Nationwide Cybersecurity Competition Unfolds in India for the First Time
India's digital landscape is set to witness an exciting event as UST hosts the GenCyS 2025 cybersecurity challenge. Scheduled for August 23–24, 2025, this event combines a global cybersecurity conference with a large-scale Capture The Flag (CTF) competition.
The GenCyS 2025 conference, a showcase of AI innovation, security solutions, and real-world cyber threat scenarios, aims to bring together professionals, students, and ethical hackers. The highlight of the event is the national-level CTF contest, offering a prize pool of ₹7.5 lakh.
Participants will be tasked with solving complex cybersecurity problems by uncovering hidden flags—unique codes embedded within puzzles, scripts, and systems. The competition includes advanced AI-driven security challenges, Red Team vs Blue Team scenarios, and live attack simulations, creating a hands-on, high-pressure environment similar to real-world cyber defense situations.
The GenCyS 2025 cybersecurity challenge aligns with the objectives of Digital India, particularly in the areas of human capital development and the National Cyber Security Strategy 2023 and Cyber Surakshit Bharat Mission. The competition evaluates a wide range of cybersecurity skills such as vulnerability assessment, security architecture, threat analysis, incident response planning, etc.
The top 50 teams from the nationwide challenge will compete onsite during the two-day conference. Registrations close on July 30, 2025. Participants should have strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges.
In addition to the competition, the conference features research paper presentations, keynote speeches from industry experts, panel discussions on future threats and defense strategies, and workshops focusing on practical AI applications in security.
Winners of the competition will receive mentorship opportunities, industry-recognized certifications, and visibility for roles in top cybersecurity firms or government projects. The competition also offers job interview opportunities with UST for top performers and exposure to global cybersecurity communities.
UST's GenCYS 2025 conference will host India's first nationwide cybersecurity talent challenge. Onsite networking opportunities are provided for participants, including interaction with hiring managers, collaborators, and thought leaders at the event venue. The competition's multi-tier format allows for equitable assessment across experience levels.
UST plans to expand GenCYS content to include quantum-safe encryption challenges, AI-driven threat analysis tracks, and global compliance simulations. The organisation is also exploring partnerships for future events that intersect with data privacy and algorithm transparency.
The GenCyS 2025 cybersecurity challenge aims to future-proof India's cybersecurity talent pipeline by equipping early-stage professionals with hands-on experience in evolving threat landscapes. By supporting both national resilience and global competitiveness in a rapidly shifting digital ecosystem, this event is a significant step towards India's roadmap toward digital sovereignty and comprehensive cyber hygiene.
- Participants of UST's GenCyS 2025 cybersecurity challenge, aimed at future-proofing India's cybersecurity talent pipeline, can look forward to hands-on learning experiences in AI innovation, security solutions, and real-world cyber threat scenarios, promoting personal growth and education-and-self-development in technology, particularly in the field of cybersecurity.
- Winners of the GenCyS 2025 competition will receive industry-recognized certifications, mentorship opportunities, and visibility for roles in top cybersecurity firms or government projects, helping them harness their learning in cybersecurity, further their career growth, and contribute positively to the nation's digital security landscape.
