IIM Bangalore’s CDPG Announces 2026 National Student Case Competition, Registrations Begin August 14
Bangaluru : The Centre for Digital Public Goods (CDPG) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has announced the 2026 National Student Case Competition. The competition encourages students at the bachelor’s and master’s levels from reputable colleges and universities across India to devise solutions for the challenges in the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) of the nation.
Registrations for this competition will be open from 14th August 2026. The value of the prize for this competition is set at Rs. 5 lakh. The competition is organised in association with Perfios – Anumati Account Aggregator, and the final leg of the competition will be at IIMB on 30th September 2026.
Key highlights of the National Student Case Competition 2026
The competition will be based on real-life problems related to the developing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) of India. Participating teams are expected to generate and present innovative solutions for the problems outlined in the case or described in the theme. In order to drive innovation, CDPG has given flexibility with regard to academic stream and therefore encourages students across disciplines, such as management, engineering, social sciences, public policy, design, etc. to participate in the competition.
Given the cross- cutting nature of challenges and problems in India’s digital infrastructure, which includes technology, governance, regulation, finance and citizen-centric services, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for finding workable solutions. The research undertaken by the CDPG at IIMB has helped to understand the various interfaces through the publication of the State of DPI in India 2025. The report identifies and describes Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, Account Aggregators and ONDC as the components of digital public infrastructure in the country.
Rules for Eligibility and Team Size
Each team must consist of five students currently enrolled in their respective institutions. CDPG wishes to bring together students from different programs and academic years and encourages formation of gender-balanced teams. One rule is particularly simple: each student may participate in one team only.
₹5 Lakh Prize Pool and Other Perks
The competition offers a prize money totalling ₹5 lakhs, but the organisers want to emphasise that this competition will not be like any other student competition. Participants get the chance to address issues which are related to the DPI and work on real-world case studies, present their ideas to practitioners, policymakers and academics, and meet the speakers of the CDPG Annual Conclave. Certificates of Participation and Merit will be given to students, and for shortlisted participants, their solutions will get national-level exposure.
National Student Case Competition 2026: Important Dates
- Event Date
- Submissions open August 14, 2026
- Submissions end September 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM IST
- Shortlisted Teams Announced: September 15, 2026
- National Finals: September 30, 2026
- Final venue: IIM Bangalore
The official IIM Bangalore schedule confirms September 30 as the date of the national finals.
Importance of the Competition
DPI is no longer simply a discussion on technology. India’s digital infrastructure has grown to include systems for payments, identity, data consent, data sharing, health care, and commerce. CDPG’s research states that the DPI ecosystem in India has moved closer towards population-scale implementation. While this is the case, the research states that trust, governance, interoperability, and the responsible use of technology remain important.
Given the above, it becomes apparent why the competition is important to students who are learning and/or interested in technology and public policy. The answer, more than likely, will not be based on the most advanced technology. It will be about the answer that best describes how the idea can work in India’s challenging social, institutional and regulatory environments.
That is the “technical challenge” that students will face. Not what great ideas that India may build, but what England could realistically implement.
How to Prepare for the Competition
Students wishing to participate should form a five-member, interdisciplinary team and start practising as soon as the competition opens on Aug 14. It is imperative to consider the case from a variety of disciplinary angles, including technology, implementation, policy, user experience, economics and governance.
This competition is a great opportunity for students to use their classroom education to solve a problem that is operating at a national level. The competition opens tomorrow, so there is no time to waste for interested teams! Follow IIM Bangalore’s CDPG and competition announcements for official updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.Who can apply to the National Student Case Competition 2026?
Students pursuing Bachelor's or Master's degrees from universities and colleges that are recognised in India can apply. Its background doesn’t matter.
2.How many students should be in a team?
Teams should consist of exactly five members.
3.What is the prize amount?
The prize amount for this competition is roughly ₹5,00,000.
4.When will we be able to submit our entries?
You can start submissions on August 14, 2026.
5.When will we need to submit our entry forms?
The last date to submit applications is September 7, 2026 at 6 PM IST.
6.Where and when will the finals be?
The final event will take place on September 30, 2026 at IIM Bangalore.
Click Here for More Institutional Activities