- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:24 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
International Chemistry Olympiad 2025: India made headlines on the global academic stage as its student team returned victorious from the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2025, held in Dubai from July 5 to 14. The Indian team won a total of four medals—two gold and two silver—securing the 6th position among 90 competing nations and reaffirming the country’s growing excellence in the field of chemistry at the school level.
The gold medals were bagged by Devesh Pankaj Bhaiya from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, and Sandeep Kuchi from Hyderabad, Telangana. Debadatta Priyadarshi from Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, and Ujjwal Kesari from New Delhi brought home the silver medals. In total, 354 students from across the world competed in this prestigious event, which tests theoretical knowledge and practical lab skills in chemistry.
Rigorous Selection and Training Pathway
The Indian team was selected via the National Olympiad Programme led by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) in Mumbai under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). Students underwent multiple evaluation stages—starting with national-level written exams, followed by intensive orientation and practical camps. Before flying to Dubai, they trained extensively in organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry theories and experiments.
Faculty and Mentorship Support
The Indian team’s preparation was supervised by a dedicated group of mentors, including Professor Ankush Gupta (Head Mentor, HBCSE), Professor Seema Gupta (Delhi University), along with scientific observers Dr Neeraja Dashaputre (IISER Pune) and Dr Amrit Mitra (Govt. College, Singur). Their contributions helped shape the students’ skills and boosted their confidence for the international competition.
India’s Track Record at IChO
India has consistently performed well at the International Chemistry Olympiad. Since its first appearance over two decades ago, the country has earned 30% gold, 53% silver, and 17% bronze medals. In the last ten years, India has improved its gold win rate to 38%, signifying a steady upward trend in excellence.
Institutional and Government Backing
The journey of these budding scientists is made possible through the support of national agencies like the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Space (DOS), and Ministry of Education (MoE).
These bodies, under the National Steering Committee on Science Olympiads, ensure the presence of world-class opportunities for India’s young minds on the global stage.
