Winner of the First Ever All-India Physics Olympiad

Between the 17-18 April this year, the first All-India Physics Olympiad took place. The TISB Physics Club, led by Grade 11 student Yash, hosted the event online with close to a hundred participants. The All-India Physics Olympiad is a physics competition that takes place on a national level, inviting students from all regions, schools, and demographics to participate. We got in touch with Yash to find out more about the event and their vision for the future.

I am very proud of the entire organising team, as I think we have started something remarkable, which will eventually become a TISB tradition – Yash, Grade 11

The All-India Physics Olympiad carries with it a cultural importance as it is the first nationwide Physics Olympiad to be organised by a school, and it is the first completely virtual Physics Olympiad in Indian history. The first round of the event took place on the 17 April and the final round on the 18 April via MS Teams and Exam.net. Each of the meeting rooms had a volunteer who managed the participants and their tests. 

Among the participants there were clearly differences in terms of language and technology. The only commonality between the near to a hundred participants was their love for Physics. Despite this, the Physics Club team was able to achieve what they had set out to do, not in spite of the barriers, but because of them. “Personally, I have learnt how to bring people together to materialise something from my vision. But, more importantly, I have learnt the value of diversity”, says Yash who wants to bring this learning with him to next academic year’s VIVUM; hoping that it will be most inclusive of all-time – where not just international schools, but all schools and demographics, will be given the opportunity to participate.

The winner of the first All-India Physics Olympiad was TISB student, Krish from Grade 9. The runner up in second place was Grade 9 student A. Harshit, and in third place Grade 12 student S. Kancharla – both from other schools. 

Yash and the TISB Physics Club have great plans for the continuation of the event in the future. “We intend for this event to become a TISB tradition, so we will definitely be back next year – perhaps even International!”, says Yash, emphasising the importance of the event and the inclusive cultural shift it provides.