TCS HackQuest Season 11 Registration 2026: Eligibility, Important Dates, Prizes and Job Opportunities

TCS HackQuest Registration 2026: How to Apply

Eligible students must register through the official TCS HackQuest portal and obtain a valid TCS NextStep reference ID, also known as a CT/DT number.

Follow these steps to register:

Visit the TCS NextStep portal.

Log in or complete the required registration process.

Select the IT section, not the BPS section.

Fill in the required details and submit the information to obtain a valid TCS reference ID (CT/DT number).

Visit the official TCS HackQuest registration portal.

Register using the valid CT/DT reference ID and provide the required personal and academic details.

Create the required login credentials and complete the registration process.

Read and accept the official terms and conditions and privacy-related consent requirements.

Keep the registration credentials safe and monitor the official portal for competition updates.

A valid TCS NextStep reference ID is mandatory. The unique credentials issued for participation should not be shared with other participants.

There is no participation or registration fee. However, any personal expenses incurred while participating are the responsibility of the participant.

TCS HackQuest Selection Process: Three Rounds

Round 1: Online Capture the Flag Competition

Round 1 is an online, six-hour cybersecurity challenge scheduled for 5 December 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM IST.

Participants will be presented with security challenge statements across beginner, intermediate and expert categories. The challenges are designed to assess cybersecurity knowledge, analytical thinking and practical problem-solving skills.

Topics may include password cracking, encryption, network vulnerabilities, web application security, SQL injection, security operations centre scenarios and advanced security concepts.

Participants must solve the assigned challenges and capture the corresponding flags. They must also take screenshots showing the flags and visible timestamps and submit a detailed report using the prescribed format.

Submitting the report before the specified deadline is mandatory. Failure to upload the required report may result in disqualification from further rounds. Reports must be original and should accurately explain the steps followed to solve the challenges.

Round 2: Remote Proctored Cybersecurity Assessment

Participants shortlisted from Round 1 will progress to the second round.

Round 2 will be conducted online in a remotely proctored environment. Participants must keep their cameras switched on throughout the assessment, as specified in the official rules.

The assessment may include practical activities involving:

System exploitation

Web application penetration testing

Vulnerabilities in AI and machine-learning applications

Mobile security

Digital forensics

Threat hunting

Incident response

Source code analysis

Security operations centre scenarios

Identity and access management concepts

Participants will be evaluated on their performance in the assigned challenges. The detailed schedule, duration and assessment arrangements will be communicated to shortlisted candidates.

Round 3: Final Round at the TCS Campus

Selected participants from Round 2 will be invited to attend the final round in person at TCS premises. The round is expected to last approximately three to four hours, with the specific date and venue communicated to eligible participants.

During this stage, participants will be required to explain their approach to solving cybersecurity challenges and respond to questions from the jury panel.

The final round aims to identify the top 10 ethical hackers in HackQuest Season 11. Participants with knowledge of application security, network security, ethical hacking, AI red teaming, malware analysis, digital forensics and related fields may have an advantage.