Indian Students Win Five Medals at 5th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors 2026

India secured 5 medals of which 2 were gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze, during the 5th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors (IOAA-Jr) 2026, held in Thailand from 1st November to 8th November. The 5-member team from India participated in the International competition held in Ubon Ratchathani and competed with students from 25 countries. The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Ministry of Culture, provided support to the Indian team for their participation in the competition. The students had been helped to prepare for the competition through the Junior Astronomy Olympiad.

Indian Medalists Winners Name

All five members of the Indian team secured a medal.

Medal	Student Name	School Name	State/UT
Gold	Siddharth Laxmisha	Aditya Vidyashram Residential School	Puducherry
Gold	Swara Srujal Patel	School of Excellence	Gujarat
Silver	Aarna Chaplot	Maa Bharti Senior Secondary School	Rajasthan
Silver	Krish Bhaskar	KS International Academy	Rajasthan
Bronze	Akshara Gulab Ambone	Lords Public School	Maharashtra

The students from India won two gold medals; Siddharth Laxmisha from Puducherry and Swara Srujal Patel from Gujarat. Aarna Chaplot and Krish Bhaskar won silver and Akshara Gulab Ambone won bronze.

Event Details

The 5th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors was held in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand from 1st November 2026 to 8th November 2026.

This event brought together 104 students from 25 countries with 53 team leaders and observers. This is an international academic competition for junior high school students aged under 16.

• Event Name: International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors
• Abbreviation: IOAA-Jr
• Event: 5th
• Year: 2026
• Dates: 1st Nov 2026 to 8 th Nov 2026
• Country: Thailand
• City: Ubon Ratchathani
• Countries Participating: 25
• Students Participated: 104
• Team Leaders and Observers: 53
• India Participated: 5
• India Medal Count: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze

What is International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors?

The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors (IOAA-Jr) is an annual international competition to provide school students below 16 with knowledge about astronomy and astrophysics.

It helps build scientific knowledge, critical thinking and practical skills. Students will be tested through academic and practical tasks.

Students in 2026 had to complete theoretical exams, day observation, night observation and other astronomy related tasks.

Medal Count

According to the official results, 66 students from 19 countries won awards.

Medal Type	Number of Awards
Gold	16
Silver	21
Bronze	16
Honourable Mention	13
Total	66

India won 5 medals, including 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze. Thailand won the most gold medals with 5. China won 3 gold medals.

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)

The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) provided support to India’s participation in the IOAA-Jr 2026. NCSM is an autonomous scientific body that works under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

They are India’s Authorized National Representative (Astronomical) Organization (ANRAO) for the Junior Astronomy Olympiad. They select and prepare the team for the competition through the Indian National Junior Astronomy Olympiad (INJAO).

They help educate students about astronomy through their Science Museums, planetariums, exhibitions, lectures and sky observations.

How are students selected in India?

Students are selected through the Junior Astronomy Olympiad coordinated by the NCSM.

Students compete through the Indian National Junior Astronomy Olympiad (INJAO). Once selected they undergo several stages of screening, training and team selection.

25 students were selected to take part in the 2026 competition. They underwent training in,

• Theoretical Astronomy
• Observational Astronomy
• Problem Solving
• Night Observation

The final 5 member team went to represent India in the international competition in Thailand.

IOAA-Jr vs IOAA

Both events aim to provide education in astronomy and astrophysics but target different age groups.

Particulars	IOAA	IOAA-Jr
Full Name	International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics	International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors
Participants	Senior Secondary School Students	Junior High School Students
Ages	Generally between 14-18, depending on the competition	Under 16
Focus	Astronomy and Astrophysics	Junior Astronomy and Astrophysics
Aim	Provide advanced education in astronomy	Introduce younger students to astronomy and scientific observation