The all-India wheat production is projedted at 110.65 million tonnes, slightly above the 109.63 million tonnes produced in 2024-25, after factoring in recent weather damage, The Agriwatch Annual Wheat Survey for 2025-26 has said. New Delhi: The Union Government has raised its wheat procurement
Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric has launched in India at Rs 55 lakh (ex-showroom) with up to 792 km range, 800V fast-charging tech, multiple variants and features to improve long-distance EV usability. The Mercedes-Benz India has launched the CLA Electric at Rs 55 lakh (ex-showroom)
Apple could be working on a quad-curved display for its 20th Edition iPhone that could debut in September next year. The phone could run on A21 Pro processor while packing an all-glass design While the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is just months away
Youtuber Salim Wastik arrested for 1995 kidnap-murder: How he was nabbed after 31 yearsThe case pertains of the kidnapping and murder of a 13-year-old son of a businessman in 1995. Updated on: Apr 25, 2026 5:05 PM IST Written by Majid Alam Share via Copy link A man wanted for a 1995 murder of a
Bhangar and Canning Purba constituencies are set for a heated electoral battle. The Trinamool Congress faces a strong challenge from the Indian Secular Front. Both parties are campaigning intensely. Locals anticipate increased political clashes. The outcome will be crucial for the ISF's growth
Prithiviraj Sukumaran wishes wife Supriya on 15th wedding anniversary, she says: ‘Hoping for a lifetime of togetherness’Prithviraj Sukumaran and Supriya Menon wished one another on their 15th wedding anniversary with separate posts on Instagram. Apr 25, 2026
Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace has flagged off its Vikram-1 rocket for India's first privately built orbital mission, targeting a June launch. The 23-meter rocket, developed over four years, aims to validate performance and gather flight data
Salman Khan, who is preparing for Maatrubhumi, has confirmed that his collaboration with Dil Raju, SVC63, featuring Nayanthara, is set to release in 2027. This project signifies an important partnership with Telugu film producer Dil Raju and director Vamshi Paidipally
Why missing this AI hackathon could cost you your next career break
In a market where AI skills are fast becoming a baseline expectation, opting out of a serious AI hackathon can quietly set your career back. This article explores the hidden opportunity cost of not participating, from missed visibility and hands-on credibility to slower career acceleration. It explains why these platforms increasingly function as inflection points rather than optional extracurriculars.
Careers rarely stall overnight. More often, they fall behind quietly, opportunity by opportunity, while others move faster by being present where momentum is created. In the AI ecosystem, hackathons have become one of those moments. Missing a high quality AI hackathon today is no longer a neutral choice. It can translate into delayed growth, reduced visibility, and fewer chances to stand out when it matters most.
The most obvious loss is experiential. AI roles are evolving beyond theory and certifications. Employers increasingly look for proof of applied thinking, problem framing, and execution under constraints. Hackathons compress all of this into a short, high intensity window. You are forced to translate ideas into working outcomes, collaborate across skill sets, and make tradeoffs in real time. Sitting out means staying in the comfort of preparation mode while others accumulate proof of action.
Registrations for the ET AI Hackathon are now open.
There is also a less visible but more powerful cost: narrative. Careers advance when professionals can clearly articulate what they have built, learned, and tested. Hackathons provide a ready-made story of initiative and relevance. They demonstrate that you are not waiting for permission to engage with real-world AI challenges. Without these experiences, your professional story risks sounding theoretical, even if your knowledge is strong.
Another critical dimension is exposure. Hackathons attract mentors, judges, industry leaders, and peers who are actively building or hiring. These are not passive audiences. They notice who shows up prepared, who thinks clearly under pressure, and who can turn complexity into usable solutions. Many career breaks do not come from formal applications but from being remembered at the right moment. Skipping the room where those impressions are formed reduces your surface area for opportunity.
Speed is another factor professionals often underestimate. AI careers reward those who shorten the gap between learning and doing. Hackathons accelerate this loop. You test assumptions, receive feedback, fail fast, and recalibrate. This compounds over time. Those who participate repeatedly develop sharper instincts and stronger confidence. Those who delay often find themselves perpetually catching up, even while consuming more content and courses.
