UPSIFS
AICTE
Cybervidyapeeth

Hackathon on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

For Cyber Defense 2025

March 16-18, 2025
Download Brochure
₹3,00,000+ Prize Pool
72 Hours
50+ Teams

Introduction

Event Overview

The UPSIFS OSINT Hackathon represents India's pioneering initiative in bringing together the brightest minds from academic institutions to explore and advance the field of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). This groundbreaking event spans 72 intensive hours of innovation, collaboration, and learning.

Participation Structure

  • Teams comprising upto 5 members from recognized academic institutions
  • Registration fee: INR 2000 per team
  • Original research paper submission (3500 words)
  • Last date of Participation 5th March 2025

Vision and Mission

Our vision is to establish India's premier platform for nurturing OSINT talent while creating a sustainable ecosystem that promotes ethical intelligence gathering practices. The mission encompasses developing technical expertise, fostering innovation, and creating real-world impact.

Objectives and Outcomes

Educational Enhancement

The hackathon serves as an intensive learning laboratory where participants immerse themselves in advanced OSINT methodologies, Python programming, and data analysis techniques.

Technical Skill Development

Participants engage in rigorous technical training focused on Python programming for OSINT applications, including web scraping, data analysis, and visualization.

Innovation and Research

Teams are encouraged to explore novel methodologies, develop new tools, and propose creative solutions to real-world intelligence gathering challenges.

Professional Networking

Creating a robust network of OSINT practitioners, industry experts, and academic professionals through structured networking sessions.

Event Structure and Timeline

Pre-Event

Pre-Event Phase

  • Team registration opens
  • Research paper submission
  • Last date of Participation 5th March 2025
  • Access to preparatory materials
  • Online workshops
Main Event

72-Hour Hackathon

  • Inaugural ceremony
  • Challenge briefings
  • Expert workshops
  • Mentorship sessions
  • Project presentations
Post-Event

Post-Event Activities

  • Paper publication
  • Project incubation
  • Ongoing mentorship
  • Event documentation

Technical Framework

Infrastructure and Resources

  • Players Will bring there own Laptops
  • High-speed internet connectivity
  • Cloud computing resources
  • Specialized OSINT tools
  • 24/7 technical support
  • Premium OSINT platforms access

Technology Stack

Python (Primary)

Core programming language

Web Scraping

Beautiful Soup, Scrapy

Data Analysis

Pandas, NumPy

Visualization

Matplotlib, Plotly

Evaluation and Judging

Research Paper Assessment

Originality 30%
Technical Depth 25%
Methodology 25%
Impact Potential 20%

Project Evaluation

Technical Innovation 30%
Practical Applicability 25%
Code Quality 20%
Presentation 15%
Ethical Guidelines 10%

Awards and Recognition

First Prize

₹1,25,000
  • Certificate from Minister of Defense
  • Internship Opportunities
  • Publication opportunity
  • Conference presentation

Second Prize

₹75,000
  • Certificate from Minister of Defense
  • Industry Mentorship
  • Publication consideration
  • Conference presentation

Third Prize

₹50,000
  • Certificate from Minister of Defense
  • Technical Resource Access
  • Publication consideration
  • Conference presentation

Special Category Awards

Best Technical Innovation

₹25,000

Most Ethical Solution

₹25,000

Best Research Paper

₹25,000

Ethical Guidelines and Compliance

Code of Conduct

  • Ethical information gathering
  • Respect for privacy
  • Responsible tool usage
  • Data handling guidelines
  • Information verification

Legal Compliance

  • Data protection laws
  • Privacy regulations
  • Intellectual property rights
  • Regulatory requirements
  • Compliance officer support

72-Hour Detailed Agenda

Morning Session

08:00 - 09:00

Registration and Check-in

  • Team verification
  • Infrastructure setup assistance
  • Distribution of participant kits and credentials
  • Morning refreshments
09:00 - 10:00

Opening Ceremony

  • Introduction of judges and mentors
  • Overview of evaluation criteria
  • Keynote speech: "The Future of OSINT in Digital Intelligence"
  • Welcome address by UPSIFS Director
10:00 - 11:00

