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CloudSEK, a pioneer in AI-powered cyber threat intelligence, secured second place at the prestigious IndiaAI CyberGuard Hackathon, organized by the IndiaAI Mission in collaboration with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

The official announcement was made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during an award ceremony held at Ashoka Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, recognizing the most impactful AI solutions designed to strengthen India’s cybercrime response ecosystem.

Team CloudSEK members Lasya Ippagunta, Shubham Luharuka, and Puneet Hegde receiving the award from Union Minister of Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, at the IndiaAI CyberGuard Hackathon ceremony in New Delhi.

AI for Safer Digital Reporting

Team CloudSEK’s solution focused on the development of a Natural Language Processing (NLP)-powered model that helps citizens file accurate and complete complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). The AI tool provides real-time analysis of user-submitted complaint descriptions and media, offering guidance to improve data quality and reduce misreporting—streamlining the burden on police and enabling quicker action.

This was a crucial contribution, especially as India sees over 6,000 cybercrime cases registered daily, requiring scalable, tech-enabled interventions to support victims and law enforcement alike.

Highly Competitive, Multi-Stage Evaluation

Out of 263 submissions received from India’s top startups, academic institutions, research bodies, and civil society groups, CloudSEK’s solution advanced through:

  • Stage 1: Virtual hackathon screening
  • Stage 2: In-person 3-day intensive hackathon with 20 shortlisted teams
  • Stage 3: Pilot implementation by the top 3 teams

A multi-stakeholder jury consisting of government, cybersecurity, and AI experts evaluated the projects on innovation, impact, and scalability. The CloudSEK team was led by Lasya Ippagunta, with team members Shubham Luharuka and Puneet Hegde.

Building AI for the Public Good

The recognition reaffirms CloudSEK’s mission to build AI systems that serve both enterprise and citizen needs, with special emphasis on ethical use and practical impact.

“We’re proud to be among the top three at such a nationally significant challenge. This experience validates our focus on building real-world AI solutions that can empower citizens and strengthen public digital infrastructure,” said Rahul Sasi, Co-Founder and CEO, CloudSEK.

"Securing second spot among hundreds of outstanding teams was both humbling and motivating. It reaffirms that we’re on the right path—building AI-driven tools that are not just innovative, but also meaningful and socially impactful," said Lasya Ippagunta, Team Lead, CloudSEK

About the Hackathon

The IndiaAI CyberGuard Hackathon is part of the IndiaAI Application Development Initiative (IADI), managed by IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation (DIC). The initiative reflects the Government of India’s vision to:

  • Democratize the benefits of AI
  • Strengthen India’s leadership in ethical and responsible AI
  • Catalyze socio-economic transformation through inclusive tech

By fostering solutions in domains such as cybersecurity, law enforcement, and citizen services, the hackathon underscores India’s AI-driven future.

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