There is also a mindset shift that hackathons reinforce. They move you from consumer to creator. Instead of watching trends unfold, you engage with them directly. This change in posture matters. It influences how you approach problems at work, how you speak in meetings, and how you position yourself for larger responsibilities. Missing this shift can subtly limit how others perceive your readiness for leadership or ownership roles.
Importantly, the opportunity cost is relative. Your peers are not standing still. While you hesitate, others are building prototypes, testing use cases, and gaining confidence in ambiguous environments. Over time, the gap between intention and action widens. When the next role, promotion, or pivot opportunity arises, those accumulated experiences become differentiators.
None of this suggests that a single hackathon guarantees success. The cost lies not in missing one event but in missing what it represents: momentum. In fast-moving fields like AI, progress favours those who engage early, visibly, and repeatedly. Choosing not to participate may feel safe in the moment, but safety rarely drives career breakthroughs.
The question, then, is not whether you can afford to join an AI hackathon. It is whether you can afford the quiet cost of not being there while others move ahead.
Registrations for the ET AI Hackathon are now open.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Fed chair Powell boosts expectation of US rate cut Fast Fashion vs Fast Tech KFC India trains its speech and hearing-impaired employees in writing and comprehension skills Players need social skills for World Cup - Tuchel 5 Essential Skills For A High-Paying Career In The AI Era Govt outlines plans to push skills training into classrooms Blending of technical expertise with essential soft skills key to remain competitive Why a career in Data Science needs more than just technical skills 5 Skills every student should learn before applying to study abroad Degrees vs skills
If you have been struggling to build a consistent, feel-good morning routine, Samantha Ruth Prabhu may have just shared the reset you need. The actor swears by a simple yet powerful 8-step morning routine that, when followed for 21 days, can help reduce inflammation, calm your nervous system
1 days ago
Former Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha on Saturday launched her party Telangana Rashtra Sena. The name of the new party echoes the former name of Bharath Rashtra Samithi, which was earlier called Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Kavitha’s announcement came months after she resigned from the
1 days ago
Rahul Gandhi addressed an election rally in Serampore. He stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee both help the rich. Gandhi claimed Modi sells the country and spreads hatred. He contrasted this with Congress's ideology of unity and brotherhood
1 days ago
Deloitte will cut parental leave, PTO, pension accruals and IVF-related benefits for some US employees from 2027, as part of a broader restructuring and benefits overhaul. Deloitte is set to cut several employee benefits for a section of its US workforce starting January 1, 2027
1 days ago
Social activist Anna Hazare said the exit of Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs could have been avoided if the party had followed the “right” path. Speaking to reporters in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra, Hazare said
1 days ago
America has frozen 344 million dollars in cryptocurrency assets. These funds are linked to Iran. This action aims to increase pressure on Tehran. Energy supplies are disrupted due to the war in the Middle East. The Treasury Department vows to degrade Iran's ability to move funds
1 days ago
X’s standalone messaging app, XChat, was rolled out to the public on Friday. The app is currently available on iOS devices and lets users connect with their X contacts for messaging, file sharing, audio and video calls, and group chats.Taking to X, lead designer Benji Taylor said
1 days ago
Republicans are adjusting their strategy for upcoming midterm elections. They aim to use President Trump's ability to mobilize voters without making the elections about his unpopularity. The focus will shift to promoting tax cuts and inflation-fighting policies
1 days ago
‘I just want to go back’: Indian woman in Dublin says missing cousin’s wedding is real cost of living abroadAn Indian woman in Dublin said missing her cousin’s wedding in India showed the real emotional cost of living abroad. Updated on: Apr 25
1 days ago
In an alternate universe: How will the Mandela Effect evolve, in the age of AI?Long before software manipulation, people were ‘remembering’ things that hadn’t happened. Could studying how this works help us frame a way forward? Updated on: Apr 25
1 days ago
![New Delhi [India], April 25 (ANI): A fire broke out on Saturday in the Majlis Park forest area in the national capital on Saturday](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/fire-breaks-out-in-majlis-park-forest-area-in-delhi.webp?height=520)
New Delhi [India], April 25 (ANI): A fire broke out on Saturday in the Majlis Park forest area in the national capital on Saturday. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot, and efforts are underway to bring the blaze under control. Just hours earlier
1 days ago
