Five Indian students have won four gold medals and one silver at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2026, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from September 25 to October 5. Pranjal Dixit of Hyderabad, Sumant Gupta of Delhi, Akshat Srivastava of Gurugram and Arnav Sehrawat of Faridabad clinched gold medals, while Harshil Amitkumar Patel of Vadodara secured silver.
With four gold medals, India finished joint third in the overall medal tally with hosts Vietnam. Iran and South Korea led the standings with five gold medals each.
The 2026 edition saw 307 students from 64 countries, making it the largest IOAA to date in terms of both participating countries and students. A total of 51 gold, 48 silver and 60 bronze medals were awarded.
INDIA COMPLETES LANDMARK OLYMPIAD YEAR
The IOAA result has capped a landmark year for India’s senior-level science Olympiad teams. With the conclusion of the International Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Astronomy, all 24 Indian students who participated across the five senior-level competitions this year won either a gold or silver medal.
Of the 24 students, 16 won gold medals, while eight secured silver medals.
This is the first time since India began participating in international Olympiads in 1989 that every Indian student across the five senior-level Olympiads has won either a gold or silver medal.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in India’s performance at international science competitions.
INDIA’S STRONG RECORD IN ASTRONOMY OLYMPIADS
India has maintained a strong record in international astronomy competitions since it began participating in the Astronomy Olympiads in 1999. According to data shared by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), 49 percent of Indian participants have won gold medals, while 35 per cent have secured silver and 13 per cent bronze medals over the years.
The country’s recent performance has been particularly strong. In the last five years, all Indian participants have won either gold or silver medals, with 64 per cent securing gold and 36 per cent winning silver.
HBCSE’S ROLE IN OLYMPIAD PREPARATION
The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) plays a key role in India’s participation in international science Olympiads and trains students selected to represent the country at various international competitions.
The Indian astronomy team underwent specialised preparation before competing at IOAA 2026. Students were assessed across areas including theoretical astronomy, astronomical observations and data analysis.
India’s four gold and one silver at IOAA 2026 adds to an exceptional year for the country’s science Olympiad teams. With all 24 Indian participants across the five senior-level Olympiads winning gold or silver, 2026 marks a historic high point for India’s international Olympiad performance.
– Ends