Are Registrations Open for the Indian National AI Olympiad 2026?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nationwide initiative to discover young AI talent.
- Registration open until December 31, 2025.
- Opportunity to qualify for the IOAI 2026 in Abu Dhabi.
- Direct entry for toppers from related Olympiads.
- Exciting prizes for top national rankers and digital certificates for all participants.
New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) ACM India, representing the Association for Computing Machinery in India, has officially unveiled the Indian National AI Olympiad 2026—a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing outstanding school-level talent in Artificial Intelligence.
Registration for the INAIO 2026 examination, aimed at Indian students in Classes IX to XII, will be conducted online on January 18, 2026, with applications accepted until December 31, 2025.
The outcomes of this test will enable candidates born after August 2, 2006 to qualify for the IOAI 2026 event in Abu Dhabi, scheduled from August 2–8, 2026, as stated by ACM India.
The Indian National AI Olympiad, which will be administered live by the assessment technology platform HireMee, will act as an authorized entry point to the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI).
The IOAI will provide students with global exposure, advanced innovation skills, and exceptional academic pathways, according to the announcement.
Top performers from related Olympiads such as INMO (Indian National Mathematical Olympiad), INOI (Indian National Olympiad in Informatics), PLO (Panini Linguistics Olympiad), and Bebras will gain direct admission into Stage 2 of INAIO.
The structured multi-stage evaluation model of INAIO aims to enhance the conceptual grasp of machine learning and cultivate real-world modeling capabilities, ultimately selecting students to represent India at IOAI.
Participants can expect key benefits such as international recognition, potential scholarships from prestigious universities, and improved educational opportunities in globally esteemed institutions, as per the statement.
Moreover, the top three national rankers will be rewarded with exciting prizes, while all participants will receive digital certificates.
The first 500 applicants will also gain access to HireMee’s Career Navigation Assessment valued at Rs 1,599.
There is a growing demand for AI and machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI governance specialists expected to rise in 2026, especially as AI continues to reshape the landscape of cybersecurity.
According to a recent report, approximately 74 percent of corporate leaders in India identified artificial intelligence (AI) among their top three technology priorities.