The Realm Beckons

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What Is a CTF?

A Capture The Flag (CTF) is not merely a competition—it is a crucible where cyber warriors are forged. In this digital battlefield, teams face real-world security challenges, hunting for hidden flags through exploitation, cryptanalysis, forensic investigation, and tactical thinking.

Unlike theoretical exercises, CTFs demand hands-on combat with live systems, encrypted messages, vulnerable applications, and concealed secrets. Only those who combine technical prowess with strategic thinking shall prevail.

Why KAALCHAKRA?

KAALCHAKRA stands as India's premier national-level cybersecurity championship, hosted by the prestigious National Forensic Sciences University. This is where the nation's finest minds converge to prove their worth.

We seek not just participants, but elite cyber warriors—those ready to defend the realm against emerging threats. The challenges mirror real adversarial techniques, preparing you for the actual cyber warfare landscape.

“Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. But some, with skill and persistence, ascend to the top.” — Petyr Baelish

Guidelines & Rules

Eligibility

The competition is open to all UG and PG students currently enrolled in recognized Indian institutions. However, For students of the NFSU Goa Campus, participation is open to all academic programs except students belonging to the 2024–2026 batch.
Participants must register as a team of 1 to 3 members.
Each participant must be part of only one team; no substitutions are allowed once the registration has been done.
Valid College ID cards are mandatory for all participating teams.
Please ensure you meet all eligibility criteria before making the payment. Registration fees are strictly non-refundable, including cases where a team or participant is later found to be ineligible to compete.

Registration & Support

Registration will only be considered complete only after filling the G-Form.
Registration Fees Rs. 300/- (excluding taxes) must be paid via the link provided in Google Form. Failing which registration will not be recognised.
The official Discord server is the primary channel for all announcements and technical support.
Support requests must be raised via the designated ticket system; personal messages (DMs) to organizers are strictly prohibited.
By registering, you consent to the collection and use of personal data for verification and event communication.

Event Structure

The Online Qualifier will be conducted on 28 March, 2026, starting at 02:30 PM IST for a duration of 24 hours.
The format is Jeopardy-style CTF with categories including RevEng, Web, Crypto, OSINT, Forensics, AI/ML, Miscellaneous & more.
Based on the leaderboard at end of the event time, the Top 25 teams will be shortlisted for verification.
Verified teams will receive official invite letters for the Offline Finals by April 2, 2026.

Write-up Submission

Shortlisted teams must submit detailed solution write-ups within 8 hours of the round ending to prove legitimacy.
Write-ups must clearly explain the approach and methodology used; plagiarized or shared write-ups will lead to immediate disqualification.
Failure to submit write-ups within the deadline will result in disqualification for the final round invitation.

Fair Play & Technical Boundaries

Sharing flags or solutions between teams is a major violation and will result in disqualification for all parties involved.
Attacks against the scoreboard, registration servers, or event infrastructure (DDoS/DoS) are strictly prohibited.
Automated scanners (e.g., SQLMap, DirBuster) and login brute-forcing are not permitted unless explicitly required by a challenge.
The standard flag format is Kaal{s0m3_t3xt_h3r3} unless specified

Accommodation & Travel

All expenses related to travel and stay for the offline finals must be handled by the participants.
The organizers will not provide accommodation facilities or travel reimbursements.

General Rules

The decision of the organizers regarding rule violations, scoring, and disputes is final and binding.
Any abusive, problematic, or toxic behaviour toward participants or staff will result in immediate disqualification.
Participation implies full acceptance of these rules and any official updates communicated during the event.
All cash prizes are subject to TDS as per applicable Government of India regulations.

The Path to Glory

Two rounds of warfare. Only the worthy shall advance.

I

Online Preliminary

The First Siege

Date March 28, 2026

Time 02:30 PM (24 Hours)

Format Jeopardy-Style

Location Remote Battlefield

Teams across the nation engage in remote warfare, solving real-world challenge scenarios. This grueling 24-hour siege tests endurance, skill, and strategic thinking. Those who demonstrate exceptional prowess earn passage to the final confrontation.

II

Elite Finals

The Final Battle

Date April 11, 2026

Time 09:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Format Jeopardy-Style

Location NFSU Goa Campus

The Top 25 teams converge at the legendary grounds of NFSU Goa for an intense offline showdown. Face-to-face combat, real-time leaderboards, and the ultimate test of cyber warfare mastery. The Iron Throne awaits its champion.

Houses of the Realm

Choose your battlefield. Master your domain.

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House of Web

We Weave and We Exploit

Master the art of web application warfare. Hunt for SQL injections, XSS vulnerabilities, authentication bypasses, and server-side exploits.

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House of Cryptography

Secrets We Keep

Break the unbreakable. Decipher ancient ciphers, crack modern encryption schemes, and unveil hidden messages concealed in mathematical complexity.

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House of Forensics

Truth We Uncover

Investigate digital crime scenes. Analyze memory dumps, examine network traffic, recover deleted data, and piece together the story hidden in binary evidence.

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