Quick Facts (TL;DR)

• Total Prize Pool: ₹6.85 crore.
• Winner: Cambrian Skillsda – Securing Next-Gen Biometrics Systems.
• Focus: Indigenous ‘Make in India’ cyber security solutions.

The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), has felicitated the winners of the flagship Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 (CSGC 2.0). The national-level innovation challenge aims to boost indigenous cyber security capabilities and build a secure, resilient digital ecosystem for India with a combined prize pool of ₹6.85 crore.

What Is Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0?

CSGC 2.0 is a government-backed innovation programme designed to identify, support and scale cutting-edge cyber security solutions developed by Indian innovators, start-ups and research teams. The initiative focuses on critical technology domains and real-world cyber security problems relevant to India’s rapidly growing digital economy.

Key Objectives

• Strengthen India’s cyber security capabilities through indigenous technologies.
• Build expertise in domains such as threat detection, incident response, secure infrastructure and data protection.
• Support start-ups and innovators with funding, visibility and ecosystem support.
• Contribute to a secure and resilient national digital ecosystem.

Felicitation Ceremony: Highlights

Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), felicitated the winners of Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 at a special ceremony. The event underlined the government’s priority on cyber security and the indigenisation of critical digital infrastructure.

Total Prize Pool and Awards

The Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 carried a combined prize pool of ₹6.85 crore, making it one of the most significant government-backed cyber security innovation challenges in the country. The winner received a trophy and ₹1 crore, while the first and second runners-up received ₹50 lakh and ₹25 lakh respectively.

*As specified in the official challenge documentation.

Grand Challenge 2.0 Winners and Problem Statements

The winners of CSGC 2.0 addressed some of the most pressing cyber security challenges facing India’s digital ecosystem, across biometrics, app security and API security.

Challenge Structure and Support for Start-ups

Launched in January 2025 and recently concluded, the Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 hosted on the MyGov platform stands as a testament to India’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship by incentivising innovation in six critical cyber security domains.

Four Structured Stages

The challenge was conducted in four structured stages with progressive evaluation and financial support at each level, helping start-ups move from concept to market-ready solutions in a phased manner. [web:21][web:10]

• Idea Stage: Six start-ups were shortlisted under each of the six problem statements (36 in total), and each received ₹5 lakh to develop and refine their solutions.
• Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Stage: The shortlisted start-ups received structured technical and business mentorship to build functional prototypes, and 18 start-ups (three per problem statement) advanced to the Final Product Stage with ₹10 lakh each.
• Final Product Stage: Solutions were tested and validated, and five start-ups received ₹25 lakh each based on performance and maturity.
• Go-to-Market Stage: Start-ups were evaluated on commercial readiness, scalability and market potential, and three start-ups were declared Grand Winners.

Throughout the challenge, participating start-ups received continuous technical and business mentorship to strengthen product maturity, deployability and market readiness.

Innovation Domains Covered

The challenge incentivised innovation in six critical domains that are central to India’s cyber security posture and digital economy.

• API Security.
• Data Security.
• Wearable Device Security and Privacy.
• Clone and Fake App Mitigation.
• AI for Threat Detection and Incident Response.
• Securing Next-Generation Biometric Systems.

Explore More: Interested in how India is digitizing its economy? Read our deep dive on CBDC and the Future of Digital Food Currency.

MeitY Secretary’s Vision for Indigenous Cyber Security

Shri S. Krishnan emphasised that the Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 is an important step towards building strong indigenous cyber security capacity in the country. He highlighted that cyber security is an area where domestic capability is of utmost importance, as the security challenges India faces are real and constantly evolving.

He noted that the problem statements were carefully curated and highly relevant to today’s data-driven economy, where increased data sharing through APIs and digital platforms must be accompanied by robust data security and privacy safeguards. He also underlined that initiatives like CSGC 2.0 are an opportunity to build long-term domestic capacity in a strategic ‘Make in India’ sector.

Why This Initiative Matters for India

India’s rapid digitisation—ranging from Digital India platforms to UPI, Aadhaar-enabled services and large-scale e-governance—has significantly expanded the country’s digital attack surface. Initiatives like CSGC 2.0 ensure that as digital services grow, security innovation keeps pace, reducing dependence on imported tools and strengthening national resilience.

Strategic Impact

• Encourages local R&D and indigenous solutions in key cyber security domains.
• Builds a pipeline of start-ups and products that can be deployed in government and enterprise environments.
• Enhances cyber resilience in critical sectors such as finance, governance and infrastructure.

Role of DSCI as Implementation Partner

The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) implemented the Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 in partnership with MeitY, leveraging its strong industry and expert network. DSCI’s role spans designing the challenge structure, facilitating mentoring, and connecting winning solutions with adopters across government and industry.

• Designing challenge, evaluation and mentoring frameworks.
• Supporting pilot deployments and market access for promising products.
• Helping start-ups with ecosystem connects for scale-up and commercialisation.

Opportunity for Start-ups, Innovators and Academia

CSGC 2.0 demonstrates how policy, funding and ecosystem support can converge to create a robust pipeline of home-grown cyber security products. For start-ups, students and research teams, such challenges provide visibility, validation and critical financial support, along with real-world problem statements closely aligned with national priorities.

• Access to curated, real-world problem statements rooted in national security and economic needs.
• Mentoring from domain experts and industry leaders through the MeitY–DSCI ecosystem.
• Potential adoption of solutions by government and large enterprises after successful pilots.

Call to Action for Cyber Security Founders

Are you a cyber security founder or aspiring innovator? Keep a close eye on the MyGov portal and MeitY/DSCI announcements for the next iteration of the Cyber Security Grand Challenge and similar innovation programmes.

Conclusion: Strengthening India’s Digital Defences

The felicitation of winners of Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 underlines the government’s commitment to securing India’s digital future through indigenous innovation. By supporting innovators with recognition, funding and ecosystem backing, MeitY and DSCI are helping build a strong, self-reliant cyber security landscape that can protect the nation’s expanding digital infrastructure.

Sources & Credits

• Press Information Bureau – MeitY release on Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 winners: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2233054
• Press Information Bureau – Launch of Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0 (Prize Money & Problem Statements): https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2093201
• MyGov Innovate – Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0: https://innovateindia.mygov.in/cyber-security-grand-challenge/