Top Competitions for Indian High School Students in 2026

This guide rounds up some of the most prestigious competitions and academic programs in India for school students, from national science olympiads to startup and quiz contests.

Before we start: Rishab Jain, a Harvard student and ISEF winner, has made his FREE Student STEM guide public, with a list of 50+ more opportunities and competitions. It’s worth a look after this post.

Indian National Olympiad (INO)

The Indian National Olympiad (INO), run by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), is the second stage of selection for the International Science Olympiads. It covers Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, and Junior Science. To reach this stage, you first have to qualify through the National Standard Examination (NSE).

• Eligibility:
  • Citizenship: participants must be Indian citizens.
  • NSE qualification: you must have sat one of the NSE exams (NSEA, NSEP, NSEB, or NSEC).
  • Minimum Admissible Score (MAS): students scoring at or above the MAS qualify for the INO.

National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)

The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national scholarship program run by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), first held in 1963. It identifies and supports academically strong students in Class X, and selection runs in two stages: a State level exam followed by a National level exam. The exam was paused for a couple of cycles around 2021-2022, so check NCERT for the current year’s notification before you plan around it.

• Eligibility:
  • Class: only students in Class X can sit the selection process.
  • Stage I: conducted by states and union territories; qualifiers advance to Stage II.
  • Stage II: conducted nationally by NCERT for students who clear the state-level exam.

Indian Space Science Olympiad (ISSO)

The Indian Space Science Olympiad (ISSO) is a nationwide quiz competition focused on astronomy and space science. It’s open to school students in India and covers space exploration, celestial bodies, and related technology.

• Eligibility:
  • Residency: open to Indian students currently residing in India.
  • Grades: school students across grade levels can take part. Check the current edition’s site for exact grade bands and registration.

IRIS National Fair

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The IRIS National Fair is India’s national science and engineering fair. It’s a public-private initiative backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and corporate sponsors, and it recognizes strong student research projects across STEM. It is the feeder fair that selects India’s delegation to the international stage.

• Eligibility:
  • Age: participants are generally between 11 and 18.
  • Projects: individual or team research projects in science, technology, engineering, or maths.
  • Recognition: top projects are awarded at the IRIS National Fair.
  • International stage: winners represent India at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the USA.

Blueprint to win ISEF.

Indian Cricket Quiz

The Indian Cricket Quiz is a national online inter-school competition aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020. It’s open to students aged 6 to 17 from any school in India. The quiz is short: 15 multiple-choice questions on Indian cricket, with a 10-minute time limit. There’s no registration or entry fee, and students can take unlimited attempts.

Techfest, IIT Bombay

Techfest is one of the largest science and technology festivals in Asia, hosted each year by IIT Bombay. It brings together students, professionals, and enthusiasts for workshops, exhibitions, competitions, and lectures across robotics, AI, entrepreneurship, and more.

• Eligibility:
  • Open to all: students, professionals, and hobbyists can take part.
  • No age limit: there’s no age restriction on most events.
  • International entries: participants from outside India are welcome.

KIIT National Mathematics Olympiad

The KIIT National Mathematics Olympiad (KIIT NMO) tests mathematical reasoning beyond rote memorisation. Open to students in grades 9 through 12, it rewards analytical thinking and problem-solving over recall.

• Eligibility:
  • Open to students in classes 9, 10, 11, and 12.
  • The syllabus follows the NCERT curriculum for each class.

Ramanujan National Maths Challenge

The Ramanujan National Maths Challenge is a national problem-solving competition in mathematics. It pushes participants past standard exam-style questions toward harder, more exploratory problems.

• Eligibility:
  • Open to students in classes 6 to 12.
  • The syllabus follows the NCERT curriculum for each class.

List of STEM Research and Internships.

More competition lists for high school students:
Mathematics competitions worldwide.
Biology competitions.
Psychology competitions.
Medical competitions.

National Social Studies Olympiad (NSSO)

The National Social Studies Olympiad (NSSO), run by the Indian Talent Olympiad, tests students’ knowledge of history, geography, and civics.

• Eligibility:
  • Grades: open to students from Class 1 to Class 10 across State, CBSE, ICSE, and international boards.
  • Registration: parents or teachers can register students online through the Indian Talent Olympiad.

India Spelling Bee

The India Spelling Bee is an educational spelling contest that aims to add value beyond competition, involving students, parents, teachers, and the wider community in the process. It runs as a structured, multi-round contest for school students.

• Eligibility:
  • Grades: students from grade 1 to 9 can participate.

Startup Conclave

The Startup Conclave, organised by the E-Cell at VNIT, showcases India’s startup ecosystem and brings together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders for keynotes and panels. It’s a useful entry point for students interested in entrepreneurship.

• Eligibility:
  • Open to startups with either a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or a market-ready product, which broadens access to a range of early ventures.
  • The event emphasises networking, knowledge sharing, and responsible, sustainable business practice among emerging founders.

Indian Computing Olympiad

The Indian Computing Olympiad (ICO), run each year by IARCS, is the national selection pathway for India’s team at the International Olympiad in Informatics. It rewards strong algorithmic and programming ability through challenging problem-solving rounds.

• Eligibility:
  • Open to all school students nationwide, regardless of board.
  • Open to any student enrolled in school up to class 12, with no lower age limit.
  • You must be currently enrolled in school. Once you finish Class 12, you’re no longer eligible, even if you’re taking a break or retaking exams.

Resources for STEM Competitions

Rishab Jain, who won at ISEF, the 3M Young Scientists Challenge, JSHS, and more, has competed in and run many research projects through high school. His FREE Student STEM guide lists 50+ opportunities, internships, and competitions.