Sakshi Sonawane Wins Print Olympiad 2026 National Title

03 October 2026: Sakshi Prashant Sonawane has won the Print Olympiad 2026 national final at Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology in Hisar, Haryana, earning the title of Top Print Student of India and INR 1,00,000. Her college confirmed the result, recognising a student who progressed through the competition’s West Zone round.

A joint announcement by her department and PVG’s college account identifies Sonawane as a final-year B.E. Printing and Packaging student. It confirms the national championship, cash prize and certificate of achievement, although it does not state the exact date of the final.

Print Olympiad 2026: From Pune to the national title

Sonawane represented the West Zone after winning its regional final at PVG’s College of Engineering, Technology & Management, Pune. That competition took place on 25 April 2026, according to Screen Print India’s report on the West Zone regional final.

The April report described her as a third-year Printing Technology student when she qualified. The subsequent college announcement identifies her as a final-year student. These descriptions relate to different stages of the year and should not be treated as interchangeable accounts of her status at the national final.

Her college says she competed against candidates representing the East, North and South regions before securing the national championship. It also confirms that Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vijay Kumar and Prof. Kamal Chopra presented the award.

Regional rounds shaped the competition

The Manoj B. Mehta Print Olympiad’s seventh edition brought together students through a zonal selection process. In the East Zone, Ruchi Kumari of Government Polytechnic, Patna, secured her place at the national stage after the regional final on 19 March 2026.

Screen Print India’s report on Ruchi Kumari’s regional win records that event at Government Polytechnic, Gulzarbagh, Patna. Together, the regional results explain the route to the national title: students first had to earn the right to represent their zones.

How the Print Olympiad selects its winner

Organised by the Offset Printers’ Association, the Print Olympiad dates to 2014 and an initiative conceived by Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra. Its format combines online testing with regional assessments before four zonal champions compete for the national honour.

The published seventh-edition competition format describes online multiple-choice tests followed by in-person regional rounds, where students speak on topics assigned to them. The format therefore assesses how students explain printing subjects as well as their technical knowledge.

FAQs

What did Sakshi Sonawane receive?

Her college confirms a cash prize of INR 1,00,000, a certificate of achievement and the Top Print Student of India 2026 title.

Which region did she represent?

Sonawane represented the West Zone, having won the regional final in Pune before progressing to the national competition in Hisar.