13 awesome competitions you shouldn’t miss out if you’re a young innovator

Are you longing to showcase and validate your hidden talents? Not one, but we have got 13 national programs that aim to promote creative young minds. Take a look into the following annual competitions that knocks your technical door and paves way to unleash your dreams and potential.

Unlocking a real-life puzzle is always a momentous achievement, isn’t it? Irrespective of whether your win is big or small you are on cloud nine when you crack something. Healthy competitions always help children showcase their abilities to full length. It enhances their inquisitiveness, and fosters them to expand their thinking skills. At Rancho Labs, we firmly believe that healthy competitions change lives. We want you to recognize and validate your talent. Dive in and take a look at the following annual competitions that provide a great platform to enhance your technical interests.

1. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards

In order to promote creativity and originality in children, National Innovation Foundation (NIF), an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has been organizing IGNITE from 2008. NIF dedicates the IGNITE Awards in the loving memory of Dr Kalam.

IGNITE is an annual national competition that welcomes original technological ideas and innovations by children, up to Standard XII.

Students’ original and creative technological ideas and/or ideas directed towards solving real-life problems are most welcome.

Students from any educational board are encouraged to submit as many entries as they wish till August 31st.

Eligibility: Up to std XII

Deadline: August

For further details, head to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards.

2. Inspire Awards

‘Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research’ (INSPIRE) scheme is one of the flagship programmes of Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. The INSPIRE Awards — MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge), being executed by DST with National Innovation Foundation — India (NIF), an autonomous body of DST, aims to motivate students in studying in classes 6 to 10.

The objective of the scheme is to target one million original ideas/innovations rooted in science and societal applications to foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children.

Under this scheme, schools can nominate 5 best original ideas/innovations of students through this website till 15th October 2020.

Eligibility: Students in 6–10 grades

Deadline: October

Find more details on Inspire Awards — MANAK

3. CSIR Innovation Award for School Children (CIASC)

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), known for its cutting edge R&D knowledge base in diverse S&T areas, is a contemporary Pan India R&D organization.

CSIR launched Diamond Jubilee Invention Award for School Children on April 26, the World Intellectual Property Day, in 2002, with the objective to foster scientific temperament, creativity and innovative spirit amongst school children as well as create awareness about IPR (Intellectual Property Rights).

It provides significant technological intervention in many areas. CSIR invites students to send their innovation as proposals with regard to societal efforts which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors.

Applicant must provide the details of the innovation submitted for the award in not more than 5000 words in English/Hindi including an abstract (in not more than 100 words), authenticated (by giving seal and date) and sent through the Principal / Head of the School where the student is enrolled and personal details on a separate page as follows: Title of the Innovation, Name, date of birth, school and residential address, class, telephone no. (residence/ school), e-mail address.

The innovation submitted should be novel and utilitarian. It should be a new concept or design or a solution to an existing problem or completely a new method/device/utility.

Eligibility: Students below 18 years

Deadline: April

Find more details on: CSIR Innovation Award for School Children

4. World Robot Olympiad

World Robot Olympiad India is one of the largest Robotics competition in India for students between the age group of 6 to 19 years, held since 2006. It is a not-for-profit competition organized by India STEM Foundation.

World Robot Olympiad™ is an event for science, technology and education which brings together the young people all over the world to develop their creativity and problem solving skills through challenging and educational robotics competitions.

Schools are invited to enter a team of three students to participate in this competition. Participating teams need to create,design and build a robot model that looks or behaves like a human athlete. The competition starts from preliminary to the final judging.

Eligibility: 6–19 years of age

Find more details on WRO and WRO competition overview.

5. Imagine Cup

The Imagine Cup is a skill-based Competition. Open to students around the world, the Imagine Cup Competition seeks to honor the most innovative, ground-breaking and appealing software built with Microsoft tools and technology.

The Competition may be structured differently based on the country/region you are representing. Students of age at least 16 are allowed to participate in the event.

Students should not be an immediate family member of (parent, sibling, spouse/domestic partner, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of Microsoft Corporation.

Eligibility: 16 and above years

Deadline: December

For further information head to Imagine Cup.

6. FIRST Lego Competition

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is a unique STEM based robotics competition for students of age group 9 to 16 years. Students in a team of 2–10 members guided by one or two adult coaches are eligible to participate in the competition.

It is an opportunity to immerse children in the real-world science & technology challenges through a fun-filled exploration journey alongside enhancing their life skills.

Teams have to design, build & program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology to solve missions on a scientific theme based table-top playing field.

Teams have to explore/research a problem aligned with the scientific theme of playing field and analyze existing solutions if any. They need to either identify an improvement to the existing solution or develop their own innovative solution for the chosen problem. Visit for further details.

Eligibility: 9–16 years guided by one or two adult coaches

Find more details on FLL — First Lego League.

