India tops International Physics Olympiad 2026 with 5 gold medals

India delivered a stellar performance at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026, with all five members of its team winning gold medals and the country securing the joint World No. 1 rank alongside China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan.

The prestigious competition, held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, saw participation from 381 students representing 87 countries. India achieved a clean sweep of gold medals, continuing its remarkable record at the global physics competition.

The five Indian students who won gold medals are Kanishk Jain (Pune, Maharashtra), Riddhesh Anant Bendale (Indore, Madhya Pradesh), Rishit Garg (Dwarka, New Delhi), Shresth Suraiya (Mumbai, Maharashtra) and Svarit Joshi (Ahmedabad, Gujarat).

According to the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a constituent of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), this was India's 27th participation in the International Physics Olympiad. Over the last decade, every Indian participant has returned with either a gold or silver medal, reflecting the country's consistently strong performance in international science competitions.

The Indian team was selected and trained under the National Olympiad Programme conducted by HBCSE, an institution supported by the Department of Atomic Energy. The achievement underscores India's growing strength in science education and its ability to nurture world-class young talent.