India's Print Olympiad validates 348 students

This year's cohort of 348 participants reflects the growing professional interest in India's print sector, which employs 2.5 million people and is expanding at an annual rate of 12%. The Print Olympiad, launched in 2014 under the leadership of Prof Kamal Mohan Chopra, is central to the OPA’s "Print Chetna" initiative, designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands amid rapid technological shifts.

The eligible students represent 33 prestigious institutions across the country, split into four regional zones, ensuring a balanced mix of diploma and degree-level programs.

These students will proceed to region-specific online multiple-choice question (MCQ) tests, with a minimum qualifying score of 70% and no negative marking. The top performers will advance to the Regional Finales, where they will present on on-the-spot topics judged by industry veterans.

Prof Madhura Mahajan, the chief coordinator of Print Olympiad 2026, highlighted the event’s impact: “We are immensely proud of the overwhelming participation this year, which reflects the growing passion among India's youth for the print industry. This event not only equips students with real-world skills but also inspires them to lead innovations that will shape a sustainable future for printing and packaging."

Regional champions will compete for the national title of Top Print Student of India, which includes a prize of INR 1,00,000 and a certificate of excellence. The competition's prestige is further elevated by its grand finale scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China, in October 2026, supported by Messe Düsseldorf during the All in Print China 2026 event. This provides the top participants with unparalleled global exposure to the industry’s international landscape.

The Olympiad is hosted by a network of educational institutions across the zones, with coordination led by Prof Mahajan and technical coordinator Dr Mohit Kumar (GJUST). The event has a strong legacy of identifying and promoting talent, with previous winners having gone on to establish their expertise within the sector.

For 2026, the East Zone is hosted by the Regional Institute of Printing Technology (RIPT), Kolkata, and Government Polytechnic, Patna, with coordinators Shankhya Debnath (RIPT) and Beer Bahadur Singh (GP, Patna). 

The North Zone is hosted by Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST), Hisar; Kurukshetra University (KUK), Kurukshetra; and Central University of Haryana (CUH), Mahendergarh, with coordinators Dr Bijender Kaushik (GJUST), Dr Shammi Mehra (CUH), and Kanwardeep Sharma (KUK). 

The South Zone is hosted by Anna University, Chennai; Institute of Printing Technology (IPT), Chennai; Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic College (AGPC), Sivakasi; and Nachimuthu Polytechnic College (NPC), Pollachi, with coordinators Dr M Nandakumar (AGPC), Dr JP Nirmala (Anna University), Dr T Murugesan (IPT, Chennai), and Murugapandiyan P (NPC, Pollachi). The West Zone is hosted by PVG’s College of Engineering & Technology (COET) & GKPWIM, Pune; Maharashtra Institute of Printing Technology (MIPT), Pune; and K.S. Wani Institute, Dhule, with coordinators Prof Madhura Mahajan (COET, Pune), Prof Parmeshwar Shinde (MIPT, Pune), and Prasad Puranik (KS Wani Institute, Dhule).