SNUC Hacks '26 — Rulebook

Organized by the SNUC Coding Club

25th & 26th March | AB3, SNU Chennai

1. Overview

SNUC Hacks '26 is the first-ever 24-hour+ Hackathon organized by the SNUC Coding Club. This event is designed to empower students to solve real-world problems with innovative, tech-driven solutions. We encourage creativity, collaboration, and bold ideas.

Open to all SNU & SSN students across all courses.
Team size: 3–4 members.

2. Hackathon Format

Structure

  • Problem Statements Released at 9:30 AM on 25th March
  • Team Leaders Meeting at 10:00 AM for rules clarification and Q&A
  • Round 1 Evaluation ends at 3:30 PM on 25th March and Round 2 Evaluation at 8:00 AM on 26th March
  • Finals from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on 26th March

Project Submission Requirements

  • A PPT describing the project, key features, and approach
  • A working prototype or demo
  • Source code hosted on a public GitHub repository with regular commits
  • A short demo video (3–5 minutes) showcasing the project's functionality

3. Rules & Regulations

Venue & Presence

  1. Students are not allowed to leave the venue (AB3) during night time. Movement within AB3 is permitted, but participants must not disturb others — violation will result in disqualification.
  2. Participants are free to leave during daytime. All must return by 8:30 PM on 25th March. Inform a volunteer if delayed — participants who fail to return will be disqualified.
  3. At least 1–2 members must stay until 8:30 PM on 25th March to maintain team presence at the venue — failure may result in a warning or disqualification at the organizers' discretion.
  4. Participants must carry their ID cards at all times — those found without ID may be asked to leave.
  5. Teams must not damage venue property — teams found responsible for any damage will be held accountable.
  6. Organizers are not responsible for loss of personal belongings.

Code & Project

  1. All code must be written during the hackathon — no pre-built projects — violation will result in immediate disqualification.
  2. Any libraries and tools are allowed.
  3. No sharing of code or collaboration between teams — violation will result in disqualification of all teams involved.
  4. Teams must create a public GitHub repository and commit regularly throughout the event.
  5. Teams must push their latest commits before every evaluation round — failure may negatively impact their evaluation score.

Submissions

  1. Projects must be submitted before the deadline — no exceptions — late submissions will not be considered for judging.
  2. Teams must present/demo their project to the judges — absence during judging will result in disqualification.
  3. Every team can only submit up to one project.

Conduct

  1. Respectful behaviour towards all participants, mentors, and organizers at all times — any form of misconduct will result in immediate removal from the event.

Food & Amenities

  1. Outside food is allowed.
  2. Participants will be provided with refreshments during the event — no meals such as lunch or dinner will be served.
  3. Participants are advised to bring toothbrush, paste or other hygiene tools they might require and food.

4. Judging Criteria

Projects will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Impact & Usefulness — How effectively does the project address the problem statement?
  • Innovation & Creativity — Does the solution bring fresh ideas or novel approaches?
  • Technical Implementation — Quality, scalability, and robustness of the code and overall architecture.
  • Presentation — Clarity and persuasiveness of the demo and project documentation.
  • Learning — How much participants have learnt during the course of the hackathon.

5. Intellectual Property

  • Participants retain full ownership of their projects and code.
  • By participating, you grant the organizers permission to showcase your project in event materials, social media, and websites.

6. Prizes

Total Prize Pool: ₹50,000 INR

Three Domains

  • Domain 1, 2, 3 (₹45,000 combined)
    • Prize distribution TBD
  • Freshers Track: ₹2,500
  • Rookie Award: ₹2,500

Additional Rewards

  • Potential internship opportunities for top teams.
  • All participants will receive a digital certificate of participation.
  • Winners will receive special recognition at the closing ceremony.

7. FAQs

Q: Is it online or offline?

A: Offline! The event will take place in AB3, SNU Chennai.

Q: What are the timings?

A: The hack runs from 9:30 AM on 25th March (24 hours), with Round 1 Evaluation ending at 3:30 PM on 25th March and Round 2 Evaluation ending at 8:30 AM on 26th March. Finals run from 10:00 AM to approximately 2:00 PM on 26th March.

Q: Do we have to stay for the entire 24 hours?

A: Participants are expected to remain in the venue for the duration of the hackathon. Classrooms will be allocated for participants who wish to rest.

Q: Can day scholars sleep in AB3?

A: Yes, classrooms will be allocated for participants to rest in.

Q: What is the registration fee?

A: Free! Registration is completely free of charge.

Q: When does registration close?

A: Registrations open 18th March and close on 23rd March.

Q: Are there different tracks?

A: There are Problem Statements — no strict tracks. You're free to expand your solutions beyond the baseline expectations of the PS as well.

Q: Will food be provided?

A: Refreshments will be provided to all participants. However, no meals such as lunch or dinner will be served — participants are encouraged to stock up on their own food and snacks.

Q: Will there be enough charging ports and power outlets?

A: We'll do our best to ensure adequate power access for everyone. That said, we strongly recommend bringing your own extension cords and charging cables — it's a hackathon, and you really don't want to run out of juice.

Q: Is this open to students outside SNU and SSN?

A: No, SNUC Hacks '26 is open only to SNU and SSN students.

Q: What about participants involved in Sports Day on 26th March?

A: We understand some participants may be involved in Sports Day activities. Affected teams can have available teammates present for judging, or coordinate their arrival time with the OC. Priority slots or post-1:00 PM judging can be arranged if needed — please reach out to the organizing committee in advance.

Q: Can I leave in between and come back later?

A: You can leave in between upto 8:30 on March 25. All participants are expected to be present for the full duration after that.

Q: Will there be an OD (On-Duty) for participants?

A: Yes, OD will be arranged for all participants and organizing committee members.

Q: Will the full problem statement be revealed only at the start of the event?

A: Yes, problem statements are revealed at the start of the hackathon — 9:30 AM on 25th March.

Q: What if I don't understand the problem statement?

A: Mentors will be available throughout the event to help clarify problem statements and guide teams.

Q: What if there is a medical emergency?

A: Contact any organizing committee member immediately. Campus security will also be available to assist.

Q: Can my team switch domains after the hackathon starts?

A: No, teams are expected to commit to a domain once selected.

Q: What are the prizes for SNUC Hacks '26?

A: Prize details are to be announced. Stay tuned!

8. Contact

For any questions or clarifications, please reach out to:

  • Niranjhan SU — 8122152806
  • Prajesh Raam — 9489687324
  • Surya Narayanan — 9940537699
  • Vijayan S — 8080323242

SNUC Coding Club | SNUC Hacks '26