15 Competitions for High School Students in India
If you are interested in challenging yourself beyond school, competitions can be a great option to test your skills. Competitions can help you connect classroom learning with real-world applications while allowing you to create a project that reflects your understanding. Selecting the right opportunity can help you build subject-specific expertise while building a strong college portfolio.
Across India, a wide array of contests, from national Olympiads to global essay prizes, are open to young learners. You also have access to various competitions hosted by world-class universities that are open to Indian students. You can choose from STEM innovation challenges, creative writing events, or entrepreneurship and pitch competitions. These events test your problem-solving, teamwork, and ability to meet deadlines and encourage curiosity and persistence.
To help you with your search, we have curated 15 competitions for high school students in India.
1. Tata Building India School Essay Competition
Location: School premises of participants
Cost/Prize: Free; winners get certificates, medals, and Tata Building India merchandise
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: One-day competition; schools select the dates during registration
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12
The Tata Building India School Essay Competition allows you to share your perspectives on nation-building through structured writing. The process begins with exposure to inspirational Tata-linked films and guided questions to help you reflect on key themes. You will write an essay on a topic of national significance, focusing on demonstrating creativity and insight. Submissions are judged progressively at the school, city, and national levels. Winners at each stage earn certificates, medals, and other prizes. The national felicitation includes a visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, where top participants will interact with a national leader.
2. Horizon Academic Essay Prize
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prize: Free; cash awards available for winners
Application deadline: July 13
Dates: Submissions open May 1; winners announced on August 26
Eligibility: High school students from any country
The Horizon Academic Essay Prize is an international competition, judged by Horizon’s Academic Advisory Board comprising faculty from leading universities such as Harvard, Yale, Oxford, and Cambridge. The theme, “Horizons of Knowledge,” invites high school students to submit a well-researched academic essay addressing one of three questions related to AI, privacy, or social media regulation. Essays must present a clear thesis, structured arguments, engagement with credible sources, and critical evaluation of differing perspectives. The contest emphasizes depth, originality, and analytical rigor over breadth of coverage. Submissions will be assessed on five key criteria—originality, evidence, structure, depth of analysis, and clarity of expression.
3. Bharat Innovation Challenge
Location: Virtual + prize ceremony at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 21
Dates: April 12 (Preliminary Round); May 17 (Final Round)
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a high school and between the ages of 13 and 18 on the day of the competition
The Bharat Innovation Challenge engages students in coming up with AI-powered responses to India’s critical challenges. Within a team of peers, you will represent your school and offer AI solutions for one out of 10 diverse domains, such as cybersecurity, heritage, education, or agriculture. You will consider practical needs like climate resilience, digital ethics, and rural empowerment while coming up with solutions. You’ll collaborate to design original, scalable solutions and submit your entry via the event portal. The initiative focuses on STEM learning and social impact, helping you use AI for sustainable development. This can also be a chance to build AI awareness, problem-solving abilities, and future-ready skills.
4. Lumiere Scholars Essay Award
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prize: Free; winners get cash awards and scholarships they can use to apply to Lumiere’s programs
Dates: Submissions open July 21; winners announced on December 16
Application deadline: November 2
Eligibility: Students from any country enrolled in high school (as of December 31)
The Lumiere Scholars Essay Award is an international competition for high school students, offering $20,500 in total prizes among six winners from humanities, STEM, and social sciences categories. Essays are evaluated by faculty from leading institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge, Cornell, and Dartmouth. You will choose one out of six prompts and craft a formal academic essay in English that presents a clear argument, logical structure, supporting evidence, and engagement with opposing views. Submissions are assessed on originality, depth of analysis, use of evidence, organization, and overall presentation. The competition emphasizes reasoned, research-based arguments rather than original research or primary data collection.
