In recent years, governments and education boards in India have significantly expanded the range of state and national level student competitions to promote holistic development, experiential learning, creativity, and higher-order thinking. For schools and teachers, these initiatives create structured opportunities to move learning beyond textbooks and examinations, enabling students to apply concepts in authentic, real-world contexts. Research indicates that such enrichment activities provide collaborative learning experiences, enhance student interest and motivation, and support the application of knowledge to real-world problems (Sahin et al., 2014). Through activities such as investigating community issues, conducting research, building prototypes, engaging in creative writing, or analysing real-world data, students develop critical skills required for the 21st century, including problem-solving, communication, and analytical thinking. For educators, these platforms support competency-based learning and align closely with curricular and co-curricular goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The NEP 2020 strongly advocates participation in competitions, Olympiads, and project-based challenges as an integral component of K–12 education. The emphasis is not on ranking alone, but on identifying and nurturing each learner’s unique interests and aptitudes across domains such as science, mathematics, language, culture, and sustainability. Many of these programmes follow a structured progression from school to district, state, and national levels, ensuring broader access and inclusion. Several initiatives are also offered in regional languages and actively encourage participation from rural and underserved communities, addressing long-standing equity gaps in enrichment opportunities.
However, with frequent circulars, announcements, and updates from multiple authorities, it can be challenging for schools to consistently track relevant opportunities. This blog therefore presents a curated list of well-recognised competitions for K–12 students in India, organised under three broad themes—Science, Technology & Innovation; Environment & Sustainability; and Literature, Culture & Heritage—to support meaningful learning beyond the classroom.
Category 1: Science, Technology & Innovation
1. INSPIRE Awards – MANAK
Organized by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), this is a flagship scheme for students in classes 6 to 10. The objective is to foster a culture of creative thinking by targeting one million original ideas rooted in science and societal applications. Students are required to identify a real-life problem and submit an original idea, which, if selected, must be developed into a working model or prototype using the ₹10,000 grant provided. Schools nominate students’ ideas online. The competition progresses through district, state, and national levels, with select innovations eligible for patent support.
2. Smart India Hackathon (SIH) – Junior
This nationwide initiative, organized by the Ministry of Education and AICTE, encourages out-of-the-box thinking and bridges the gap between academic theory and practical application. It is a team-based problem-solving competition for students in Classes 6 to 12. Students are required to design digital or hardware solutions—such as apps, software tools, or basic hardware prototypes—based on real problem statements provided by government ministries or industry bodies. The focus is on ideation, coding, design thinking, and solution presentation rather than written exams. It is currently the world’s largest open innovation model.
3. Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) Olympiads
The HBCSE, a National Centre of TIFR, serves as the country’s nodal centre for these prestigious competitions. The HBCSE Olympiads are multi-stage written examination–based competitions for students primarily in Classes 8 to 12. Students appear for subject-specific exams (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy), beginning with the National Standard Examination (NSE). Through successive written tests and training camps, top performers are selected to represent India at International Olympiads.
4. Aryabhata Ganit Challenge (AGC)
To promote the practical application of mathematics, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) organizes the AGC for students in classes 8 to 10. It is an application-based mathematics assessment. Students attempt problem-solving questions that require applying mathematics to real-life contexts, such as budgeting, measurement, or logical reasoning. The top 10 schools in each region with maximum participation receive an Appreciation Certificate from the Board, encouraging institutions to prioritize applied math.
Category 2: Environment & Sustainability
5. National Painting Competition on Energy Conservation
Organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, this competition aims to promote awareness of energy conservation in the domestic sector. It is a creative, art-based competition for students in Classes 5 to 10, where participants are required to create a painting on energy conservation themes at the school level. Selected artworks progress to state and national rounds, with national winners eligible for cash prizes of up to ₹1,00,000. The focus is on visual communication of ideas rather than written explanations.
6. GREEN Olympiad
An initiative of TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute), the GREEN Olympiad is designed for students in Classes 4 to 12 to build awareness around critical environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development. It is a national-level, written examination–based competition in which students answer multiple-choice questions covering topics like water, waste, energy, climate action, and sustainability. Participants receive performance-based certification and international recognition.
Category 3: Literature, Culture & Heritage
7. Tata Building India School Essay Competition
One of India’s largest essay contests, this initiative by the Tata Group reaches millions of students in grades 6 to 12. It encourages young minds to articulate their vision for the nation and reflect on values that shape the country’s future. Students are required to write an original essay on a given theme related to nation-building and social values, in one of the prescribed languages. Entries are evaluated at school, regional, and national levels. National level winners often receive the unique honour of interacting with distinguished dignitaries.
8. CBSE Storytelling Competition
This competition, organised by CBSE, aims to enhance creativity, thinking skills, and communication among students in Classes 3 to 12. It is a performance-based activity where students are required to orally narrate a story, with emphasis on storytelling skills rather than written composition. Schools conduct internal rounds and nominate one student for regional evaluation. Shortlisted entries are assessed digitally at the national level. Winners receive online Merit Certificates, while all successfully submitted entries are awarded participation certificates.
9. CBSE Expression Series
To promote creative writing skills, CBSE conducts the Expression Series as a national-level, writing-based competition for students from Classes 3 to 12. Students are required to submit an original paragraph, essay, or poem based on a prescribed theme. Recent editions have explored socially relevant topics such as “From Farm to Future: Strengthening Rural India.” The initiative encourages reflective thinking and thoughtful expression on contemporary issues. All participants receive certificates, while national-level winners are awarded CBSE Merit Certificates in recognition of literary excellence.
10. CBSE Reading Challenge
Aligned with the NEP 2020, the CBSE Reading Challenge aims to foster a culture of joyful and meaningful reading while strengthening higher-order literacy skills. Open to students in Classes 6 to 10, it is a reading-comprehension–based enrichment activity conducted in both Hindi and English. Students read prescribed texts and respond to analytical and comprehension-based questions through an offline school-level round, followed by an online round for selected students. There is no participation fee, and outstanding performers receive Certificates of Appreciation.
11. CBSE Heritage India Quiz
The CBSE Heritage India Quiz is a team-based quiz competition designed to deepen students’ understanding of India’s rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge systems. Open to students in Classes 9 to 12, schools nominate teams of three students to participate in computer-based quiz rounds that progress from online stages to cluster rounds, followed by semi-finals and finals held in Delhi. The competition offers national exposure, with Merit Certificates and cash prizes awarded to top-performing teams.
Such competitions provide schools with structured avenues to extend learning beyond textbooks and examinations, while aligning closely with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020. By thoughtfully integrating these initiatives into academic and co-curricular planning, teachers can help students explore interests, apply knowledge in meaningful contexts, and develop essential skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Proactive engagement with these platforms enables schools to create enriching learning experiences and nurture confident, capable learners who are better prepared to navigate real-world challenges.
References
- Ministry of Education, Government of India. (2020). National Education Policy 2020. Retrieved December 2025, from
https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf - Sahin, A., Ayar, M. C., & Adiguzel, T. (2014). STEM-related after-school program activities and associated outcomes on student learning. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 14(1), 309–322.
- Central Board of Secondary Education. (n.d.). Academic circulars and initiatives. Retrieved December 2025, from https://cbseacademic.nic.in/circulars.html
