Code Vita Season 7 – TCS Global Coding Contest

1. Introduction
Sports is not just a game, it’s Culture! It connects people from varied backgrounds and ethnicities
regardless of physical and cultural boundaries. It is also a great way to compete beyond borders
and a lot of fun. At TCS, we continue to believe in this philosophy that programming can be both
fun and challenging.

For past 6 seasons, TCS has had great fun in promoting the Programming-As-A-Sport culture.
Hope you too had great fun participating in previous seasons of CodeVita. Last season one of the
major changes we did was shift from Team participation to Individual participation. Welcome to
Season 7; TOGETHER let us make it all time BIG. We assure, you would find Season 7 even more
challenging and exciting. Last season witnessed students from 63 countries participated and finale
comprised of students from 10 countries battle it out for the coveted title.

2. Purpose of the Contest

The rate of adoption of technology is having huge impact on people’s lives. To be competitive and
to be able to adapt in the constantly changing digital world, it is prudent to speak the language of
the computers. The language of Computers is – Code. Akin, to Maths, coding is expected to be a
necessary skill across disciplines. However, exactly like Maths it has the ability to induce fear in
many. TCS organizes CodeVita to overcome this fear and enjoy writing computer code. The main
objective for the contest is to sharpen the contestants' programming skills through some real-life
computing practices. The contest will also
 Help TCS Spot bright students
 Provide students an opportunity to showcase their programming talent and earn peer
recognition.
 Provide an opportunity to showcase offerings of TCS to the academic world
 Provides a platform to students to practice and enhance their programming skills.
 Provide exciting career opportunities for students in TCS
 Participation certificates for students who clear the pre-qualifier round.

3. Structure of the Contest

This season we are continuing with the Individual participation like the previous edition. There
are multiple coding levels before the top finalist can progress into the Grand Finale. To
participate in CodeVita, one needs to register on the TCS Campus commune Portal.
There will be 3 main rounds to the contest.

 Pre-Qualifier Round (Round 1): It will be 24 hours contest window and each participant
is provided with 6 hours of time to solve the questions. Pre-Qualifier round is done in
INDIA as well as Rest of the world separately. This season we will have two zonal rounds
in INDIA for Pre-Qualifier.
o Zone 1: July 27th to July 28th - Students who have registered as recruitment
regions like Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad will be in Zone
1 – Pre-Qualifier round. We will map the student to the region/zone based on the
location of their college.
o Zone 2: August 10th to August 11th - Students who have registered as recruitment
regions like Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow and Kerala will be in Zone 2 –
Pre-Qualifier round. We will map the student to the region/zone based on the
location of their college. Details of zonal mapping and the exact time-lines will be
communicated subsequently. If a contestant has appeared for one Zonal round,
he/she cannot appear for another Zone.
 Qualifier Round (Round 2): This season Qualifier Round (Round 2) would happen after
the completion of all the Pre-Qualifier rounds across the world. Top performers from the
zonal rounds across the globe will move into this round. Each participant is provided with
6 hours of time to solve the questions. December first week 2018 is the tentative timeline
for this Qualifier round.
 Grand Finale: Top 30 or 40 performers from the Global Qualifier round would have the
opportunity to move into the Grand Finale. To be held in one of the TCSL offices in India.
Top 3 contestant will be declared as winners of the contest. Winners (Top 3 contestants)
will receive a total cash prize of USD 20,000. We will be extending internships and offers
to top coders from the contest. February last week 2019 is the tentative timeline for the
Grand Finale.

To help contestants warm up for the contest, practice round(s) will be open to participants who
have registered for the contest. Such round(s) are popularly known as MockVita. This helps you
get almost-real-feel of the Contest before the Pre-Qualifier Round. Timeline for the same
would be communicated subsequently.

 CodeVita Season 7 – Road to Grand Finale:

 4. Eligibility Criteria for India
Coders from institutes across India who are completing their academic course in 2019, 20, 21 and
22 alone are eligible for this contest. Registrations are invited from students in under graduate/
post graduate programs related to engineering/science background with any specialization.

5. Registration Process (Only for India Phase)

 To register for the contest, one has to log on to Campus Commune portal.
 Students who are already registered on campus commune can directly register for the
CodeVita.
 For new users, you will have to sign-up on campus commune and then proceed to register
for CodeVita.
 It is an individual contest.
 Each registered participant will be receiving a unique secret code or link at a later stage to
take part in the contest.
 This code/link is of utmost importance to take part in the contest rounds and should not
even be shared between team-mates The Secret code/link will also be a part of login
credentials for the contest platform.

