~A National Mission Towards Quantum-Ready Banking
Systems ~
New
Delhi: Punjab
National Bank (PNB), nation’s leading public sector bank, under the guidance of
the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India,
and in coordination with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), has
announced the launch of PSB Hackathon 2026, its flagship annual national
innovation initiative aimed at strengthening cybersecurity across Public Sector
Banks (PSBs). The hackathon has now evolved into a structured national platform
that brings together academia, industry, and the banking sector to
collaboratively address emerging cyber threats.
Continuing
its strategic partnership with Indian
Institute of Technology Kanpur, PNB is organising a nationwide hackathon
series in 2026 focused on building next-generation cyber resilience. The theme
for this year, “Quantum-Proof Systems for Public-Facing Applications,” reflects
forward-looking approach to safeguarding its digital financial infrastructure
against the emerging risks posed by quantum computing. As global advancements
in quantum technologies accelerate, proactive preparedness of the cryptographic
systems to secure in a post-quantum era is need of hour.
The
previous edition of the hackathon witnessed overwhelming participation from
students across premier engineering colleges and universities nationwide. Under
the theme “Code Against Malware,” teams developed innovative solutions
addressing real-world banking cybersecurity challenges, particularly ransomware
threats. The initiative was widely recognized as a first-of-its-kind
collaborative effort within the Indian banking sector. Notably, several
prototypes developed during the previous hackathon are currently under
evaluation for potential integration into the banking ecosystem, demonstrating
the tangible impact of structured academia–industry collaboration.
PSB
Hackathon 2026 will focus on developing a software-based cryptographic scanner
designed to validate the implementation of quantum-resistant ciphers and
generate a comprehensive Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM) for
public-facing applications. The proposed solution will assess cryptographic
exposure across web servers, APIs, and other mission-critical digital
interfaces within the banking ecosystem. Through this initiative, PNB aims to
foster indigenous capabilities in post-quantum cryptography assessment and
create scalable tools that enhance systemic resilience across Public Facing
Applications.
The
hackathon is open to students enrolled in recognized colleges, universities,
and educational institutions across India. Participating teams must comprise a
minimum of three and a maximum of four members. Multidisciplinary teams with
expertise in cybersecurity, cryptography, artificial intelligence, machine
learning, and software development are strongly encouraged to ensure the
development of comprehensive and innovative solutions. Winning teams will
compete for prizes worth up to ₹11 lakhs.
Quantum
computing represents both a technological breakthrough and a strategic
cybersecurity challenge for the global financial sector. Through PSB Hackathon
2026, PNB seeks to proactively assess cryptographic readiness, promote the
adoption of post-quantum cryptographic standards, and build indigenous
solutions capable of securing India’s public-facing banking systems against
future quantum-enabled threats. The initiative aligns with the Government of
India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in cybersecurity and reinforces
PNB’s commitment to innovation-driven national security.
Registrations
for PSB Hackathon 2026 can be done on the official PNB Hackathon portal- https://pnb.bank.in/PSBs-Cybersecurity-Hackathon.html.
Detailed guidelines, evaluation criteria, datasets, and mentorship schedules
will be released as part of the Hackathon Rulebook. Updates will also be
available on PNB’s official social media platforms. Queries may be addressed to
hackathon@pnb.bank.in.
Making
Indian Banking Quantum Safe – Together