The Indian Army has announced the launch of Terrier Cyber Quest 2025, a national-level cyber challenge aimed at addressing real-world defence and cybersecurity threats through cutting-edge technologies. Organised in collaboration with IIT Madras, the Indian Army Research Cell, and CyberPeace, the initiative is part of the Army’s Decade of Transformation and will be held in New Delhi.
Terrier Cyber Quest 2025 seeks to unite top minds from academia, industry, and government to develop indigenous solutions in critical domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, and Drone Technology. The event is designed to foster innovation and collaboration in building robust digital defence infrastructure and enhancing national security capabilities.
The competition features two primary tracks. Track One is a Bug Hunting Challenge, culminating in a 36-hour live hackathon on the BOSS Linux system, where finalists will identify OS-level vulnerabilities in a simulated Indian Army environment. Track Two is a Datathon focused on predictive threat intelligence and anomaly detection using large-scale datasets, challenging participants to build resilient technological solutions for defence applications.
The event schedule includes registration from July 23 to September 7, preliminary rounds from September 8 to 17, the Grand Finale from September 24 to 26, and an award ceremony on October 7. Finalists in Track One will engage in an attack-defence style challenge targeting critical infrastructure, while Track Two participants will develop a deepfake detection system using AI and ML within a 36-hour window.
Terrier Cyber Quest 2025 will also present advanced problem statements at the intersection of AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. Challenges include drone flight anomaly detection and quantum-enhanced malware identification, encouraging participants to develop real-time detection systems and prototype solutions that can be deployed in defence environments.
The initiative aims to promote indigenous innovation in quantum machine learning, foster critical thinking, and strengthen India’s digital defence strategy. Winners will be honoured by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and will receive recognition and prizes for their contributions to national security.
Participants can register through the official Indian Army website. Terrier Cyber Quest 2025 represents a strategic call to action for India’s tech community to become active contributors to the nation’s defence transformation and digital sovereignty.
