IIT Bombay and Russia’s Rosatom State Corporation have launched Atomic Hack India 2026, a national innovation challenge inviting undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students to develop solutions for power grid challenges involving nuclear and renewable energy. Registration is open until October 20, 2026.

The hackathon focuses on designing a Zero-Sequence Directional Overcurrent Protection (ZDOP) scheme for a 220 kV transmission line that integrates nuclear and renewable energy sources. Participants must develop a protection system that can detect and identify electrical faults in the transmission line, supporting the safe and reliable operation of the power grid.

How the challenge works

Participants will use REPEAT VISION, a software platform developed by ETC GET, a subsidiary of Rosatom, for one-dimensional modelling and digital twin creation. Digital twins are virtual models of physical systems used to simulate their behaviour and test how they respond to different operating conditions. Participants get free access to the software, introductory training webinars and mentorship from Rosatom engineers and IIT Bombay professors — prior experience with the platform is not required.

The competition runs in two stages. The online qualification round takes place from October 20 to 28, 2026. Up to 25 shortlisted teams then compete in a 48-hour grand finale at the IIT Bombay campus in Mumbai from December 4 to 6.

What’s at stake

Winning teams receive a sponsored research visit to Moscow to visit Rosatom’s engineering centres, internship opportunities at ETC GET and certificates. The challenge is organised by JSC ETC GET in partnership with the Rosatom Corporate Academy and IIT Bombay’s Research Hub for Green Energy and Sustainability (GESH IITB).

The hackathon comes as India plans a major expansion of nuclear power capacity, with a stated target of 100 GW by 2047. Integrating nuclear power with renewable energy sources raises technical requirements for grid stability and protection — making transmission systems and fault detection relevant areas for engineering research. Interested undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students can register for Atomic Hack India 2026 before October 20.