National Science Challenge 2026 Registration is underway, inviting students of Classes 9 to 12 and droppers across India to test their scientific understanding and analytical abilities. The last date to fill out the NSC 2026 Registration Form is December 2, 2026.
The online examination is scheduled for December 5, 2026 and December 6, 2026 in online/CBT mode, with each participant required to select one examination date and one available two-hour slot.
Organised by SciAstra Foundation in partnership with the Science and Technology Council (STC), IISER Thiruvananthapuram, NSC 2026 combines scientific reasoning with mental ability. The science challenge focuses on applying concepts to unfamiliar problems, giving students an opportunity to look beyond memorised answers and explore how confidently they can use their knowledge.
NSC 2026 Important Dates
Students should keep track of the registration deadline, sample-paper release, examination dates and result announcement.
Event | Date or announced timeframe |
Registration opening | First week of October 2026 |
Sample-paper release | November 2026 |
Last date to register | 2 December 2026 |
NSC 2026 examination | 5 and 6 December 2026 |
Results and merit lists | 8 December 2026 |
Felicitation and academic exposure at IISER Thiruvananthapuram | First week of January 2027; exact date to be announced. (Sponsored travel and one day accommodation only for winners) |
Who Can Apply for National Science Challenge 2026?
Students can participate under five categories: Class 9, Class 10, Class 11, Class 12 and droppers. The announced syllabus levels differ by category. Class 9 participants will be assessed at Class 8 level, while Class 10 participants will follow the Class 9 level. For Classes 11 and 12, the scope extends up to Classes 10 and 11, respectively. Droppers will follow Classes 11 and 12 combined.
For interested students, the first preparation step should be checking the syllabus level for their category. Revisiting familiar concepts, explaining the reasoning behind an answer and practising unfamiliar applications can provide a useful starting point. Students should also distinguish between knowing a formula and recognising when a question requires it.
How to Register for NSC Challenge 2026?
Students can register individually, while schools can coordinate bulk registrations.
Individual Registration
To begin your NSC 2026 registration:
Visit the SciAstra Foundation official website- sciastrafoundation.org/ and click on the Programmes section in the navigation bar and visit the NSC 2026 section. Candidates can also directly visit the registration page from here: nsc.thinkexam.com/candidate/login.
In order to fill out the NSC Registration form 2026, candidates need to click on the “NEW REGISTRATION”.
Follow the instructions to submit your details and select the appropriate participation category.
Complete the ₹200 individual registration fee payment as directed.
Retain your registration confirmation and follow the instructions for examination date and slot selection.
Registered students should review their login details and examination instructions before quiz day.
NSC 2026 Registration Fees
Registration route | Fee |
Individual registration | INR 200 per student |
School bulk registration | INR 150 per student |
Individual registration is available across all five categories. Droppers participate through the individual-registration route.
NSC 2026 Cash Prizes and IISER Academic Exposure
In each category, the winner will receive ₹5,000 and the runner-up ₹3,000, alongside merit certificates. Excellence certificates are announced for ranks 3 to 50, including students sharing the marks of the participant ranked 50th. Winners and runners-up will also be invited for felicitation and academic exposure at IISER Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of January 2027; the detailed schedule will be announced separately.
Why Participate in NSC 2026?
For students curious about science, NSC 2026 offers more than a score—it provides an opportunity to apply knowledge, test reasoning skills and earn recognition.
Put Scientific Knowledge into Practice: The science challenge asks students to apply familiar concepts to unfamiliar problems, helping them move from recalling information to using it effectively.
Develop Analytical Thinking: Questions combining mental ability and scientific reasoning encourage participants to interpret information, discover connections and work towards logical solutions.
Challenge Yourself on a National Platform: Competing alongside students from across India gives participants an opportunity to assess their abilities and practise managing a timed examination independently.
Earn Rewards and Recognition: Students can earn cash prizes and certificates for strong performance within their respective participation categories.
Discover a Research-Focused Academic Environment: Through its partnership with STC, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, the National Science Challenge 2026 encourages scientific curiosity. Category winners and runners-up will also be invited to the campus for academic exposure and felicitation.
For schools, NSC 2026 offers an opportunity to recognise scientific aptitude and inspire students to explore science beyond everyday classroom learning.