Quick answer: TCS HackQuest Season 11 is a free, individual cybersecurity CTF from TCS for 2027 batch students in India. It is a contest, not a job. Register by 16 November 2026; Round 1 runs online on 5 December 2026, 10 AM–4 PM IST. You need a NextStep CT/DT reference ID from the IT section first.
Job Summary
TCS HackQuest Season 11 – full contest details
TCS HackQuest Season 11 is the current edition of the TCS capture-the-flag contest, the one many students search for as TCS HackQuest 2026. You solve security challenges, capture flags and document how you did it.
Treat TCS HackQuest Season 11 as a skills contest first. Taking part carries no CTC, and no job is promised at the end.
NextStep ID is mandatory: you need a CT/DT reference ID from the IT section of TCS NextStep, not BPS.
2027 graduates only: open to students graduating in 2027 from institutions in India.
Round 1 report is mandatory: no upload means disqualification, whatever flags you capture. Matching reports make both participants ineligible.
Banned conduct: tools that send huge traffic or tamper with the site mean disqualification. So does guidance or coaching during the contest.
Individual entry only: no teams.
Job offer: not guaranteed.
Dates: Round 2 and 3 dates are not published, so track the announcements.
Round 3 travel: the T&C say own expense, yet a data clause mentions an Aadhaar snapshot “for booking tickets”. Clarify with [email protected].
Changes: TCS may change or cancel the contest or eligibility without notice.
Prizes: winning does not automatically validate a prize, and TCS may substitute prizes.
Read the terms. The T&C assign all IP in your submission to TCS; Article 6 says “by virtue of employment”, though participants are students. Data collected can include an Aadhaar snapshot, images, location and IP, and participants may be filmed and used for publicity unpaid. Read the full terms and conditions.
What you will do in TCS HackQuest Season 11
Round 1 of TCS HackQuest Season 11 runs at Beginner, Intermediate and Expert levels. Official topics:
- Password cracking, simple encryption and basic network vulnerabilities
- Web app security and SQL injection
- SOC detection and response, plus network analysis
- AI/ML tooling, reverse engineering and advanced cryptography
- Penetration testing
For each flag, you submit a timestamped screenshot plus a report in the TCS template. Judges also weigh report quality and your approach, so flags alone will not carry you.
TCS HackQuest Season 11 eligibility
The TCS HackQuest eligibility rules are short:
- Degrees: B.Tech, B.E, M.Tech, M.E, BCA, MCA, B.Sc/B.S or M.Sc/M.S
- Institute: a recognized institute in India
- Batch: graduating in 2027 (final-year students)
Not confirmed: no branch limit stated, and the official pages give no CGPA, age, gender or backlog rule. That silence is not a promise, so read the T&C if any of these affects you.
TCS HackQuest Season 11 selection process
- Round 1 (online CTF): 5 December 2026, in a six-hour slot from 10 AM to 4 PM IST. Judged on flags, report quality and approach.
- Round 2 (online, remotely proctored): camera on. Hosted pen-testing challenges cover system exploitation, AI/ML app vulnerabilities, web, mobile, forensics, threat hunting, incident response, source code analysis, SOC, and identity and access. Scored on flags.
- Round 3 (in person): 3–4 hours at a TCS campus. You explain your approach to a jury and battle for the Top 10.
TCS HackQuest Season 11 prizes and expected salary
- Prizes worth up to ₹5 lakh in total; split not published
- Top 10 at a Grand Finale with TCS leadership
- Certificates and merchandise
- Interview opportunity with the TCS Cybersecurity CoE
Expected salary: there is no official TCS HackQuest salary. Those clearing Round 2 may stand a chance of provisional Ninja, Digital or Prime offers, subject to interview and TCS’s discretion. That is not guaranteed, and the CTC is not stated.
Third-party guides report general TCS tiers of about ₹3.36–3.6 LPA (Ninja), ₹7–7.5 LPA (Digital) and ₹9–11 LPA (Prime). These are not HackQuest-specific and they vary, so ask for the break-up in writing if you get an offer.
Documents required for TCS HackQuest Season 11
- NextStep CT/DT reference ID, used as your portal username
- Round 1 report in the TCS template
- Timestamped screenshot of each flag
Keep a clean resume ready for the interview stage; our free Resume Builder can help.
Preparation tips for TCS HackQuest Season 11
- Practise the Round 1 topics in CTF labs and write up each solve, so the report feels normal by 5 December.
- Build application and network security skills, plus Java/J2EE, PHP, Python or Go.
- For Round 2, go deeper into ethical hacking, AI red teaming, digital forensics, threat hunting and malware analysis. Certifications like Security+, OSCP and CEH also count as useful skills.
- Use our free career tools and self-introduction guide before you face the jury.
How to apply for TCS HackQuest Season 11
- Get your CT/DT reference ID in the IT section of TCS NextStep, not BPS.
- Register on the HackQuest portal with that ID as your username. Registration closes on 16 November 2026 and no closing time is given, so finish early.
- Capture flags on 5 December and upload the mandatory report.
Open the official TCS HackQuest Season 11 page. Queries go to [email protected] only.
More for freshers: TCS NQT registration, Infosys Off Campus Drive 2027 and companies hiring freshers.
About Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is an Indian IT services and consulting company in the Tata group. TCS HackQuest Season 11 is its cybersecurity contest for students.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TCS HackQuest salary?
There is no official figure: TCS HackQuest Season 11 is a contest, not a job, and the CTC is not stated. Clearing Round 2 may bring a chance of provisional Ninja, Digital or Prime offers, not guaranteed. Third-party guides report general TCS tiers of about ₹3.36–11 LPA across those levels; they are not HackQuest-specific and they vary.
Who can apply for TCS HackQuest Season 11?
Students graduating in 2027 from a recognized institute in India with one of the listed degrees. No branch limit is stated, and no CGPA, age, gender or backlog rule is given.
Is the Round 1 report mandatory?
Yes. No upload means disqualification, whatever flags you capture, and matching reports make both participants ineligible.
Is TCS HackQuest Season 11 fully online?
No. Rounds 1 and 2 are online, with Round 2 remotely proctored. Round 3 is in person at a TCS campus.
How do I register for TCS HackQuest Season 11?
Get a CT/DT reference ID in the IT section of TCS NextStep, then register on the HackQuest portal with it as your username by 16 November 2026. Entry is free.
Ready to apply?
Read the eligibility above, keep your resume ready, and apply on the official portal only. No fees — ever.
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