Indian Army Terrier Cyber Quest 2025: National Cyber Challenge Focused on Emerging Technologies

Overview

As part of its Decade of Transformation, the Indian Army’s Territorial Army—alongside IIT Madras, the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC), and CyberPeace—has launched the Indian Army Terrier Cyber Quest 2025. This national-level challenge, to be held in New Delhi, is designed to address real defense and cybersecurity threats. The initiative aims to bring together India’s brightest minds from academia, industry, and government to tackle modern defense challenges using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Quantum Computing, and Drone Technology. 

Competition Structure

The Cyber Quest features two key tracks:

• Track One: Bug Hunting Challenge
  A high-stakes cybersecurity hackathon culminating in a 36-hour live bug hunt on the BOSS Linux system. Finalists will uncover operating system-level vulnerabilities in a simulated Indian Army environment to help build more resilient systems. 

• Track Two: Datathon
  A data-driven challenge focused on building technological solutions for defense and national security. For 2025, emphasis is on predictive threat intelligence and anomaly detection using large-scale datasets. 

Advanced Problem Statements

Participants will engage with cutting-edge problems at the intersection of AI, Quantum Computing, and Cybersecurity. These include:

• Drone Flight Anomaly Detection

• Quantum-Enhanced Malware/Ransomware Identification

Such challenges aim to enable real-time detection systems and boost indigenous innovation in quantum machine learning, critical thinking, and prototype development for national security infrastructure.

Timeline

Participation involves creating prototypes—Track One features an attack–defence-style finale; Track Two finalists have 36 hours to build a deepfake detection system using AI/ML. Winners will be honoured by Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, and receive prizes recognizing their contributions to national security.

Additional Coverage: Jagran Josh Summary

A more narrative rendition by Jagran Josh, published August 28, 2025, provides the same details with engaging structure and tone:

• Positions Cyber Quest as a call for defense technology innovation on a national scale.

• Highlights indigenous innovation in quantum ML and cybersecurity and the development of “digital warriors.”

• Describes both competition tracks, advanced problem statements, and final rounds where winners deliver solutions that could “influence India’s defence technology direction.”

Summary and Insights

Collectively, these articles paint a clear picture:

• What: The Indian Army Terrier Cyber Quest 2025—a national cybersecurity and defense technology competition.

• Who: Organized by the Territorial Army in collaboration with IIT Madras, IARC, and CyberPeace.

• Focus Areas: AI, ML, Quantum Computing, Drone Technology.

• Tracks:

  • Bug Hunting Challenge (OS-level vulnerability hackathon)

  • Datathon (predictive intelligence/anomaly detection)

• Advanced Tasks: Include drone anomaly detection, quantum malware detection, deepfake detection.

• Structure & Timeline: Registration through early September; final rounds late September; awards in October.

• Goal: Foster indigenous innovation, strengthen digital defense, and identify talent for future cyber leadership in national security.