7th Print Olympiad 2026: 348 Students Eligible After Verification
19 January 2026: The spirit of learning and competition comes alive once again as Print Olympiad 2026 completes an important milestone, bringing students closer to showcasing their talent on a national platform.
The Offset Printers Association (OPA) is thrilled to announce the completion of the verification process for the 7th edition of Print Olympiad 2026, India’s premier talent hunt in the printing and packaging industry. Out of 546 registered students, 348 have been deemed eligible to participate, marking a significant milestone in this celebrated event aimed at fostering innovation and excellence among the next generation of print professionals.
Launched in 2014 under the visionary leadership of Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra and spearheaded by OPA, Print Olympiad has evolved into the largest competition of its kind in India and a unique global platform. This year, the event continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry, inspiring students to embrace cutting-edge skills in printing technology amid rapid technological advancements.
The eligible participants hail from 33 prestigious institutions across four regional zones, with a balanced representation from diploma/vocational and degree-level programs. The breakdown is as follows:
| Zone | Eligible Diploma Students | Eligible Degree Students | Total Eligible Students | Participating Diploma Institutions | Participating Degree Institutions | Total Participating Institutions |
| North | 50 | 88 | 138 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| South | 45 | 45 | 90 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| East | 22 | 4 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| West | 62 | 32 | 94 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Total | 179 | 169 | 348 | 20 | 13 | 33 |
These students will now proceed to region-specific online multiple-choice question (MCQ) tests, conducted separately for diploma and degree levels. With no negative marking and a minimum qualifying score of 70%, the top 3-5 performers per zone will advance to the Regional Finale, where they will present on one of five on-the-spot topics judged by industry experts.
Regional champions will then compete at the national level for the title of “Top Print Student of India,” along with a certificate of excellence and a prize of 1,00,000. This edition builds on a legacy of excellence, having been hosted by renowned institutions in previous years.
For 2026, the East Zone is hosted by 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. J. P. 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 (K. S. Wani Institute, Dhule). Dr. Mohit Kumar (GJUST) serves as Technical Coordinator, with Prof. Madhura Mahajan as Chief Coordinator.
“We are immensely proud of the overwhelming participation this year, which reflects the growing passion among India’s youth for the print industry,” said Prof. Madhura Mahajan, Chief Coordinator of Print Olympiad 2026. “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.”
The grand finale will be held in Shanghai, China, in October 2026, with the support of Messe Düsseldorf during All in Print China 2026, offering participants unparalleled global exposure.
Previous winners, including Sachin Verma (2014, Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Kurukshetra University), S. Manjula (2016, Anna University, Chennai), Ashish (2018, Kurukshetra University), Nivedha N (2020, College of Engineering, Anna University, Dindigul), Vishwa Sree K. (2022, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai) and Annu (2024, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar), exemplify the transformative impact of Print Olympiad. As part of the “Print Chetna” initiative,
Print Olympiad continues to address industry challenges, promote out-of-the-box thinking and position India as a global leader in print production. With over 250,000 printing presses employing 2.5 million people and growing at 12% annually, this event empowers youth to drive innovation and sustainability in the sector.
