Registrations close today, 7 October 2026, for KPMG India's Capture the Flag 2026 — the Big Four firm's campus-edition cybersecurity hackathon. If you are a student with a hacker instinct, this is the last call.
The competition itself runs a full 48 hours: from 10:00 AM on 9 October to 9:59 AM on 11 October 2026. Registration was open from 25 September to 7 October, and results will be announced on 19 October 2026.
Capture the Flag (CTF) is the classic proving ground for security talent: participants attack and defend systems across challenges in ethical hacking, digital forensics and cyber defence. KPMG's campus edition is aimed squarely at college students looking to test their skills against peers — and against the kind of scenarios real consulting engagements throw at security teams.
With enterprise cybersecurity spending in India climbing every year and a persistent shortage of trained security professionals, a strong CTF finish is one of the fastest ways for a student to get on the radar of hiring managers — at KPMG and well beyond it. Previous editions have drawn thousands of participants across campuses.
Why it matters for founders
Building a security startup? CTF finalists are your future hires. Watch the 19 October results announcement — these students have exactly the offensive-security skills early-stage security products need, and they are reachable before the big consulting firms sign them up.