Indian school students have won their best-ever haul at an international science competition. The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences announced that Team India secured 9 medals at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad held in Turin, Italy. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh felicitated the winning students at an event in New Delhi.
What India achieved
Indian students brought home 4 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals from the competition held from August 20 to 27, 2026. This is the highest medal count India has ever won at this Olympiad. The team competed against participants from 39 countries and performed across written exams, practical examinations, field investigations, and Earth Science projects.
Top performers included Soumik Mandal from DAV Model School, Durgapur, West Bengal, who won 2 Gold and 1 Silver medal and ranked 3rd globally among all 39 countries. Aaron Maiti from DAV Model School, IIT-KGP, West Bengal secured 1 Gold and 1 Bronze. Riddhi Ranjan from Gyan Asthali International School, Patna, Bihar won 1 Gold and 1 Silver. Md Ehtesham Rizwi from a school in Bihar also won medals.
How students were selected and trained
The Ministry of Earth Sciences ran a nationwide selection process. Nearly 17,800 students appeared for an all-India test conducted across 500 centers, managed by the Geological Society of India. The top 25 students were then chosen for an intensive three-week training camp held in June 2026 at M.S. University in Vadodara, Gujarat. The entire process was supported by the Ministry’s Outreach and Awareness program.
What this means for you
If you are a school student interested in Earth sciences, this shows India has a structured pathway to world-class competition in this field. Your school can register for the all-India selection test, and if you perform well, you could receive free training from the government. The Ministry backs this through its various programs, including the Deep Ocean Mission, Mission Mausam, and the PRITHVI initiative, which build scientific awareness and create opportunities for young researchers.