Amrita InCTF 2026|
> Operation VAJRA is a high-stakes cyber defence simulation designed to identify, train, and elite India's next generation of security specialists. Built on the principles of national resilience, this mission tests technical proficiency under simulated high-pressure environments.
> A multi-month cybersecurity Capture The Flag contest conducted by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and team bi0s.
MISSION OUTCOMES
// REWARDS FOR SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS
Cash Rewards
Prize pool worth ₹5 Lakhs awarded to top-performing teams during the Final Deployment phase
Internship & Hiring
Hiring visibility and Internship opportunities with leading cybersecurity companies and government institutions. Top performers are identified and recommended based on demonstrated skills, not resumes alone.
Advanced Training
Hands-on exposure to real-world cybersecurity challenges. Structured learning designed by experienced practitioners and researchers.
Official Certification
Participation certificates issued to all registered and active participants. National recognition for finalists and top-performing teams.
Skill Benchmarking
Performance evaluated against participants from institutions across India. Clear indication of skill level in a competitive national environment.
YouTube Videos
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MISSION BRIEF
A dormant deep-orbit system has resumed transmission. Unidentified protocols, unauthorised access attempts, and system anomalies have been detected across critical digital infrastructure. In response, Amrita InCTF 2026 has been activated as a national-level operation to recruit, train, and evaluate cyber defence personnel capable of analysing advanced threats, decoding unfamiliar systems, and securing sensitive digital assets under real-world conditions.
- For over a decade, a deep-orbit system designated ECHO-9 was believed to be inactive. Its purpose undocumented. Its status unknown.
- At 02:14 IST, dormant transmission channels resumed activity. Not a beacon. Not a distress signal. A structured transmission—encoded in an unfamiliar protocol.
- Within hours, correlated anomalies were detected across multiple layers of critical digital infrastructure: Unauthorised uplink attempts, Altered access rules, Irregular routing behaviour, Command sequences originating outside known control zones.
- The source was confirmed: ECHO-9 is active.
- Analysis indicates the transmission is not random. The signal demonstrates intent.
- ECHO-9 appears to be interfacing with a critical control system known internally as VAJRA Station—an operational hub responsible for secure communication, navigation systems, and satellite-linked digital assets.
- As VAJRA Station begins responding to external inputs, analysts confirm an unprecedented risk scenario: A legacy system in deep orbit is attempting to reassert control over modern digital infrastructure.
- If successful, the consequences extend beyond system compromise. This is a loss of command.
- In response to this escalation, Operation VAJRA has been activated.
- The objective is clear: Decode the unknown transmission protocols, Analyse anomalous system behaviour, Restore command authority, Prevent autonomous hostile control.
- This operation requires individuals capable of operating under uncertainty—analysts, problem-solvers, and defenders trained to think beyond predefined rules.
- Operation VAJRA is not a simulation. It is a controlled, progressive mission environment designed to mirror real-world cyber defence challenges: Incomplete information, Evolving threat conditions, Time-sensitive decision-making, Multi-layered system interactions.
- Participants will encounter systems that resist standard approaches and challenges that require adaptive thinking rather than scripted solutions.
FINAL DIRECTIVE
"ECHO-9 is transmitting. VAJRA Station is responding. Command authority is at risk. Operation VAJRA exists to determine who is capable of restoring control. Only those prepared to analyse, adapt, and defend will progress."
MISSION CREW ELIGIBILITY
Undergraduate Students
2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students from any discipline.
Academic Disciplines
Computer Science, IT, AI, Cyber Security, ECE, and related fields.
Professionals
Cyber-security-interested working professionals.
Team Structure
Teams consisting of 3 to 5 members.
DEPLOYMENT OVERVIEW
The DEPLOY phase outlines who can participate in Operation VAJRA, what is expected from mission crew members, and what they gain by completing the mission.
Expectations from Crew Members
- Actively engage in training and simulation phases
- Collaborate effectively within their teams
- Follow mission protocols and timelines
- Maintain ethical standards and academic integrity
- Communicate responsibly within Mission Control
READY FOR DEPLOYMENT?
Complete your profile in Mission Control to initiate sequence.
JOIN MISSION CONTROL
The network is waiting. Your command clearance is pending.
COMMAND INTENT
Operation VAJRA has been initiated to restore command authority, analyse hostile cyber activity, and secure critical digital systems affected by external interference.
Identify individuals capable of advanced cyber threat analysis
Train participants to operate under incomplete and evolving information
Evaluate technical skill, analytical depth, and decision-making ability
Simulate real-world cyber defence conditions in a controlled environment
Restore operational control through systematic problem-solving
Operation Phases
Mission Enlistment
Teams are inducted into the operation and granted access to Mission Control. Initial orientation and operational briefings are issued.
Capability Development
Participants undergo structured capability building through guided learning sessions and technical exercises designed to establish operational readiness.
Systems Simulation
Controlled simulations are conducted to evaluate preparedness, adaptability, and familiarity with mission environments.
Operational Engagement (Online)
Teams participate in a national-level cyber engagement designed to assess performance under time constraints and adversarial conditions.
Final Deployment (Onsite)
Top-performing teams are deployed onsite for advanced operational challenges and final evaluation.
COMMAND PRINCIPLES
- Merit-based progression
- Fair and transparent evaluation
- Technical accuracy over speed alone
- Ethical conduct and operational discipline
MISSION CONTROL
Mission Control serves as the central coordination and communication hub for Operation VAJRA. All official directives, updates, and clarifications are issued exclusively through Mission Control to ensure: Consistency, Security, Operational clarity.
Participants are required to remain connected to Mission Control throughout the operation.
Institutional Outreach Program
The Mission Outreach Unit is a critical extension of Operation VAJRA, established to expand mission awareness and participation across institutions nationwide. Selected participants act as Mission Outreach Operatives.
ENROLMENT & ACCESS PROTOCOL
* Mission Outreach Codes provide the lowest available registration fee.
PERFORMANCE TIERS & RECOGNITION
- ₹30,000 cash reward
- Train travel reimbursement to Bangalore (up to ₹5,000 total)
- All lower tier benefits
- ₹20,000 cash reward
- Train travel reimbursement to Bangalore
- All lower tier benefits
- ₹15,000 cash reward
- All lower tier benefits
- Invitation as a volunteer
- ₹10,000 cash reward
- All lower tier benefits
- ₹7,500 cash reward
- All lower tier benefits
- ₹5,000 worth of gadgets
- All lower tier benefits
- InCTF-branded bag
- All lower tier benefits
- InCTF participation certificate
- InCTF T-shirt
- Official Mission Outreach Certificate
Operational Workflow
Register as a Mission Outreach Operative through the official portal
Receive a unique Mission Outreach Code
Share the code within your institution and peer network
Each verified team registration using your code contributes to your operational count
Rewards and recognition are calculated based on confirmed, paid registrations
OPERATIONAL NOTE: Only verified and payment-completed registrations using the assigned code are counted.
MISSION CREDENTIALS
Hosted By
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
Operational continuously since 2010. Ranked as the fourth best university in NIRF Ranking 2020.
Organised in collaboration with
bi0s
Team bi0s, India's No.1 Ranked CTF Hacking Team.
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