India wins 9 medals at IESO 2026; Jitendra Singh felicitates young Earth science champions
India’s young Earth science scholars have delivered another impressive performance on the global stage, winning a historic nine medals at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2026 held in Italy from August 20 to August 27.
The Indian contingent secured four gold, three silver and two bronze medals across different categories at the international competition, which saw participation from 39 countries. Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday congratulated the winners and hailed their achievement as another reflection of India’s growing strength in science education and student talent.
A rigorous journey from 17,800 students to the world stageThe road to the International Earth Science Olympiad was far from straightforward for the Indian participants.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the students underwent a demanding national selection and training process before representing the country in Italy. As part of the ministry’s outreach and awareness initiatives, a national-level Earth Science Olympiad examination was conducted across the country.
Nearly 17,800 students appeared for the test at around 500 centres, underlining the growing interest among school students in Earth sciences and related disciplines.
From this large pool of participants, the top 25 meritorious students were shortlisted for an intensive three-week training programme held in June 2026 at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The training camp was part of a broader effort to prepare students for the academic and practical challenges of the international competition. The ministry also noted that the decision to hold the camp in Vadodara followed the minister's proposal to rotate such training programmes across different regions of the country.
Jitendra Singh stresses scientific temperament among studentsCongratulating the medal winners, Union Minister Jitendra Singh reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening student-focused outreach programmes and encouraging young learners to develop a strong scientific temperament.
The emphasis, he said, is not limited to identifying talented students for international competitions but also to creating wider opportunities for young people to engage with science at an early stage.
The IESO achievement comes at a time when Indian students have been registering a string of notable successes at some of the world's most competitive science and mathematics Olympiads.
A strong year for India's Olympiad teamsThe nine-medal performance in Earth sciences adds to India's remarkable run at international academic competitions in 2026.
Earlier in July, all five members of the Indian team won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad held in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
India also secured four gold medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad, organised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from July 10 to July 19. Among the medal winners was Kabeer Chhillar, who had also secured All India Rank 2 in JEE Advanced 2026 after scoring 329 out of 360 marks and achieving a 100 percentile score in JEE Main.
The country's mathematical talent too made its presence felt internationally. At the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad held in Shanghai, China, the Indian team returned with two gold and four silver medals.
More than medals, a signal of India's scientific ambitionThe continued success of Indian students across physics, chemistry, mathematics and Earth sciences points to a wider trend: the country's young learners are increasingly making their mark in demanding international academic competitions.
India's nine-medal haul at IESO 2026 is particularly significant because of the rigorous selection process that precedes the international event. From nearly 17,800 students taking the national examination to a small group undergoing specialised training before competing against participants from 39 countries, the journey reflects both individual excellence and the importance of sustained academic mentoring.
For the young medal winners, the achievement is a moment of national recognition. For India, it is another indication that investments in scientific education, student outreach and talent development are beginning to produce results on the world stage.
With Indian students sweeping medals across multiple international Olympiads this year, the focus will now be on ensuring that this scientific talent receives sustained support beyond competitions and finds opportunities to contribute to India's growing research and innovation ecosystem.
The Indian contingent secured four gold, three silver and two bronze medals across different categories at the international competition, which saw participation from 39 countries. Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday congratulated the winners and hailed their achievement as another reflection of India’s growing strength in science education and student talent.
A rigorous journey from 17,800 students to the world stageThe road to the International Earth Science Olympiad was far from straightforward for the Indian participants.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the students underwent a demanding national selection and training process before representing the country in Italy. As part of the ministry’s outreach and awareness initiatives, a national-level Earth Science Olympiad examination was conducted across the country.
Nearly 17,800 students appeared for the test at around 500 centres, underlining the growing interest among school students in Earth sciences and related disciplines.
From this large pool of participants, the top 25 meritorious students were shortlisted for an intensive three-week training programme held in June 2026 at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The training camp was part of a broader effort to prepare students for the academic and practical challenges of the international competition. The ministry also noted that the decision to hold the camp in Vadodara followed the minister's proposal to rotate such training programmes across different regions of the country.
Jitendra Singh stresses scientific temperament among studentsCongratulating the medal winners, Union Minister Jitendra Singh reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening student-focused outreach programmes and encouraging young learners to develop a strong scientific temperament.
The emphasis, he said, is not limited to identifying talented students for international competitions but also to creating wider opportunities for young people to engage with science at an early stage.
The IESO achievement comes at a time when Indian students have been registering a string of notable successes at some of the world's most competitive science and mathematics Olympiads.
A strong year for India's Olympiad teamsThe nine-medal performance in Earth sciences adds to India's remarkable run at international academic competitions in 2026.
Earlier in July, all five members of the Indian team won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad held in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
India also secured four gold medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad, organised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from July 10 to July 19. Among the medal winners was Kabeer Chhillar, who had also secured All India Rank 2 in JEE Advanced 2026 after scoring 329 out of 360 marks and achieving a 100 percentile score in JEE Main.
The country's mathematical talent too made its presence felt internationally. At the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad held in Shanghai, China, the Indian team returned with two gold and four silver medals.
More than medals, a signal of India's scientific ambitionThe continued success of Indian students across physics, chemistry, mathematics and Earth sciences points to a wider trend: the country's young learners are increasingly making their mark in demanding international academic competitions.
India's nine-medal haul at IESO 2026 is particularly significant because of the rigorous selection process that precedes the international event. From nearly 17,800 students taking the national examination to a small group undergoing specialised training before competing against participants from 39 countries, the journey reflects both individual excellence and the importance of sustained academic mentoring.
For the young medal winners, the achievement is a moment of national recognition. For India, it is another indication that investments in scientific education, student outreach and talent development are beginning to produce results on the world stage.
With Indian students sweeping medals across multiple international Olympiads this year, the focus will now be on ensuring that this scientific talent receives sustained support beyond competitions and finds opportunities to contribute to India's growing research and innovation ecosystem.
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