Reserve Bank of India Announces Results for Fourth Edition of Global Hackathon HaRBInger
Why it matters
The fourth edition of HaRBInger was initiated on October 23, 2025, with a focus on 'Secure Banking: Powered by Identity, Integrity, and Inclusivity.' The competition sought innovative solutions for three specific problem statements: Tokenised KYC, Offline CBDC (e-Rupee) transactions, and Enhancing Trust in digital finance. Out of 496 proposals received from 15 countries, 21 teams were shortlisted for the eight-week Solution Development phase. During this period, each team received a stipend of ₹5 lakh to develop prototypes under the guidance of external mentors before the final evaluation in Bengaluru.
The results are administratively significant as they provide a roadmap for future regulatory frameworks in digital identity and offline payments. The winning solution for Tokenised KYC, 'Sangrah' by EarthId Technology, utilizes privacy-preserving digital tokens to retrieve verified attributes from trusted sources without disclosing sensitive personal data. In the Offline CBDC category, Team A-SPARSH introduced a software-defined secure element framework that allows peer-to-peer transfers via Bluetooth and NFC, specifically addressing transaction resilience in low-connectivity environments. These technologies are intended to enhance the security and inclusivity of the Indian financial ecosystem.
- Tokenised KYC Winner: EarthId Technology Ltd. (UK) for the 'Sangrah' platform.
- Offline CBDC Winner: Team A-SPARSH (Pune Institute of Computer Technology) for proximity-based transfers.
- Best All-Women Team: Bank of Baroda (Team NIDAAN) for an AI grievance redressal platform.
- Enhancing Trust Runner-up: Team Fraud Lens for real-time AI-driven risk classification.
Glossary
Tokenised KYC: A digital identity framework where sensitive user data is replaced by cryptographically secure, non-sensitive tokens for verification.
Offline CBDC: A Central Bank Digital Currency system allowing electronic payments without active internet or cellular connectivity.