Any student who are not from institutions or universities in INDIA, if found registering for INDIA
Phase Pre-Qualifier would be disqualified and would not be permitted to participate in the Global
Phase Pre-Qualifier as well.

6. General Guidelines

 The infrastructure / software(s) required for compiling code solutions shall be borne by
the individual participant or the institution he/she represent. TCS will not be liable for
any damage to the institute’s infrastructure which may be caused by participants from the
institute during the contest.
 Language compilers are open source applications that can be downloaded from the
internet. Participants will need to submit the compiled solution to a problem only. For
example, codes written in Java should be submitted in .java format
 CodeVita platform supports coding in multiple programming languages. Language and
supported compiler / interpreter versions will be updated shortly. Broadly the following
programming languages will be supported in the contest - C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript,
Pearl, PHP Python, and Ruby. Addition of other programming languages will be
updated.
 Coding Guidelines will be provided as separate document. It will include information on
scoring and ranking of teams in different rounds, list of URLs from which compilers and
IDEs can be downloaded and other coding related instructions,
 7. Terms & Conditions

Notice
REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY. BY
PARTICIPATING IN THIS CONTEST, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS BELOW AND STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE SAME. CLICKING ON THE “I AGREE”
IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AGREED AND ACCEPTED ALL THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT

