India won five gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held in Bucaramanga, Colombia from 5–12 July 2026, finishing joint first with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan; the contest had 381 students from 87 countries.
About IPhO
- Founded: 1967; one of the five International Science Olympiads.
- Team size: National teams of up to six secondary‑school students.
- Format: Two papers — theoretical and experimental — covering mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, optics and modern physics.
India at IPhO 2026
- Result: Five gold medals; joint World No.1 with five other national teams.
- Participation scale: 56th edition: 381 participants from 87 countries; host — Bucaramanga, Colombia (5–12 July 2026).
- Historical: Second occasion when all five competing Indian members won gold (first: 2018).
Indian Selection & Management
- Implementing body: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a national centre of TIFR, manages selection, training and mentoring.
- Selection pathway: National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP) → Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO) → orientation/training camps → final six.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Awarding: Medals (gold, silver, bronze) and honourable mentions are given by relative score bands; not country‑quota based.
- Scoring: Combined theory and experiment marks determine medals; experimental skills and data analysis carry substantial weight.
- Host rotation: IPhO host is selected annually by the IPhO organising committee; 2026 host — Colombia.