Sixth edition of Print Olympiad is launched

The Offset Printers Association (OPA) initiated the Print Olympiad in 2016. The aim: to persuade the students of printing for out-of-the-box ideas, to look beyond their academic books and to be abreast with latest developments and innovations in this field. Print Olympiad is the biggest talent hunt for printing students in India and is the brainchild of Prof Kamal Mohan Chopra.

Kamal Chopra told PrintWeek that "To make the competition more meaningful, widespread, and approachable to all, it is decided to conduct regional level competitions, before going in for the gala national finale. He said, for this purpose, the printing institutes of India are divided in four regions." Chopra added, "The zonal competitions will be organized with the support and under the supervision of the leading printing institutions of the region.

Taking into consideration the future printing and online trends, it is decided to organise the Print Olympiad on two platforms. The preliminary MCQ test, separately for each region, will be conducted on a virtual platform to select three to five top students of the region under supervision of the Regional Coordinators . Chopra said, "There can be one or more rounds of MCQ tests, depending upon the number of eligible registered students." This means the students will have to answer (50) questions within 30 minutes, in the presence of eminent judges, at the virtual platform, on a given date and time. 

Chopra said, "All eligible students of the region will appear for the test simultaneously. However, there will be two distinct sets of question papers, one for the engineering students and another for the diploma/vocational students, as per their respective course curriculum. There will not be any negative marking but a minimum of 70% marks are required to qualify from the MCQ test."

The top students from each zone will be rewarded with a merit certificate. Also they will be eligible to participate in the regional finale. Chopra said, "The regional finale to get the top student of a particular region will be hosted in physical mode by one of the institutions of the region. This final round will be organized under the supervision of a national team, to be hosted at a physical platform by one of the institutions of the region. It will be an oral round, where selected students will have to speak on a given topic for a specific time." OPA will bear the boarding and lodging expenses for these students for taking part in the regional finale.

Later the national finale of Print Olympiad will be organised in a leading printing institution of India. The top student of the country will be awarded a certificate and the prize money of Rs. 1,00,000/-. 

There is a nominal registration fee Rs. 100/- + GST to participate in the Print Olympiad.