India’s five-member team achieved a clean sweep at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026, winning all five gold medals and securing a shared World No. 1 ranking at the 56th IPhO held in Colombia. The result, announced this week, cements India’s growing reputation in global science education and international STEM competitions, with the country now sharing the top spot alongside China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan among 381 students from 87 nations.

The Innovators Jam brings you a quick round-up of this achievement:

What did India achieve at the 2026 International Physics Olympiad?
India’s five-member student team won five gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), held in Colombia. The result placed India in a tie for the World No. 1 ranking.

Which countries share the No. 1 rank with India?
India tied for the top spot with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan.

How many countries and students competed in IPhO 2026?
381 students from 87 countries took part in the competition.

Who are the Indian students who won gold?
The five gold medalists are:

• Kanishk Jain (Pune, Maharashtra)
• Riddhesh Anant Bendale (Indore, Madhya Pradesh)
• Rishit Garg (Dwarka, New Delhi)
• Shresth Suraiya (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
• Svarit Joshi (Ahmedabad, Gujarat)

Is this India’s first strong result at IPhO?
No. India has secured at least one podium finish every year for the past decade, making 2026 part of a sustained ten-year streak rather than an isolated result.

Who trains India’s Physics Olympiad team?
The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a national center of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) under India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), runs the training program. HBCSE is India’s official nodal agency for international science Olympiads and manages student selection, orientation camps, and coaching.

Who led the Indian team at the competition?
Team leaders were Prof. Anwesh Mazumdar (HBCSE-TIFR) and Dr. Leena Joshi (St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai). Scientific observers were Prof. Ananda Dasgupta (IISER Kolkata) and Nisha Kelkar (Gogate-Joglekar College, Ratnagiri).
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