 The Contest is open to legal residents who fulfil the eligibility criteria and who are
eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry. TCS reserves the right to take
steps to verify the age and eligibility of the participants and seek any documents to verify
the same
 No purchase of any sort is necessary and there is no charge/fee for entering or
participating in the Contest. The sole consideration required from entrants is that they
agree to be legally bound by these Terms. The participant enters in this Contest at his or
her own will and TCS is not in any way obligated or liable for any loss, damage or costs
that the participant may suffer or incur and nothing is payable to participant for
participating in the Contest.
 The Contest and any and all information provided in the Contest is on ‘AS IS’ basis
without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, whatsoever. In no event shall TCS
or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, officers, directors and agents (“Related
Parties”) be liable for any direct, special, consequential, incidental or indirect damages
whatsoever arising out of the Contest, your participation or inability to participate, access
and use of or inability to use, reliance on, the information provided in or relating to the
Contest, even if the TCS is aware of the possibility of such losses, damages and known
defects.
 The information submitted by you to TCS is true and correct and not in violation of any
agreement or understanding you have with any other party.
 The participants warrant that the each solution/entry submitted by him/her/them is an
original creation and work created/authored solely by him/her/them, and that the solution
submitted by them and/or use of the same by TCS in accordance with these terms does
not infringe on copyrights, trademarks, patents, designs, moral rights, rights of
privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other
party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the solution.
 The solution must not contain content where any person/s would be required
to undertake actions that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, violent, hateful,
tortuous, defamatory, slanderous; that promotes racism or hatred against any group or
individual or that promotes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality,
disability, sexual orientation or age; or that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the
laws or regulations in the state or province where the solution is developed.
 The participants have not licensed or disposed of, or encumbered any rights in the
solution submitted for the Contest that would conflict with these terms, including
without limitation, any rights granted to TCS in or to the same.
 Participants who have submitted their solution is/are either the copyright owners of any
and all the component parts of that work or are submitting the work under license from a
 copyright owner or otherwise as permitted by law. Except as agreed to herein, TCS does
not claim ownership rights in your works or other materials posted by you. You
acknowledge and agree that solution may be subject to security, vulnerability,
performance, architecture, usability, plagiarism, open source and such other tests and
assessments as TCS may in its sole discretion decide.
 For the sole purpose of enabling TCS to make your solution available through TCS
portal you grant TCS a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, distribute, re-
format, store, prepare derivative works based on, and publicly display your content. You
agree not to distribute any part of the portal other than your content in any medium other
than as permitted in these Terms and Conditions.
 Display or publication of any entry on a TCS website does not indicate the
participants will be selected as a winner. TCS will not be required to pay any additional
consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use
 TCS is free to copy, reproduce, distribute, disclose and publicly display contest entries
without limitations or obligation of any kind. TCS is also free to use any ideas, concepts,
know-how, methods, processes, solutions or techniques contained in such
entries/submissions in any manner and for any purpose without limitations or obligations
of any kind, in TCS solutions, products or other offerings, as is or with modifications,
alterations, adaptations or other derivative works of the same. TCS reserves the right to
analyze and summarize data, information or other materials that are collected and also
reserves the right to publish, distribute, share summaries of the data, information or other
materials collected with other business partners without limitations or obligations of any
kind. You give up all copyright and other intellectual property claims that you may have
against TCS for any use of your entries/submissions/solutions in any manner and for any
purpose. TCS will have no liability to you for receipt, review, use or disclosure of any
and all information disclosed or submitted by you.
 By entering this Contest, all entrants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless TCS
from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Contest
or any Contest-related activities. Neither TCS nor any Related Party has any control over
communication networks and shall not be responsible for entries lost in transmission, or
received late due to high online traffic levels, or technical malfunctions or otherwise.
TCS assumes no responsibility or liability for any error, omission, interruption, deletion,
defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or
destruction of or unauthorized access to Contest entries or entry forms; or corruption,
misdirection or alteration of entries or entry forms. No claims or communications shall be
entertained in this regard
 TCS reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend, shorten, discontinue, prematurely
withdraw, change, alter, modify, cancel or terminate the Contest or any part thereof or
these terms including the eligibility criteria, at any time it deems fit and proper without
prior notice, during its validity or as may be required in view of business exigencies
and/or changes by regulatory authority and/or statutory changes and the same shall be
binding on the participants No claims or representations shall be entertained in this
regard. Participants agree that no liability shall attach to TCS or any Related Parties as a
result thereof and that the exercise of such discretion shall not result in any compensation
being payable or paid to any participant or other person
 All contestants must have access to the internet, a valid postal address, and a valid email
address in order to enter the Contest
 Mere participation in the Contest and sending/submitting the entries does not entitle the
participants to win the Contest. The selection process may vary and shall be as per the
TCS’ sole discretion. The participants or any third party shall have no right to question
the process of selections. TCS may determine the correctness, quality and validity of the
Contest entries in its sole discretion
 TCS reserves the absolute right to disqualify the participant(s)/winner(s), if it considers
that participant(s)/winner(s) has/have used improper means to participate in the Contest;
any information provided by participant(s)/winner(s) is found to be incorrect, inaccurate,
false, misleading in any manner; or due to any other valid reason that may nullify
participant’s participation/win in the Contest. TCS reserves the right to verify eligibility
and to adjudicate on any dispute at any time. You agree that TCS will be the sole
authority to: decide the winners of the contest and decision of TCS will be final and
