India delivered an outstanding performance at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, with all five members of its national team winning gold medals. The performance placed India in the joint top spot globally alongside China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan among 381 participants from 87 countries.
The Indian medal winners are:
- Rishit Garg – Dwarka, New Delhi
- Kanishk Jain – Pune, Maharashtra
- Riddhesh Anant Bendale – Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Shresth Suraiya – Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Svarit Joshi – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
The achievement extends India’s remarkable record at the International Physics Olympiad, with every Indian participant over the past decade finishing on the podium. This team was trained under the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE). HBCSE is a national centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), which operates under theDepartment of Atomic Energy (DAE) and conducts the country’s Olympiad program through a rigorous selection and mentoring process.
Speaking on this achievement, Professor Arnab Bhattacharya, Director of HBCSE, stated that India’s consistent success in the International Science and Mathematics Olympiads is the result of sustained mentoring and institutional support provided over several decades. He noted that while talented students and dedicated mentors have always been at the core of the program, the long-standing support from the Department of Atomic Energy has played a pivotal role in India emerging as one of the top-performing nations globally.
India’s spectacular victory at IPhO 2026 further reinforces the country’s growing reputation in international science competitions. At the same time, it underscores the Department of Atomic Energy’s sustained investment in nurturing young scientific talent and strengthening the nation’s future research and innovation ecosystem.
(PIB)
