India’s five-member student team secured four gold medals and one silver at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2026 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The achievement capped an exceptional year for the country’s science Olympiad teams, with every Indian participant across five senior-level international competitions earning either gold or silver.
Held from September 25 to October 5, the astronomy competition brought together 307 students from 64 countries. According to the report, it was the largest IOAA edition so far in terms of both student participation and the number of countries represented.
Four Indian students secure gold medals
Pranjal Dixit from Hyderabad, Sumant Gupta from Delhi, Akshat Srivastava from Gurugram and Arnav Sehrawat from Faridabad won gold medals. Harshil Amitkumar Patel from Vadodara secured silver, ensuring that all five members of the Indian contingent finished among the medal winners.
With four gold medals, India shared third place with host nation Vietnam in the overall medal standings. Iran and South Korea led the competition, winning five gold medals each. Organisers awarded 51 gold, 48 silver and 60 bronze medals across the participating teams. India’s performance highlighted the students’ abilities in a competition assessing theoretical astronomy, astronomical observations and data analysis.
All 24 Indian science Olympiad participants win gold or silver
The astronomy results completed a landmark campaign across the International Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Astronomy. All 24 Indian students who represented the country in these five senior-level competitions in 2026 won medals. Of these, 16 secured gold and eight earned silver.
According to the report, this is the first time since India began participating in international Olympiads in 1989 that every member of its teams across all five competitions has returned with either a gold or silver medal. The achievement reflects strong performances across several scientific disciplines.
India builds on its astronomy Olympiad record
India has participated in international Astronomy Olympiads since 1999 and has developed a strong record over the years. Data attributed to the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) shows that 49 per cent of Indian participants have won gold medals, 35 per cent silver and 13 per cent bronze.
Recent results have been particularly encouraging. Over the last five years, every Indian participant has earned either gold or silver, with gold accounting for 64 per cent of the medals and silver making up the remaining 36 per cent. The latest four-gold performance extends that successful run and reinforces India’s standing in international astronomy competitions.
HBCSE supports students’ preparation
The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education plays a central role in preparing students selected to represent India at international science Olympiads. Ahead of IOAA 2026, the astronomy team underwent specialised training for the competition’s theoretical, observational and data-analysis components. These areas require students to combine scientific understanding with mathematical reasoning and practical interpretation.
The Hanoi results provided a fitting finish to India’s 2026 senior-level science Olympiad campaign. With five astronomy medals contributing to a combined tally of 16 golds and eight silvers, the year marks a major milestone for Indian students on the international science stage.
