India Shines at International Physics Olympiad 2026: Five Gold Medals Secured!

India's Stellar Performance at the IPhO 2026

New Delhi: A remarkable achievement unfolded as India's five-member team showcased exceptional talent at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 held in Colombia, clinching five gold medals. This stellar performance has propelled India to share the prestigious World No. 1 ranking with countries like China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The Indian team stood out among 381 participants from 87 nations, highlighting India's rising stature in the realm of science education and global academic contests.

The gold medalists include Kanishk Jain from Pune, Riddhesh Anant Bendale from Indore, Rishit Garg from Dwarka, Shresth Suraiya from Mumbai, and Svarit Joshi from Ahmedabad.

This latest success adds to India's impressive legacy at the International Physics Olympiad, where every participant from the nation in the last decade has achieved a podium finish.

The triumph is credited to the Olympiad initiative managed by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and operating under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). HBCSE serves as India's primary agency for international science Olympiads, identifying and nurturing gifted pre-university students through a comprehensive selection process, training camps, and rigorous preparation.

Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, expressed his congratulations to the team, emphasizing the national pride associated with this achievement.

He remarked that the clean sweep of five gold medals and the joint World No. 1 ranking is a testament to the students' talent and commitment, as well as the ongoing efforts of the HBCSE-TIFR Olympiad program. He also acknowledged the contributions of the students' parents, teachers, and mentors, stating that their success would motivate more youth to excel in science and bolster India's position in scientific education and innovation.

The Department of Atomic Energy also extended its congratulations to the team leaders, Prof. Anwesh Mazumdar from HBCSE-TIFR and Dr. Leena Joshi from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, along with scientific observers Prof. Ananda Dasgupta from IISER Kolkata and Nisha Kelkar from Gogate-Joglekar College, Ratnagiri, as well as the Physics Olympiad mentor team at HBCSE for their role in preparing the students for this international competition.