7. FIRST Tech Challenge

It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7–12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format.

Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.

The robot kit is reusable from year to year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. What are you waiting for? Head to and register soon.

Eligibility: 7th -12th graders.

Deadline: March 4, 2021.

Find more details on FTC and First Tech Challenge.

8. FIRST Robotics Competition

Are you ready to play the ultimate sport for the mind?

High-school student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.”

Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

Eligibility: High school

Find more details on FRC and First Robotics Competition.

9. National Science Concours

The National Science Concours or NSC is the first of its kind National Level Online Science Competition that was started by Pivotal in 2013. Since 2017, it has been part of the Not-for-Profit organisation, Foundation for Innovation and Experiential Learning.

It was conceptualized to inspire and encourage the younger generation to learn and discover science and its practical usage. NSC is a non profit endeavour and they aspire to provide a platform for all science enthusiasts of class VI to class XII from different backgrounds.

The National Science Concours is an effort to encourage the students to think out of the box and create masterpieces in a congenial environment.

The event spreads upto two levels. Level 1 consists of taking an online test. Level 2 is about creating a project of your choice and submitting it for the competition. The Summer Camp is the ultimate prize for all winners of NSC. Robotics, Forensics, Electronic Workshop, Sky Gazing, Rock-Mineral walk, visit to Horticulture and lots of other activities are conducted at the camp. NSC usually starts enrollment from the month of August.

Eligibility: Class 6–12

Get to know about the participation and more details on National Science Concours.

10. Form, Function,Flair

F3.space is a global web design competition that works on the pillars of Form, Function and Flair. Run by Radix, a global domain name registry with rights to manage 9 new exciting top level domains — .SPACE, .TECH, .STORE, .ONLINE, .SITE, .FUN, .HOST, .PRESS and .WEBSITE. There are no topics, no guidelines and no limits except the ones you set for yourself.The competition is open to children between 15–17/18 years of age.

Eligibility: 15–17/18 years old

Find more details on Form, Function, Flair.

11. International Robotics Competition

The IRC League is Asia’s Biggest Robotics Competition that aims to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and make innovation an area of passion for the young minds.

The IRC School League invites students, coaches and all stakeholders of the society to come together and build a better world for tomorrow using the tools of Science and Technology. The team members of the School League, should belong to the same school / activity center.

This annual contest will kick off from September month. So, keep checking their website to participate timely and celebrate your innovation(s).

12. Biennial Competition

NIF solicits entries of unaided technological innovations and traditional knowledge developed at grassroots by an individual or group comprising farmers, artisans, fishermen and women, slum dwellers, workshop mechanics, students, local communities etc. The innovations can be in agriculture, machines, processes or products for farm/non-farm operations, household utility, transportation, energy conservation or generation, reduction in drudgery, development of plant varieties, development of herbal remedies for human/ animal problems, or any other low cost sustainable green technologies. These should be unaided/unsupervised and an outcome of one’s own creativity, without any technical support from external agencies.

Young inventors and innovators (up to class 12th) are invited to send their ideas or innovations for a special category of awards for them. These should be unsupervised, an outcome of their own creativity, without any support from their teachers or outsiders. There will be prizes worth Rs 30,000, 25,000 and Rs 20,000 for the best three entries and several consolation prizes of Rs 10,000 each in this category.

Eligibility: Students up to class 12

Deadline: March 31, 2021

Find more details on Biennial Competition.

13. IRIS National Fair

Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science (IRIS) National Fair is a public — private partnership program funded by Department of Science & Technology (DST), and Broadcom; and implemented by EXSTEMPLAR Education Linkers Foundation.

The IRIS National Fair is conducted annually in India for school students, who compete in 21 subject categories. Winners of the IRIS National Fair go on to represent India at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in the USA. Winners of the 1st and 2nd Grand Award at ISEF actually have minor planets named after them courtesy Lincoln Laboratories, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. Till date 31 young Indians have received this honour, courtesy this platform. The Fair will be an opportunity for school students to gain an immersive experience and witness innovative projects created by their peers.

Eligibility: Open to all students

Deadline: January

Find more details and make an initiative to innovate.

Leave no stone unturned. Go on and participate in as many competitions as you want. One major fact that’ll perk you up is that all these competitions take place annually. Even if you lose track of an event, you get to participate in the following year. Which sums up that chances are always second last, isn’t it?

But, do you think participating in these contests with prior experience would benefit you?

We’ve got you covered!!

Rancho Labs’ Young Innovators Program offers a platform for 100 students from all over India to help kick start in technology at an early stage in life. We encourage you to discover your deep hidden passion towards Coding, Robotics and AI. The IITian mentors at Rancho Labs ensure to —

1. Deliver conceptual learning to the students through the program.
2. Bring your learning outcomes to life by producing real-life solutions to existing challenges.

Wanna know how? Dive in and check out our website for further information — Young Innovators Program.