NEW DELHI: India delivered a historic performance at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026, with all five members of its contingent winning gold medals, securing a joint World No. 1 ranking alongside Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The Olympiad, held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, witnessed participation from 381 students representing 87 countries, making India’s clean sweep one of its finest achievements in international science competitions.
The exceptional performance reinforces India’s growing stature in global science education and highlights the country’s expanding pool of young scientific talent. By winning five out of five possible gold medals, India emerged as one of the top-performing nations in one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for high school students.
The Indian students who secured gold medals are:
- Kansisk Jain from Pune
- Riddhesh Anant Bendale from Indore
- Rishit Garg from Delhi
- Shresth Suraiya from Mumbai
- Svait Joshi from Ahmedabad
Each member of the Indian delegation earned a gold medal after excelling in both theoretical and experimental physics examinations, placing India among the elite nations in this year’s Olympiad.
Sharing the top position with countries renowned for their rigorous science education systems including Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Taiwan states the quality of India’s Olympiad training and the dedication of its students.
The International Physics Olympiad is widely regarded as one of the world’s toughest academic competitions for school students. Participants are evaluated through demanding theoretical and laboratory-based examinations designed to test their conceptual understanding of physics, analytical reasoning, experimental skills, and problem-solving abilities.
India’s performance at the 56th edition demonstrates the country’s continued progress in nurturing young scientific minds capable of competing with the very best on the global stage.
The Indian team was trained and prepared under the guidance of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and an aided institution under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). HBCSE has long served as the nodal institution for India’s National Olympiad Programme, identifying and mentoring some of the country’s brightest students for international science competitions.
The students underwent months of intensive preparation, including advanced physics lectures, laboratory training, experimental exercises, and regular practice sessions designed to prepare them for the demanding international competition.
The team was led by Professor Anwesh Mazumdar of HBCSE-TIFR and Dr. Leena Joshi, while Professor Ananda Dasgupta of IISER Kolkata and Ms. Nisha Kelkar served as scientific observers. Their mentorship and academic guidance played a crucial role in India’s remarkable success.
The International Physics Olympiad is an annual event that brings together some of the brightest young minds from across the world, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their scientific abilities while fostering international collaboration and exchange of ideas.
Education experts and members of the academic community have welcomed India’s outstanding performance, noting that it reflects the increasing strength of the country’s science education ecosystem and the effectiveness of its Olympiad training programmes.
India has consistently recorded strong performances at international science Olympiads in recent years, and the clean sweep at the 56th International Physics Olympiad adds another significant milestone to the nation’s growing record of excellence. Beyond the medals, the achievement is expected to inspire thousands of students across the country to pursue science, participate in national and international Olympiads, and aspire to contribute to scientific research and innovation.
