JAMMU / NEW DELHI, Sep 4: Union Minister (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today felicitated and interacted with Team India school children, the brilliant young student winners of the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2026—at a special appreciation and motivation meeting held at Prithvi Bhawan, Lodhi Road, here.
Hailing the extraordinary milestone, Dr Jitendra Singh expressed immense pride in the young achievers, congratulating the winners, their proud parents, and their respective schools for bringing global laurels to the nation. Highlighting the Ministry’s vision, the Union Minister noted that the government remains deeply committed to empowering youth through student-centric outreach programs, fostering foundational scientific temperament, and encouraging young minds to explore Earth System Science.
Indian student delegates delivered their best-ever performance at the 19th IESO, held under the aegis of the International Geoscience Organisation in Turin, Italy, from August 20 to 27, 2026. Competing against participants from 39 countries, Team India secured a historic haul of nine medals—comprising 4 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals—across Written and Practical examinations, International Team Field Investigation (ITFI), and Earth Science Project (ESP) categories.
The stellar medalists who made the country proud include: Soumik Mandal (DAV Model School, Durgapur, West Bengal): 2 Gold, 1 Silver (Stood 3rd in the overall global ranking among 39 countries); Aaron Maiti (DAV Model School, IIT-KGP, West Bengal): 1 Gold, 1 Bronze; Riddhi Ranjan (Gyan Asthali International School, Patna, Bihar): 1 Gold, 1 Silver; Md Ehtesham Rizwi Bihar (JNV, Silver 1, Bronze 1.
Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), also joined in commending the contingent, praising the students and mentors for recording India’s highest-ever medal tally in the competition’s history.
Rigorous National Selection & Training Pipeline preceded the participation in the prestigious Olympiad. The journey to international victory reflects structured national backing. Fully supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) under its Outreach and Awareness program, the Earth Science Olympiad begins with an all-India test—facilitated by the Geological Society of India (GSI)—which saw approximately 17,800 students appear across 500 centers nationwide. The top 25 meritorious students underwent an intensive three-week training camp in June 2026 at M.S. University, Vadodara, Gujarat, conducted as desired by the Union Minister to rotate camp locations across different regions of the country.
Through flagship initiatives like the IESO, alongside major national missions such as the Deep Ocean Mission, Mission Mausam, and PRITHVI, the Ministry of Earth Sciences continues to build robust public scientific awareness and inspire the next generation of geoscientists and researchers.