Flagship Events

Grad Cohort

Image Courtesy: Grad Cohort' 25 - IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

The ACM-W India Grad Cohort is a flagship mentoring initiative dedicated to supporting, inspiring and empowering women graduate students pursuing research in computing and related disciplines across India. Designed as a platform for mentorship, collaboration, and professional growth, the program brings together aspiring researchers, accomplished academicians and leading industry professionals in an inclusive and intellectually enriching environment.

The Grad Cohort model was originally pioneered by CRA-WP (Computing Research Association’s Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research) in the United States, where it has played a significant role in mentoring and supporting women throughout their graduate and research journeys in computing. Inspired by this vision, ACM-W India introduced the Grad Cohort initiative to strengthen the research ecosystem for women in India and encourage greater participation in advanced computing research.

Over the years, ACM-W India Grad Cohort has evolved into a prominent national platform fostering mentorship, networking, and academic engagement among women researchers. Hosted at premier institutions across the country, the program creates meaningful opportunities for graduate students to interact with distinguished researchers, educators, innovators and industry experts from diverse computing domains.

The event features keynote talks, mentoring circles, research discussions, panel sessions, fireside conversations and interactive workshops that address both technical and professional aspects of a research career. Through these sessions, participants gain valuable insights into research methodologies, publishing, higher studies, interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, career pathways in academia and industry, and the importance of building strong professional networks.

A key focus of the Grad Cohort initiative is to create a supportive and encouraging community where women researchers can openly discuss challenges, exchange ideas, and learn from experienced mentors and peers. The program also emphasizes confidence building, leadership development and long-term engagement within the computing research community. Specifically, the initiative aims to:

• Provide mentorship and career guidance to women pursuing Master’s and Ph.D. programs in computing and related fields
• Encourage greater participation and retention of women in computing research and innovation
• Support participants in navigating various aspects of research careers, including publishing, collaboration, networking, and academic growth
• Foster meaningful connections between students, researchers, academicians and industry professionals
• Build an inclusive and motivating environment that nurtures learning, leadership and collaboration

Grad Cohort ACM-W India continues to strengthen the vision of empowering women in computing research by creating opportunities for mentorship, inspiration and community building. By connecting emerging researchers with experienced leaders in academia and industry, the initiative seeks to equip participants with the knowledge, confidence and support needed to pursue impactful research careers and contribute meaningfully to the evolving world of computing.

Past Editions and Host Institutions

• Grad Cohort 2026 - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
• Grad Cohort 2025 - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
• Grad Cohort 2024 - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad
• Grad Cohort 2023 - Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore

Lady Ada Programming Contest

Image Courtesy: LadyAda'25 UPES Dehradun, Uttrakhand.

Lady Ada is the flagship annual coding competition of ACM-W India, named in honor of Ada Lovelace, who is widely recognized as the world’s first computer programmer and a pioneering figure in computing. As a prestigious national-level programming contest, Lady Ada aims to inspire, empower and celebrate women in technology by providing a platform to showcase coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and analytical thinking.

Open to female students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Computer Science, Information Technology, and related disciplines across India, the competition encourages participants to strengthen their technical expertise and engage in a collaborative and competitive learning environment.

The contest is conducted in multiple stages, including online preliminary rounds followed by an offline grand finale hosted at a reputed institution. Over the years, Lady Ada has grown into one of ACM-W India’s most recognized initiatives, attracting talented participants from institutions across the country.

To promote accessibility and encourage wider participation, registration for the competition is free of cost. ACM-W India also extends support to finalists through travel assistance and accommodation for the offline finale.

The concluding round of Lady Ada is traditionally co-located with the All India Celebration of Women in Computing (AICWiC), creating a larger platform for mentorship, networking, technical learning, and community engagement. Participants gain opportunities to interact with researchers, academicians, industry leaders and fellow students who share a passion for computing and innovation.

Through Lady Ada, ACM-W India continues to foster an inclusive computing culture by encouraging young women to innovate, excel and pursue leadership in technology and computing research. Discover more and participate by visiting the official Lady Ada website.

NariYukti Hackathon

Image Courtesy: NariYukthi TechHack' 26 - Infosys Hubballi Campus, Karnataka

Innovation and collaboration play a vital role in shaping technology that creates meaningful social impact and NariYukti reflects this vision by providing a platform dedicated to empowering women innovators in computing. Organized by ACM-W India, NariYukti is a national-level all-women hackathon that encourages participants to develop creative, technology-driven solutions for real-world challenges across domains such as sustainability, healthcare, accessibility, education and social good.

Open to female students from colleges and universities across India, the hackathon promotes technical excellence, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving in a highly collaborative environment. Participants work together to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions while gaining exposure to emerging technologies, mentorship and industry perspectives.

The competition is conducted in multiple stages, typically including idea submissions, proposal evaluations, mentoring sessions, and an offline grand finale. Throughout the event, participants interact with academicians, researchers, mentors and industry professionals who guide them through the process of innovation, development and presentation.

To encourage wider participation and accessibility, ACM-W India extends support to finalist teams through travel assistance, accommodation, certificates, recognition and awards for exceptional projects and performances.

NariYukti is also co-located with the All India Celebration of Women in Computing (AICWiC), providing participants with opportunities to engage with a larger community of researchers, professionals, and technology leaders through networking, mentorship and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Through NariYukti, ACM-W India continues to foster a culture of innovation and inclusivity by encouraging young women to ideate boldly, collaborate effectively and build impactful technological solutions for society. Learn more and participate by visiting the official NariYukti Hackathon website.

AICWiC

Image Courtesy: AICWiC'26 - UPES Dehradun

Celebrating diversity, innovation, and inclusion in technology, AICWiC Celebrations is a distinguished initiative aimed at encouraging and empowering women in computing. Inspired by the vision of the All India Celebration of Women in Computing (AICWiC), the event creates a platform where students, researchers, academicians, and industry professionals come together to share knowledge, experiences and ideas that shape the future of technology.

The event features a wide range of activities, including keynote talks, panel discussions, technical sessions, workshops, poster presentations, and networking opportunities. Through these engagements, participants gain insights into emerging technologies, research advancements, innovation and career pathways in computing and related domains.

AICWiC Celebrations also emphasizes mentorship, collaboration, and community building by fostering meaningful interactions between aspiring technologists and experienced professionals from academia and industry. The initiative encourages participants to exchange ideas, explore opportunities and develop confidence as future leaders in technology.

By creating an inclusive and inspiring environment for learning and growth, AICWiC Celebrations continues to strengthen the vision of empowering women in computing and promoting a more diverse and connected technological community.