![New Delhi [India], April 25 (ANI): A fire broke out in a tent warehouse in the Jyoti Nagar area of the national capital on Saturday](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/fire-in-tent-warehouse-in-delhi-s-jyoti-nagar.webp?height=520)
New Delhi [India], April 25 (ANI): A fire broke out in a tent warehouse in the Jyoti Nagar area of the national capital on Saturday. Fire tenders are present at the scene, and efforts are underway to douse the flames. Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Delhi Fire Service MK Chattopadhyay said the fire
1 days ago
David Wilcock’s chilling 911 call reveal final moments, financial struggles: ‘I’m sorry to put you…'David Wilcock, 53, known for his UFO theories, died after battling depression and financial issues. A 911 call revealed his struggles before his death. Updated on: Apr 25
1 days ago
Apple’s new boss needs to restore its magic for the AI eraThe elevation of John Ternus hints at the future direction of the company Updated on: Apr 25, 2026 5:07 PM IST The Economist Share via Copy link JOHN TERNUS, named by Apple on April 20th as its new chief executive
1 days ago
The recent India AI Impact Summit marked a structural shift in how India should imagine the future of education. Artificial Intelligence is no longer limited to pilot projects or isolated education platforms. It is all-pervasive across national infrastructure such as the Bharat EduAI Stack
1 days ago
Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha, the most loved couple in town, continue to win hearts with their adorable bond and frequent public appearances together. Her politician husband has been hitting headlines ever since he announced his exit from the Aam Aadmi Party and his entry in the Bharatiya
1 days ago
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working on a revised framework for Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs), the system behind digital wallets and prepaid cards. On Wednesday, the apex bank proposed a set of measures aimed at supporting their long-term growth
1 days ago
Woman shares how she found a PG in Bengaluru without stepping out: ‘Search, call, shortlist’A woman shared how she found a PG in Bengaluru from home and offered a simple three step guide for newcomers. Published on: Apr 25, 2026 3:19 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A
1 days ago
The country is currently reeling under scorching summer heat, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that intense heatwave conditions will persist across the plains of northwest and central India over the next 3–4 days. As temperatures rise, feeling weak, dizzy
1 days ago
![Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], April 25 (ANI): Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma is just 26 runs away from surpassing Kane](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/abhishek-sharma-just-26-runs-away-from-becoming-third-highest-run-scor.webp?height=520)
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], April 25 (ANI): Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma is just 26 runs away from surpassing Kane Williamson and becoming the third-highest run-scorer for the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history.Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India]
1 days ago
Are F1’s shiny new rules already on the chopping block? Well, it’s starting to look that way, apparently. The much-hyped hybrid era — built around a near 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric battery — continues to face intense backlash
1 days ago
The Congress on Saturday (April 25, 2026) came out in solidarity with its leader, Pawan Khera and said the verdict of the Gauhati High Court rejecting his anticipatory bail petition would be challenged in the Supreme Court. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh expressed
1 days ago
Bhullar stays in top-5 despite tough third roundBhullar stays in top-5 despite tough third round Published on: Apr 25, 2026 2:28 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Singapore, Battling tough conditions, India's Gaganjeet Bhullar shot one-over 72 in the third round but remained inside the top-5 at the
1 days ago
Delhi Weather: Several parts of north India, including Delhi, are facing heatwave conditions, with temperatures crossing 40°C in most of the parts. The mercury may rise further by up to 3 degrees Celsius by April 29. Delhi Weather: Delhi witnessed intense heatwave conditions on Friday as the
1 days ago
Think that silver coin in your locker is a solid investment? You might want to double-check. The latest scam happened with Vaishno Devi Temple Trust, which had accumulated nearly 20 tonnes of silver coins offered by devotees over the years. Expecting a payout of over ₹500 crore
1 days ago
CBSE Three Language Policy: With only one foreign language allowed, most parents and students are choosing English, leaving almost no demand for languages like German or French. Under the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) new three-language policy
1 days ago
LeBron James made a three-pointer to force overtime before the Los Angeles Lakers moved to the brink of a series victory in the NBA play-offs. The NBA's four-time Most Valuable Player levelled the score with 13 seconds left against the Houston Rockets and almost clinched victory as he hit the rim
1 days ago
