Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has organised an artificial intelligence (AI) hackathon for students from non-engineering backgrounds. The event was held over six weeks across multiple locations in India.
More than 10,000 students took part in the programme. Participants came from fields such as Arts, Commerce, Nursing, Agriculture, Criminology and Law. The hackathon included editions at 22 colleges in 10 states.
Students used AI tools that support voice input in nine Indian languages. They were asked to identify practical problems in their areas of study and develop basic prototype solutions. Many prototypes were completed within about 90 to 120 minutes.
The hackathon was organised ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 17. At the summit, another related event, the Tata Bharat YUVAi Hackathon, will involve nearly 2,000 students. This later event will include displays of student projects and evaluation of work.
The programme aimed to introduce AI tools to students without formal training in computer science or engineering. It provided structured tasks and support to help participants use technology to address real-world issues.
Ashok Krish, VP and Head of AI Practice at TCS, emphasised that passion and curiosity are more important than traditional technical credentials in today’s AI era. “You don’t need a computer science degree to build software, just curiosity and AI,” he said, stressing that such exposure can help close the skills gap and nurture a generation of digital entrepreneurs.
Efforts like this AI hackathon signal a shift in tech education, one that encourages inclusive innovation and broad participation in shaping the future of intelligent systems.
For non-technical students, an AI hackathon serves as an applied learning environment. It introduces AI concepts through direct engagement with challenges tied to real problems, promotes analytical and collaborative capability, and helps bridge the gap between theoretical awareness and practical usage of AI tools. This does not require prior deep technical knowledge but does encourage students to engage with AI in ways that are relevant to their academic and future professional responsibilities.
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