FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know finance to take part?
No. The challenge is designed for Class 11 and Class 12 students with no finance background. The learning pack, the workshop and the sandbox teach you what you need.
Do I need to know coding?
No. You build your fund by choosing values from menus. There is no code to write.
Can I use ChatGPT or other AI tools?
Yes. You may use any free AI tool, book or website. No paid tool is needed, and paid tools earn no extra credit. Remember that part of the challenge is spotting when an AI is wrong. Think for yourself.
Is real money involved?
No. You manage an imaginary fund using past market data. No one invests or loses real money.
Is this about buying and selling shares for profit?
No. This is investor education. You act as a fund manager with a client, and you build rules that grow the client's money while protecting it from large falls. The focus is on risk, discipline and judgment.
Can I take part in a team?
No. Entry is individual. Every part of the challenge must be your own work.
Can I use my phone?
Phones are not recommended. The charts and the rulebook builder need a laptop or desktop screen.
What if my internet drops during the round?
Your work saves automatically. Log in again with the same email and access code and continue. The clock does not stop, and everything locks at 1:00 PM IST. Time lost is not added back, except under the outage rule (see Rules of fair play).
What if my access code does not work?
Check that you are using the email address you registered with Edept and that the code has no typing errors. If it still fails, contact the Edept helpdesk: [Edept helpdesk contact].
Why does the challenge use US data and not Indian stocks?
India's market regulator, SEBI, issued a circular on 8 May 2026, effective 1 July 2026. It bars monetary incentives in education that uses Indian market price data shared by exchanges or intermediaries. This challenge offers cash prizes, so it uses US industry data from Kenneth French's public data library instead. The ideas you learn apply to any market.
Does practicing in the sandbox give me an advantage?
It gives you skill, not answers. The sandbox uses 1960–1969 data. The elimination round uses a different practice decade, 2010–2019, and scores your fund on hidden windows.
Which hidden periods are used? Will I find out?
The three hidden five-year windows stay secret until the final round on 29 November 2026, when the host names them during the reveal.
Can I change my fund after sealing?
No. A sealed fund is final. Read the plain-English summary carefully before you seal.
What happens if I forget to seal my fund?
Your rulebook seals automatically at 12:40 PM IST, exactly as it stands at that moment.
Does sealing early help?
Sealing early opens Part 3 at once, and it is the last tie-break. If two students tie on total score, Part 1 and Part 3, the earlier seal time ranks higher. Use your time well, and seal when you are confident.
Is the fund with the highest return the winner?
No. Raw return earns no points on its own. The scoring rewards growth for the risk taken, protection in falling markets, keeping the client's mandate, and sound judgment about charts and AI advice.
How many students reach the final?
The top 30 Finance track students from the elimination round. The shortlist is published by 6:00 PM IST on 22 November 2026.
Who are the judges?
Joel Pannikot of CMT Association and Brinda Kotak of Apexr.
How many students win, and what do they receive?
Twenty students win in the Finance track. The top 3 receive Edept's cash prizes of ₹1,00,000, ₹70,000 and ₹30,000. The others receive Edept scholarships. Edept sets and pays all prizes and scholarships.
What personal data does the challenge platform keep?
Your Edept ID, first name, email, answers and scores. Edept holds all other personal data and consents.
What if a friend and I build the same fund by chance?
Identical or near-identical submissions are reviewed and may be disqualified. Build your fund on your own and you will have nothing to worry about. Finalists must also explain every rule in their own words.
I am a parent. Who runs the challenge?
Edept runs Conquest Tech Olympiad 2026, including registration, prizes, scholarships and the recognition event. CMT Association designed the Finance track, hosts the challenge platform and leads the workshop.
Can't find your answer? Contact the Edept helpdesk: [Edept helpdesk contact].