5. Project Veera Gatha
Location: Virtual + on various school premises
Cost/Prize: Free; Rs. 10,000 prize money
Application deadline: October 31 (for schools to submit the best entries)
Dates: September 8 – October 31
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 – 12 (requirements vary for different competitions)
Project Veer Gatha (5.0) is a national program that encourages students across India to research and share stories of bravery based on Gallantry Awardees. Activities span genres—poems, essays, paintings, drawings, multimedia, video, and set according to student grade levels. Schools internally shortlist one entry per category and upload it to the MyGov portal. Then, the submissions go through district, state/UT, and national evaluation stages. The “Super 100” national winners will receive recognition, cash awards of Rs. 10,000, as well as certificates, and many other participants will be awarded at state/district levels. Schools will also host awareness sessions and interactions with gallantry awardees.
6. National Level Cybersecurity Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prize: Not mentioned; winners will receive prizes ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000
Application deadline: January 20 (last date to submit entries)
Dates: January 21 (state-level winners will be announced); January 30 (national-level winners will be announced)
Eligibility: High school students
The National Level Cybersecurity Competition, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the ISEA project, is an opportunity to showcase your creativity while promoting safe digital practices. Open to all age groups, the contest allows you to raise awareness through formats like drawings, reels, slogans, stories, videos, and technical papers. What makes it unique is its focus on using creative expression to address the critical issue of cyber hygiene. The competition can help you explore how to spread cybersecurity awareness in engaging ways. Winners are recognized at both state and national levels, with cash prizes and visibility for their contributions.
7. Microsoft Imagine Cup
Location: Virtual + Microsoft Build in Seattle, WA
Cost/Prize: $25,000 - $100,000 cash prize
Application deadline: MVP submission round: September 30 – January 5; semi-final round: February 10 – March 31; world championship round: April – May
Dates: September – May (various stages), with the world championship on May 19
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 18 years old by September 30 and are enrolled at accredited educational institutions
Microsoft Imagine Cup allows people from around the world to take their AI solution from idea to impact through structured growth paths. You can choose the Launch track if you’re refining a prototype with less than $100,000 in external funding, or the Scale track if your student-led startup already shows traction and has under $5 million in funding. Each path provides mentorship, visibility, and access to Microsoft’s global AI ecosystem. You will also explore sectors like health, education, and cybersecurity in the context of using technology to solve real problems within these areas. Top performers can earn up to $100,000 and mentorship from Microsoft’s leadership team.
8. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Schools around the world + global finale at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, PA (in the U.S.)
Cost/Award: Free;
Application deadline: September 12; registration opens on June 30
Dates: September 29 – December 5 (Trading on WInS); Final report submission: December 12; virtual semi-finals: Week of March 9; global finale: April 24 and 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition offers a hands-on opportunity to explore finance and strategy. Within a team of four to six students, guided by a teacher, you will use $500,000 in virtual cash through the Wharton Investment Simulator to build diversified portfolios. Over 10 weeks, you will analyze real industries, evaluate risk, and propose long-term strategies for a simulated client. The success of the project depends on the clarity and strength of your investment plan rather than portfolio gains. Judges select semifinalists and finalists, and the experience culminates in a Global Finale at UPenn. The experience can help you build collaboration skills, critical thinking, and practical investing knowledge.
9. NASA International Space Apps Challenge
Location: In-person/virtual local events near you
Cost: Free
Application deadline: October 5; registration opens July 17
Dates: October 4 and 5
Eligibility: Open to all; participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a global hackathon where participants of all ages and backgrounds explore solutions using real NASA data. As a student, you will work with peers, artists, technologists, or engineers in teams to solve challenges crafted by NASA’s Subject Matter Experts. These challenges span fields like astrophysics, software development, storytelling, and agriculture. The event encourages collaboration and creative problem-solving through access to NASA and Space Agency Partner datasets. By participating, you become part of a community that is interested in understanding Earth and space through science and technology.
10. Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneur Pitch Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost: Not specified; prizes of $500 (Rs. 44,386) – $1,000 (Rs. 88,773) available
Application deadline: February 22 (pitch submission deadline)
Dates: Winners announced on May 13
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 18 years old at the time of registration
The Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneur Pitch Competition allows you to gain experience in crafting ventures that stand apart based on creativity and strategic thinking. Open to students globally, the virtual contest welcomes individuals and teams of up to five students. You will apply Blue Ocean methods to build differentiated, low-cost business concepts targeting new market spaces. Submissions should follow a structured video pitch format and should be supported by official templates and evaluation guidelines. Experienced judges assess innovation and strategy, offering feedback and awarding top entries with cash prizes. Teachers and schools also gain access to curriculum resources and recognition for their involvement.
11. Hamaguchi Essay Contest
Location: Virtual
Prize: 100,000 Yen (Rs. 58,881) awarded to winners’ schools
Application deadline: August 14 (entry submission deadline)
Dates: Results announced in late October
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a school/organization equivalent to a Japanese high school as of August 14
The Hamaguchi Essay Contest is designed for high school students who want to reflect on disaster preparedness through the famous story of Inamura-no-hi. On this theme, you will be asked to write an essay of up to 700 words in English or 1600 characters in Japanese. The contest is linked to World Tsunami Awareness Day and highlights the role of resilience in communities. Submissions should capture your perspective on how the lessons of Hamaguchi Goryo apply today. Winners receive official recognition, and their schools are awarded grants of 100,000 Yen to support disaster awareness initiatives. This contest encourages you to think critically about preparedness and contribute your ideas globally.
12. Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC)
Location: Virtual
Cost: 10,000 Yen (Rs. 5,888) registration fee/team
Application deadline: March 21
Dates: Preliminary round: April 12; final selection: May 17; winner announcement: June 5
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 18
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC) is an online, 12-hour business idea competition for high school students around the world. You will form a team of three to eight members and collaborate to address pressing global issues using science and technology. The challenge is revealed on competition day, and submissions must include a concise report and a short video. Entries are judged on innovation, financial design, marketing plan, and presentation quality. Winners from national rounds move on to represent their countries at the global level. All participants receive certificates and detailed feedback, with top teams earning special awards.
13. Climate Dream Prize
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prize: Rs. 50/entry; winner gets Rs. 1,00,000
Application Deadline: October 26
Dates: Winners shortlisted and announced between November 15 and December
Eligibility: Students enrolled in schools in India, between the ages of 11 and 18
The Climate Dream Prize provides a national platform for students to develop climate adaptation ideas shaped by their own contexts. You will focus on one or more of 10 themes, such as heat waves, water scarcity, or urban stress, and propose strategies for resilience. Submissions must outline the problem, solution, affected group, and key challenges. The top 20 entries advance to jury evaluation, and one winning project receives ₹1,00,000 to move forward with the proposed solution. The program focuses on highlighting practical, inclusive approaches rooted in local understanding and encouraging you to think creatively about environmental responsibility.
14. The Harvard Crimson Business Competition
Location: Virtual submission + Championship Round at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Not specified
Application deadline: April 15 (for students requiring a visa); May 15 (for students with a U.S. visa)
Dates: November – April 13 (Preliminary Round); June 25 – July 12 (Championship Round)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12 (two separate competition divisions are assigned to middle and high schoolers)
The Harvard Crimson Business Competition offers students an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship through a structured challenge. You will work solo or form a team to identify a problem, conduct market analysis, and propose a business solution. Each participant or team must prepare a detailed plan and present a pitch for evaluation and feedback. Judges will assess ideas on innovation, strategic planning, and financial reasoning. The program offers mentorship and exposure to business fundamentals, helping you strengthen your understanding of entrepreneurship. The final stage will bring together leading teams for presentations, fostering learning through expert insights and peer exchange.
15. Indian Constitution Olympiad
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Registration is open year-round
Dates: October 11 | October 25
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 to 15, and General Category students who are 16+
The Indian Constitution Olympiad (ICO) offers you a structured way to test and deepen your understanding of constitutional law in India. You will complete 50 multiple-choice questions in one hour, with your time tracked based on the competition ranking system. All participants receive certificates and a performance report showing strengths and gaps. Outstanding scorers will earn medals, electronics, and other prizes. The Olympiad emphasizes both accuracy and speed while encouraging you to analyze the Constitution.
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