Name: ORION 1.0 — National Level 24-Hour Hackathon
Start: 2026-09-18T08:00:00+05:30
End: 2026-09-19T14:00:00+05:30
Location: Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

Question 1

Who is eligible to participate in ORION 1.0?

Accepted Answer

ORION 1.0 is open to all college students (undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD) and early-career working professionals across India. Cross-institutional and multidisciplinary teams are enthusiastically welcome!

Question 2

What are the exact squad size rules?

Accepted Answer

Teams must consist of a minimum of 2 members and a maximum of 6 members (1 Team Leader + 1 to 5 Team Members). Individual solo participation is not permitted to encourage an collaborative engineering mindset.

Question 3

Can team members be from different colleges or departments?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Cross-college, cross-department, and cross-year teams are fully permitted. All participants will receive individual certificates of participation.

Question 4

What do we build and submit in Round 1?

Accepted Answer

In Round 1, teams must choose a Problem Statement track and submit their problem analysis, system architecture, tech stack justification, and project roadmap using the official mandatory ORION 1.0 PPT template (exported as PPTX or PDF). Working prototype links or demo videos can be included within the designated slide placeholders.

Question 5

Can we modify the slide count or format of the PPT template?

Accepted Answer

No. Strict rule: No slides may be added, removed, or reordered. Branding, headers, and footers must remain intact. Only fill the provided content placeholders. File name must be formatted as: TeamName_ORION1.0 (PPTX or PDF).

Question 6

What is the deadline for Round 1 submission?

Accepted Answer

Round 1 online submissions close on September 08, 2026 at 23:59 IST. Teams can submit and revise their presentation via the Team Portal until the deadline.

Question 7

How does the two-tier fee structure work?

Accepted Answer

Round 1 is a low-barrier online qualifier with a flat registration fee of ₹100 per team (regardless of 2 or 6 members). Only teams shortlisted in the Top 70 for the offline Grand Finale pay the ₹250 per head finalist confirmation fee, which covers 2 days of meals (Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinner), official swag kits, 24/7 venue access, and free hostel accommodation.

Question 8

How are the prizes distributed?

Accepted Answer

The total prize pool of ₹1,00,000 (including ₹25k 1st Place, ₹15k 1st Runner-Up, ₹10k 2nd Runner-Up, and Special Track Bounties) along with Certificates of Merit and trophies will be awarded physically during the Valedictory Ceremony immediately concluding the 24-hour sprint.

Question 9

How are the Grand Finale problem statements distributed?

Accepted Answer

While teams can continue building upon their Round 1 architectural solution, live problem twists and dynamic constraints will be revealed on-the-spot at the start of the 24-hour offline sprint at SIST Chennai.

Question 10

What meals and refreshments are provided during the Grand Finale?

Accepted Answer

All confirmed finalist teams receive full event catering across the 24-hour offline hackathon at SIST Chennai, including 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, Dinner, and midnight booster packs (coffee, tea, snacks, and energy boosters). Multi-cuisine options are catered inside the air-conditioned hack arena.

Question 11

Is free accommodation provided for outstation teams?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Free on-campus hostel accommodation at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology (SIST) is provided for all confirmed out-of-Chennai finalist teams. Clean hostel rooms with bedding, round-the-clock security, and washroom facilities are arranged.

Question 12

Where is the offline Grand Finale venue and how do we reach it?

Accepted Answer

The 24-hour offline sprint takes place at the School of Computing Complex, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Jeppiaar Nagar, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), Chennai - 600119. The campus is ~22 km from Chennai International Airport (MAA) and ~25 km from Chennai Central (MAS) / Tambaram Railway Station with direct bus and cab connectivity.

Question 13

What hardware and connectivity amenities are available at the arena?

Accepted Answer

Participants have access to 24/7 uninterrupted power backup, dedicated power sockets at every team station, high-speed dual-band Wi-Fi and LAN mesh networks, mentor breakout zones, and round-the-clock medical & technical support.

Question 14

What documents do participants need to carry for campus entry?

Accepted Answer

Every participant must carry their official College/University ID card (or valid government photo ID) along with their digital ORION 1.0 Finalist Invitation Dossier for security check-in at the main campus gate.

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