IIT Kanpur–PFRDA Launch ‘Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026’ to Drive Secure Digital Innovation in India’s Pension Ecosystem  

Kanpur, January 24, 2026: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), in partnership      with IIT Kanpur through its Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) today launched “Innovate4NPS” – PFRDA Hackathon 2026, a national-level initiative aimed at fostering digital trust, secure fintech solutions, and technology-led innovation in India’s pension ecosystem.
Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 is envisioned as a strategic innovation platform that brings together students, startups, developers, and technology innovators to co-create scalable, future-ready solutions addressing key challenges in digital pension infrastructure. The initiative aligns with PFRDA’s vision of leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen governance, enhance subscriber experience, and improve service delivery across pension-related services.
Anchored by SIIC IIT Kanpur, the hackathon leverages the institute’s deep expertise in technology incubation, fintech innovation, cybersecurity, and startup mentoring to translate policy challenges into deployable digital solutions. SIIC IIT Kanpur is among India’s oldest and most active technology business incubators, having supported more than 500 startups to date.  
The hackathon will focus on high-impact problem statements including simplified digital onboarding and KYC for NPS subscribers, predictive pension and retirement calculators, gamified pension awareness platforms, and AI-powered multilingual assistance, aimed at improving accessibility, transparency, and engagement within the pension framework.
The initiative offers prize money of Rs 19 lakh, along with six months of structured industry and academic mentorship, enabling shortlisted teams to convert innovative ideas into functional prototypes and proof-of-concepts with real-world applicability. Registrations for the hackathon are currently open, with the deadline set for 19 February 2026.
Highlighting IIT Kanpur’s role in the initiative, Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor in Charge, SIIC IIT Kanpur, said, “At IIT Kanpur, we believe that academic research and innovation must translate into definitive solutions that address national priorities. Through SIIC, we are supporting Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 to enable students and startups to work on real-world challenges in digital pension infrastructure, cybersecurity, and fintech innovation. This collaboration reflects our commitment to fostering technology-led solutions that strengthen public financial systems and create long-term societal impact.”
Speaking at the launch during E-Summit organised by the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Kanpur, Puja Upadhyay, Head – Media & Communications, PFRDA, said, “Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 aligns with the Government of India’s and PFRDA’s vision of building a pensioned society by 2047. Referring to the aim of Shri S. Ramann, Chairperson, PFRDA, expanding pension coverage in the private sector through the National Pension System (NPS) remains a key priority for the Authority. Achieving this vision would not be possible without digital innovation, which is essential to make NPS more accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly, while also enhancing awareness and outreach among citizen. The Hackathon is an initiative to further this goal by inviting students, fintech companies, and start-ups to develop innovative pension solutions, addressing a sector that remains largely untapped”
Through this collaboration, SIIC IIT Kanpur will serve as the academic and innovation backbone of Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026, providing technical validation, structured mentorship, incubation support, and evaluation expertise. This ensures that high-potential solutions emerging from the hackathon are not only innovative but also robust, scalable, and aligned with India’s evolving digital pension architecture.    
Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 reinforces PFRDA’s commitment to promoting innovation-led reforms, secure digital finance, and inclusive growth, while nurturing India’s rapidly evolving startup and innovation ecosystem.