Mission Year 01 · National Rollout

National Space Innovation Challenge 2026

राष्ट्रीय अंतरिक्ष इनोवेशन चैलेंज 2026

India's National Project-Based Space Innovation Competition

Innovate. Build. Transform the Future.

Registration

20 Jul – 30 Aug

Age

6–16 Years

Challenge Release

14 Sept 2026

Submission

15 Oct 2026

01 / About the Mission

A national platform where student research meets real space engineering.

NSIC 2026 is a project-based national competition inviting students across India to investigate real problems drawn from active space research — satellite systems, planetary science, robotics and sustainable space technology — and to design original, working solutions. Every participant receives an official challenge brief, works independently or in a team over a structured research-and-build window, and submits a project for evaluation by a national panel.

NSIC is built around the discipline of real research: observe a problem, study its constraints, design a solution, and defend it with evidence.

02 / Why Participate

Ten reasons this challenge changes how a student sees space science.

03 / Mission Timeline

One trajectory, six checkpoints, from launch to award.

20 JUL

Registration Opens

30 AUG

Registration Closes

14 SEP

Challenge Release

14 SEP–15 OCT

Project Development

15 OCT

Submission Deadline

NOV

Winner Announcement

04 / Eligibility

Four age divisions, each with its own challenge depth.

Age 6–7

Explorer

First contact with space science through guided observation and simple models.

Age 8–10

Innovator

Applies basic engineering thinking to build a working prototype from a real brief.

Age 11–13

Researcher

Runs an independent research process, testing and iterating on a documented hypothesis.

Age 14–16

Space Pioneer

Delivers an advanced, defensible project evaluated to national panel standards.

05 / Space Innovation Domains

Nine frontiers of active space research, open to student investigation.

06 / Competition Process

Eight stages from registration to the awards stage.

07 / Judging Criteria

Every project is scored against seven weighted criteria.

08 / Awards

National recognition, awarded on merit.

Top National Honour

National Young Innovator Award

The highest honour of NSIC 2026, presented to the single highest-scoring project across all four age divisions nationwide — recognising the student who best embodies original, evidence-driven space innovation.

Gold · Silver · Bronze

Top three projects within each of the four age divisions.

Innovation Excellence Award

For the single most original approach to a challenge brief.

Category Winners

Best project recognised within each innovation domain.

Participation Certificates

Every registered student who submits a project receives an official national digital certificate.

09 / Frequently Asked

Questions, answered.

Ready to Build the Future?

Register Now