Curiosity is not just meant for textbooks. It is meant to be tested, experimented with, and shared with the world. If you have ever had an idea that could change how we understand a science concept, build a better engineering model, or solve an everyday problem, the IRIS National Fair is exactly where you want to be.
What is it?
The Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM (IRIS) is India’s premier science and engineering competition for school students. Organised by the EXSTEMPLAR Education Linkers Foundation, it is much more than a standard school science fair. It is a launchpad for future scientists.
Running for nearly two decades, IRIS is India’s primary gateway to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the United States, the largest pre college STEM competition in the world. The top performers at the IRIS National Fair do not just win medals. They get selected to represent Team India on the global stage, competing alongside students from over 80 countries.
Who is it for?
The fair is highly accessible and designed to capture young talent from across the entire country:
- Grade level: Students currently in Classes 5 through 12.
- School type: Open to students from government, semi government, and private schools anywhere in India.
- Team size: You can submit a project on your own or as a team of exactly two students.
What are the categories?
You are not limited to just standard physics or biology. IRIS accepts original research projects across 21 official STEM disciplines, covering the full spectrum of science, engineering, technology, and social sciences. Instead of a one size fits all science fair, you select the specific discipline that best fits your core research. The categories span four main areas:
- Life and biological sciences (for example, plant sciences, microbiology, computational biology)
- Health and medical sciences (for example, biomedical engineering, behavioural and social sciences)
- Physical sciences and maths (for example, physics, astronomy, earth and environmental sciences)
- Engineering, tech and software (for example, robotics, systems software, sustainable materials)
How to participate
The journey to the world stage takes place in a few key steps, and everything is handled digitally:
- Pick a topic: Find a problem you are passionate about solving from one of the 21 disciplines.
- Do the research: Formulate a hypothesis and do the real work. Conduct experiments, collect data, or build an original engineering model. The research phase usually takes at least 12 weeks.
- Submit online: Once your research is complete, you submit your project synopsis, a full research paper, and a 90 second video explaining your work on the IRIS website.
- Registration: There are generally two submission windows every year (15 August and 15 October). The entry fee is 5,000 rupees plus taxes per project, though fee waivers are available for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
How to win
Judges at IRIS are not looking for display only models or projects copied directly from a science book. To stand out and win a spot on Team India, you need to bring something fresh to the table:
- Show originality: Textbook replications, like basic seed germination or oxygen generation, will not get you far. Your work must demonstrate original research.
- Back it up with data: Unsubstantiated claims are disqualified. Your hypothesis needs to be supported by your own experimental data collected within the last 12 months.
- Focus on novelty: If you are submitting an engineering project, clearly prove how your design is a significant, novel improvement over existing solutions.
- Master the presentation: Scientific merit is crucial, but so is clarity. You must be able to clearly explain your methodology and the real world impact of your findings to the expert judging panel.
The 2026 to 27 time map
Here is how the journey unfolds from your first online submission to stepping onto the world stage in Los Angeles:
- Submissions open (Sep to Oct 2026): Submit your project synopsis, full research paper, and a 90 second video online through the IRIS website.
- SRC evaluation (Nov 2026): The Scientific Review Committee evaluates all online submissions and shortlists the top finalists.
- IRIS National Fair (November 2026): Shortlisted finalists present their research in person to a panel of distinguished scientists, and the winners are announced.
- ISEF preparation (Jan to Apr 2027): The national winners attend intensive mentoring camps to refine their projects, posters, and presentation skills for the global stage.
- Regeneron ISEF 2027 (8 to 14 May 2027): Team India travels to Los Angeles, California, to compete at the world’s largest pre collegiate STEM fair.
Need guidance on the IRIS National Fair? Connect with us to get expert mentorship and start shaping a project that can stand up to the judges.