Technical Session I

  • Platform introduction and access protocols
  • Development environment setup
  • Available tools and resources overview
  • Q&A session
11:00 - 12:00

Challenge Announcement

  • Resource access guidelines
  • Evaluation criteria explanation
  • Detailed problem statement presentation
  • Security and ethical considerations

Afternoon Session

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break & Networking

  • Networking lunch with industry experts
  • Mentor meet-and-greet
  • Team strategy discussions
13:00 - 14:30

Workshop I: Advanced OSINT Techniques

  • Data validation techniques
  • Hands-on exercises
  • Web scraping methodologies
  • Social media intelligence gathering
14:30 - 15:30

Team Strategy Development

  • Mentor consultations
  • Resource allocation planning
  • Team planning sessions

Evening Session

15:30 - 19:00

Hacking Begins

  • On-demand mentor support
  • Active development phase
  • Technical assistance available
19:00 - 20:00

Evening Check-in

  • Progress updates
  • Dinner break
  • Technical issues resolution
20:00 - 00:00

Night Hacking Session

  • Refreshments provided
  • Continued development
  • 24/7 technical support available

Overnight Session

00:00 - 08:00

Overnight Hacking

  • Refreshments and snacks provided
  • Support staff available
  • Continuous development period

Morning Session

08:00 - 09:00

Morning Review

  • Progress check-in
  • Breakfast session
  • Team adjustments and planning
09:00 - 10:00

Workshop II: Data Analysis & Visualization

  • Reporting methodologies
  • Data processing techniques
  • Visualization best practices
10:00 - 12:00

Mid-point Development

  • Focused coding session
  • Focused coding session
  • Technical troubleshooting

Afternoon Session

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break & Mini-Presentations

  • Informal progress sharing
  • Peer feedback sessions
  • Networking opportunity
13:00 - 14:00

Workshop III: Ethical Considerations

  • Privacy considerations
  • Legal compliance
  • Best practices in OSINT

Evening Session

14:00 - 19:00

Advanced Development Phase

  • Continued hacking
  • Feature implementation
  • Testing and validation
19:00 - 20:00

Evening Status Update

  • Team progress reviews
  • Dinner break
  • Mentor feedback sessions
20:00 - 00:00

Night Hacking Session

  • Intensive development
  • Problem-solving sessions
  • Technical support available

Overnight Session

00:00 - 06:00

Final Development Sprint

  • Last major development push
  • Bug fixing
  • Feature completion
06:00 - 08:00

Code Freeze Announcement

  • Final commits
  • Documentation review
  • Presentation setup

Morning Session

08:00 - 09:00

Preparation Break

  • Breakfast
  • Team coordination
  • Presentation preparation
09:00 - 11:00

Presentation Preparation

  • Slide deck creation
  • Demo testing

Afternoon Session

11:00 - 12:00

Lunch Break & Final Preparations

  • Last-minute refinements
  • Presentation rehearsals
  • Technical setup verification
12:00 - 16:00

Project Presentations

  • 15-minute slots per team
  • Live demonstrations
  • Q&A sessions

Evening Session

16:00 - 17:00

Judging Period

  • Judges' deliberation
  • Refreshment break for teams
  • Networking session
17:00 - 18:00

Closing Ceremony

  • Keynote address
  • Award announcements
  • Prize distribution
  • Certificates presentation
18:00 - 19:00

Networking & Farewell

  • Photo sessions
  • Experience sharing
  • Future collaboration discussions

Contact and Support

Organization Committee

  • Event Director: Air Vice Marshal (Dr) Devesh Vatsa VSM
  • Technical Director: Shri Balaji Venketeshwar, Cyber Defense Researcher
  • Research Coordinator: Shri Nikhil Srivastava

Support Channels

Additional Information

Available Facilities

  • High-speed internet
  • Power stations
  • Development tools
  • Reference materials
  • Printing services

Support Services

  • 24/7 Technical helpdesk
  • Medical support station
  • Prayer room access
  • Rest areas
  • Refreshment stations

Important Guidelines

  • Team will bring there own Laptops
  • Team presence requirements
  • Code originality rules
  • Progress update protocols
  • Professional conduct standards