binding on all the contestants; adjudicate any disagreement / difference of opinion /
dispute regarding the interpretation of the Terms or otherwise arising from this Contest
and the activities undertaken hereunder
 To enable registration and/or authentication of participants and/or to make the prize
available to the winner(s), personally identifiable information, including without
limitation, name, complete address, date of birth, citizenship details, etc. of the
entrant/winner (“Personal Information”) may be collected by TCS to enable TCS to
administer and promote the Contest and the winner. If the entrants do not truthfully
provide all requested Personal Information, TCS may determine that such participants are
not eligible to win the prize in the Contest. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure
that their Personal Information is always updated and accurate in order to be able to
receive the gratification/notification in time
 You acknowledge and agree that the Personal Information of the winners may be
provided by TCS to others assisting TCS in this regard, including its affiliates, associates,
authorities, agents, sponsors, employees, prize suppliers, distributors, deliverers and
service providers (as applicable).
 The participants hereby agree and undertake that mere announcement/declaration of
being announced as a winner shall not entitle him/her/them to the prize. Only upon
fulfilling all Terms mentioned herein, to the satisfaction of TCS, shall the winning be
validated. Further, if the Prize is declined or the selected winner cannot be contacted
within 14 days after declaration of the Contest result using details provided by the
participants, TCS will be entitled to select another winner at their own discretion
 TCS may substitute the prize and/or prizes with others as determined by TCS in its sole
discretion. Participants agree that no liability shall attach to TCS or any Related Parties as
a result thereof and that the exercise of such discretion shall not result in any
compensation being payable or paid to any participant or other person
 Income tax, gift tax or any other statutory taxes, duties or levies as may be applicable
from time to time, arising out of prize, shall be borne by the winner(s) for the respective
prize. In case the winner fails to comply with the applicable laws and pay requisite taxes,
duties or levies, if any, the winner shall indemnify TCS of any losses, claims, expenses,
costs and actions for the same.
 If required under the applicable law, the winner may be requisitioned to pay for the TDS
(Tax Deducted at Source) applicable for his/ her prize or any other statutory tax, duty or
levy as may be applicable. However if the winner does not agree to comply with the said
requisition and pay the TDS or such other applicable statutory tax, duty or levy, an
alternative winner selected by TCS in its sole discretion who agrees to pay the same will
be chosen. Prior payment of the same to the government authority and submission of
proof thereof to TCS shall be a condition precedent for delivery of prizes to the winner
 The participant(s) hereby agree and undertake that he/she shall not accept or undertake to
accept/give or undertake to give, either directly or indirectly, any gifts, commission or
other favour, of any kind whatsoever, to facilitate their winning the Contest. Any
knowledge of such an act shall lead to immediate disqualification of such participant(s)
and TCS shall be entitled to take any/all actions against such entrants, as deemed fit by it.
 Participation in the Contest and/or acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for TCS
and Related Parties to use or click photographs, exhibit or portray you as the participant /
Contest winner(s) (as applicable) and/or publish any content submitted by you. The
winner further grants irrevocable consent in perpetuity to use, edit, exhibit, publish and/or
exploit the same, in all forms of mode and media at any time without the further
knowledge or consent and without any compensation whatsoever. Prize winner must
decline the Prize if he or she does not want to participate in any publicity relating to the
Prize.
 In case your entry/solution submitted by you, or on your behalf, is adjudged to be a
winner, you hereby irrevocably assign to TCS all right, title, ownership and interest
worldwide in and to the solution submitted and all applicable intellectual property rights
related to the solution, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets,
patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights, know-how (the “Proprietary Rights”).
This assignment shall be binding on all legal heirs, successors and assigns of the
participants. You retain no rights to use the Proprietary Rights and agree not to challenge
the validity of TCS ownership in the solution and Proprietary Rights. For any rights that
cannot be assigned under the applicable law, you hereby unconditionally and irrevocably
waive the enforcement of such rights, and all claims and causes of action of any kind
against TCS with respect to such rights, and agree, at TCS’ request and expense, to
consent to and join in any action to enforce such rights. Notwithstanding the provisions
of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, or any other law in any country, the assignment shall
not lapse or the right transferred therein revert to assignor, even if TCS does not exercise
the rights under assignment within a period of one year from the date of this assignment
or any other term prescribed in any other law in any country. You agree to cooperate with
TCS or its designee, both during and after the term of this agreement/Contest, to provide
details and execute, when requested, any other documents (including without limitation,
assignments or declarations or no-objections) deemed necessary by TCS to to grant,
assign and transfers to TCS all right, title and interest in and to all solution and in and to
any and all Proprietary Rights thereto and give TCS all assistance as may be otherwise
necessary for protection, enforcement, registration and maintenance of any such solution
and associated intellectual property rights worldwide.
 Any student who are not from institutions or universities in INDIA, if found registering
for INDIA Phase Pre-Qualifier would be disqualified and would not be permitted to
participate in the Global Phase Pre-Qualifier as well.
 8. Indemnification:

You fully indemnify and hold us (Tata Consultancy Services Limited) and Related Parties harmless
for and against all damages, losses, and costs (including reasonable attorney or legal costs) that
might be caused by

 Your failure to comply with the terms of the above agreement.

 Third party claim(s) of their rights and/or IPR being violated/misappropriated by
your submissions made for the Contest
 any wilful misconduct, fraud or malfeasance

Failure to exercise or delay in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms or law by TCS will
not constitute a waiver of rights or remedy nor shall it prevent exercising that right or remedy in
whole or in part in future.
The invalidity or unenforceability for any reason of any part of these Terms shall not prejudice or
affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining parts and each part of these Terms is distinct and
at all times severable from the rest of the Terms.
These terms and conditions form a legally binding agreement between you and TCS and is the
entire agreement between you and TCS regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes any
prior or contemporaneous, conflicting or additional understandings or agreements or
communications (written or oral). Please proceed only if you accept all the conditions enumerated
herein above, out of your free will and consent.