ICMR SHINE Competition 2026 for Class 9–12 Students [₹1 Lakh Total Prizes; Certificates]: Submit by Sep 11

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is inviting Class 9–12 students across India to participate in the ICMR S.H.I.N.E. National-Level Student Competition 2026.

Students must identify a real public-health problem and prepare a two-page PDF proposing up to three evidence-based solutions. The top 100 students will receive ₹1,000 each, creating a total cash-prize pool of ₹1 lakh. Every student who successfully submits an eligible entry will receive an ICMR participation certificate.

Deadline: September 11, 2026

Important: Students cannot upload entries individually. A designated teacher or nodal officer must submit them through the school’s account on the ICMR SHINE portal.

Click here to read the official competition guidelines.

ICMR SHINE Competition 2026: Highlights

• Organiser: Indian Council of Medical Research
• Competition: ICMR S.H.I.N.E. National-Level Competition 2026
• Target group: Class 9–12 students
• Eligible schools: Government, government-aided/semi-government and private schools
• Geographical eligibility: All India
• Theme: Igniting Scientific Curiosity Among Youth for a Viksit Bharat 2047
• Submission: Two-page PDF on a public-health problem and its solutions
• Language: English or any of India’s 22 Scheduled Languages
• Entry fee: Free
• Total cash prizes: ₹1 lakh
• Individual prize: ₹1,000 for each of the top 100 winners
• Certificate: All successful participants
• Submission mode: Through the school’s designated nodal officer
• Deadline: September 11, 2026
• Results: November 17, 2026

About the ICMR SHINE Competition

S.H.I.N.E. stands for Science and Health Innovation for the NextGen Explorers.

The competition encourages school students to use observation, scientific literature, classroom discussion, peer interaction and research to understand public-health challenges affecting their communities.

Students are expected to explain not only the problem but also why it continues and what practical actions could help address it.

Eligibility

Students can participate if they:

• Are currently studying in Class 9, 10, 11 or 12.
• Attend a government, government-aided, semi-government or private school in India.
• Prepare the submission according to the two-page PDF format.
• Submit the entry through their school’s designated nodal officer.

The available guidelines do not state separate age, stream, board, marks or subject requirements.

What Should the Submission Include?

The two-page document should contain:

About You

A brief introduction of up to approximately 100 words.

Background

Explain:

• The selected public-health problem
• Its context-specific causes
• Relevant health behaviours
• Root causes
• Previous or current efforts by the government, nonprofits or businesses
• Why the problem continues

Problem Identification

Explain why you selected the problem and how you arrived at the research question. You may refer to reading, observation, classroom discussion or conversations with peers.

Problem Statement

Clearly define:

• The current situation
• The desired outcome
• The gap between them

Suggested Solutions

Provide up to three evidence-based solutions. These may include:

• New or innovative ideas
• Practical community-level solutions
• Personal actions the student would take
• Changes the student would like institutions or communities to implement

Pitch

Explain the problem and proposed solutions in simple language that friends, teachers and parents can understand. Avoid unnecessary technical terms.

Submission Format

• Submit a document of no more than two pages.
• Save it in PDF format.
• Illustrations, graphs, flowcharts and other relevant visuals may be included.
• The submission may be written in English or any eligible Scheduled Language.
• Entries must be uploaded through the ICMR SHINE portal by the school’s nodal officer.

File-size, font and formatting requirements have not been specified in the available guidelines.

Eligible Languages

Students may submit in English or any of these 22 Scheduled Languages:

• Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati and Hindi
• Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam and Manipuri
• Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit and Santhali
• Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu

AI Policy

Students may use AI tools to:

• Explore a public-health issue
• Develop or refine a research question
• Find possible directions for further research
• Consider potential solutions

However:

• The final arguments and ideas must be developed and articulated by the student.
• Any use of AI must be transparently acknowledged in the submission.
• Students should verify AI-generated information using credible sources.
• AI should support thinking and research, not replace the student’s own work.

Prizes and Certificates

• Top 100 winners: ₹1,000 each and an ICMR certificate
• Total cash-prize pool: ₹1 lakh
• All successful participants: ICMR certificate of participation

Participation does not automatically mean selection among the top 100.

Evaluation Criteria

Entries will first be screened and then evaluated by scientists from ICMR institutes. Evaluators will consider:

• Scientific thinking: Whether the student observed and analysed the problem logically
• Problem identification: Why the problem was selected and how it affects community health
• Problem-solution connection: Whether the solutions respond directly to the identified problem
• Clarity: Whether non-specialists can understand the idea
• Critical thinking: Depth, relevance and evidence used in developing the submission
• Compliance: Whether the entry follows the prescribed format and rules

ICMR Headquarters will shortlist the top 100 entries.

How to Participate?

For Students

1. Select a public-health challenge relevant to your community.
2. Research its causes, effects and existing responses.
3. Develop up to three evidence-based solutions.
4. Prepare the two-page PDF.
5. Acknowledge any use of AI.
6. Give the completed entry to your school’s designated nodal officer.
7. Confirm that the school uploads it before September 11.

For Schools

1. The principal or science teacher should register the school using its UDISE code.
2. Designate a nodal officer.
3. Log in to the ICMR SHINE portal.
4. Collect and verify student entries.
5. Upload nominations and PDFs before the deadline.

Important Rules

• Students cannot submit directly; the school must upload the entry.
• Participation is free.
• The PDF must not exceed two pages.
• Students may propose a maximum of three solutions.
• AI use must be acknowledged.
• The final thinking and writing must be the student’s own.
• A certificate is available to students who successfully submit an eligible entry.
• Schools need their UDISE code for registration.
• Submission does not guarantee a prize or top-100 selection.

Important Dates

• Competition launch: August 11, 2026
• Submission deadline: September 11, 2026
• Results announcement: November 17, 2026

Deadline

September 11, 2026

The exact closing time has not been specified. Schools should upload entries early to avoid portal or verification delays.

School Registration Link

Click here to register the school and nodal officer.

Official Guidelines

Click here to read the ICMR SHINE Competition guidelines.

Contact

• Email: shine-team@hq.icmr.org.in
• Address: ICMR Headquarters, V. Ramalingaswami Bhawan, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029
• Help: Contact the ICMR SHINE team