CodeLock — The Escape Protocol

1. About the Event

CODELOCK is a time-based, three-round team competition designed to test participants' technical knowledge, logical reasoning, problem-solving abilities, programming skills, teamwork, and execution under time pressure.

Teams must successfully complete each challenge to unlock the next stage. The team that completes all three rounds in the lowest total time will secure the highest rank.

2. Event Details

• Event Date: 14 October 2026 (Wednesday).
• Event Time: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM.
• Venue: ITM University, Gwalior.
• Organized By: NEXUS CLUB.
• Team Size: 4 members per team.
• Eligibility: Open to all branches, with a special focus on 1st-year students.
• Registration Fee: ₹100 per team.

3. General Rules and Regulations

1. Each team must consist of exactly four members.
2. The event is open to all branches, with a special focus on 1st-year students.
3. All teams will receive the same challenge in each respective round.
4. CODELOCK follows a continuous-timer format. The timer starts at the beginning of Round 1 and continues until the team successfully completes Round 3.
5. The clock never stops. Time spent solving challenges, transitioning between rounds, or waiting for evaluation will count toward the total completion time.
6. Teams must successfully complete the current round according to the organizers' evaluation criteria to unlock the next round.
7. Only the permitted number of team members may participate in each round.
8. Team members must follow the instructions provided by the event organizers and evaluators.
9. Mobile phones, external assistance, online resources, or other aids may be restricted or prohibited as announced by the organizers before the competition.
10. Plagiarism, cheating, code sharing between teams, or any other form of unfair practice will not be tolerated.
11. Participants must maintain discipline and cooperate with the organizers throughout the event.
12. The organizers reserve the right to disqualify teams violating the rules.
13. The organizers' decisions regarding challenge evaluation, rule interpretation, disqualification, and final results will be final.

4. Round-wise Rules

5. Winning Criteria

The lowest total completion time wins!

1. Teams must successfully complete all three rounds to qualify for the final rankings.
2. The timer begins when Round 1 starts and stops only when the team's successful completion of Round 3 is officially confirmed.
3. The total completion time includes the time spent on all challenges, evaluation, and transitions between rounds.
4. Teams will be ranked in ascending order of their total completion time.
5. The team with the lowest verified completion time will be declared the winner, followed by the teams with the next-lowest times.
6. Incomplete or unsuccessful challenges do not count as completed rounds. Teams must satisfy the qualifying criteria before proceeding.
7. In case of a tie, the organizers will apply a tie-breaking method announced before the competition.
8. Teams that fail to complete all three rounds within the event's permitted duration will not qualify for the completed-team rankings, unless the organizers announce otherwise.

6. Prize Pool

• First Prize: ₹2,100.
• Second Prize: ₹1,100.
• Third Prize: ₹500.

Prizes will be awarded according to the final verified rankings announced by the organizers.

7. Code of Conduct

All participants are expected to:

• Demonstrate sportsmanship, honesty, and professionalism.
• Respect fellow participants, evaluators, and organizers.
• Avoid misconduct, disruption, or attempts to manipulate the competition.
• Follow all instructions related to challenge submission, evaluation, and event logistics.
• Accept the final results and decisions made by the organizers.

Any violation may result in penalties or disqualification at the organizers' discretion.

8. Organizers' Authority

NEXUS CLUB reserves the right to clarify or modify event procedures when necessary, resolve unforeseen situations, verify challenge submissions, and take appropriate action in cases of rule violations.

Any changes to the competition rules will be communicated to participants by the organizers. All final decisions concerning evaluation and rankings will rest with the organizing committee.

9. Contact Information

• Organized by: NEXUS CLUB.
• Institution: ITM University, Gwalior.
• Student Coordinator: Sahil Manjhi.
• Contact Number: +91 8080584135.