Indian school students have made the country proud at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2026, held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The five-member team won four gold medals and one silver, and India finished joint third with Vietnam. The competition ended on 5 October 2026 and had 307 students from 64 countries.
The medal winners
- Gold: Pranjal Dixit (Hyderabad)
- Gold: Sumant Gupta (Delhi)
- Gold: Akshat Srivastava (Gurugram)
- Gold: Arnav Sehrawat (Faridabad)
- Silver: Harshil Amitkumar Patel (Vadodara)
The team was felicitated by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE, TIFR) in Mumbai.
How students can aim for olympiads
- Start with the national olympiad programme in astronomy, physics, maths or other sciences, usually from Class 8 or 9.
- Build strong basics in maths and physics. Olympiads reward deep understanding, not rote learning.
- Join a school astronomy or science club and practise previous olympiad papers.
- Follow HBCSE's official olympiad website for stages and dates.
For parents
Schools with active science clubs, labs and olympiad mentoring can make a big difference. Look for these when you choose a school. Compare schools on PickMySchool.
Sources: Free Press Journal; Careerindia School Assembly Headlines, 7 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India perform at IOAA 2026?
India’s five-member team won four gold medals and one silver at the 19th IOAA in Hanoi, Vietnam, finishing joint third.
How can students start preparing for science olympiads?
Begin with the national olympiad programme from Class 8 or 9, build strong maths and physics basics, and follow HBCSE’s official olympiad website for stages and dates.
