representative

The esteemed presence of the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Deans, HoD In-Charge, and IBM representative added significance to the occasion and served as a source of encouragement and motivation for the participating students. The inaugural session formally set the stage for the Round 1 assessment and reinforced the importance of technical competency and industry exposure in contemporary engineering education.

Student Reporting and Assessment Preparation

The participating students reported to their allotted laboratories between 10:00 AM and 10:15 AM. The reporting process was followed by system allocation and assessment preparation from 10:15 AM to 11:00 AM. During this phase, the systems were organized for the participating students and the assessment environment was prepared in coordination with the IBM Subject Matter Expert.

The preparatory phase was particularly important because the assessment was conducted simultaneously across multiple laboratories. The arrangement enabled the participating students to access the designated assessment platform and begin the Round 1 assessment in a coordinated manner.

Conduct of the Round 1 Online Assessment

The Round 1 Online Assessment was conducted on the HackerRank platform from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM. A total of 106 shortlisted students participated in the assessment. The students were accommodated in Lab No. 4, Lab No. 8 and Lab No. 9, as planned. The use of HackerRank provided the students with a digital assessment environment in which they could undertake the prescribed technical assessment. Conducting the assessment in designated computer laboratories also enabled the organizing team (Faculty Coordinators, IBM Representative – Ms. Rohini Matta) to coordinate student seating, system allocation and technical support during the assessment window.

Throughout the assessment period, the focus remained on ensuring an organized and uninterrupted assessment environment for the participants. The extended assessment window from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM provided the students with the scheduled time to complete the Round 1 assessment. The assessment concluded at 1:30 PM, after which the formal conclusion of the event was carried out from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM.

Participation

The participation of 106 students demonstrates strong student engagement with the IBM Hackathon initiative. The event offered students a common platform to test their technical capabilities and experience an industry- oriented assessment process. Such participation contributes to building confidence among students and encourages them to take part in future hackathons, coding challenges and industry-linked opportunities.

Role of Industry Collaboration

The collaboration with IBM was an important component of the initiative. The presence and support of an IBM representative connected the student activity with an industry partner and enhanced the relevance of the assessment. Industry-linked initiatives such as this help students understand expectations beyond conventional classroom examinations and encourage them to strengthen their technical and problem-solving competencies.

The IBM Hackathon also provides a platform through which the University can continue to develop meaningful engagement with industry, particularly in areas related to emerging technologies, programming, innovation, student challenges and skill development.

Coordination and Technical Support

The smooth conduct of a multi-laboratory online assessment required coordinated planning and support. The organizing team facilitated student reporting, laboratory allocation, system preparation, assessment setup and coordination with the IBM representative.

The assessment was conducted across Lab No. 4, Lab No. 8 and Lab No. 9. The use of multiple laboratories enabled the 106 participating students to be accommodated in an organized manner. Coordination among the Department, laboratory support personnel and the industry representative contributed to the structured conduct of the assessment. The event schedule was followed from student reporting through system allocation, the inaugural session, the online assessment and its formal conclusion.

Key Outcomes

The major outcomes of the IBM Hackathon 2026 - Round 1 Online Assessment include:

• Successful participation of 106 shortlisted students in the Round 1 assessment.
• Exposure of students to an industry-oriented technical assessment conducted through HackerRank.
• Opportunity for students to demonstrate programming, analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Greater student awareness of competitive technical assessments and hackathon-based learning opportunities.
• Strengthening of student-industry engagement through IBM’s participation in the initiative.
• Enhanced institutional engagement with industry-oriented student development activities.
• Promotion of a culture of technical learning, innovation, competitive participation and continuous skill development.

Significance for Student Development

The IBM Hackathon initiative is significant from the perspective of holistic student development. Beyond regular academic coursework, students benefit from opportunities that require them to solve technical problems under defined assessment conditions. Such experiences encourage students to strengthen their conceptual understanding, logical reasoning, programming practice and ability to work within time constraints.

Participation also exposes students to the expectations associated with technology-industry assessments. The experience gained through the Round 1 assessment can motivate students to further develop their coding skills, participate in competitive programming activities and seek additional industry-linked learning opportunities.

Institutional Significance

The successful organization of the IBM Hackathon 2026 - Round 1 Online Assessment reflects the Department's efforts to integrate industry interaction with student learning. The initiative aligns with the broader goal of creating opportunities for students to engage with contemporary technology practices and demonstrate their skills beyond conventional academic assessments.

The participation of senior University leadership and an IBM representative further emphasizes the importance of collaborative initiatives involving academia and industry. Such engagements can contribute to sustained relationships, student opportunities and future technical activities.

Overall Assessment of the Event

The IBM Hackathon 2026 - Round 1 Online Assessment was successfully conducted as scheduled on 7 August 2026. The participation of 106 students, the involvement of IBM, the presence of senior University leadership and the use of the HackerRank assessment platform collectively made the initiative a meaningful industry-oriented student activity.

The event provided a structured platform for students to participate in a competitive technical assessment while simultaneously strengthening the University's engagement with an industry partner. The coordinated arrangements across the designated laboratories supported the effective execution of the assessment.

Conclusion

The IBM Hackathon 2026 - Round 1 Online Assessment was successfully organized by the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, SRM University Delhi-NCR, in collaboration with IBM on 7 August 2026. The event witnessed the participation of 106 shortlisted students and provided them with an opportunity to experience an industry-oriented online assessment through HackerRank.

Overall, the initiative successfully brought together students, University leadership, academic coordination and industry participation. It contributed to student skill development, competitive technical exposure and the strengthening of industry- academia collaboration. The event can serve as a foundation for continued engagement with IBM and for creating further opportunities for students through hackathons, technical challenges and industry-linked learning activities