Arin Chowdhary
National Award Winner
Inspired by Sir C.V. RamanWhere young minds become
Where young minds become
young scientists.
The Raman Young Scientist Initiative invites students across India, grades 3 to 10, to ask a question, design an experiment, and discover the joy of doing science — not just reading it.
2017–2025nine seasons of discoveryWhat is RYSI
An experiment, not an exam.
RYSI is a national, multi-stage science-awards programme that rewards original thinking over rote learning. Students choose a real-world question, build a hands-on experiment to investigate it, and present their findings.
Projects are reviewed by educators and scientists across successive stages. Those who advance reach the national finals, where finalists and winners are celebrated across junior, intermediate and senior categories. It is open to schools nationwide and grounded in experiential science.
How it works
Three stages, one journey
From a first idea at school all the way to the national finals — every entry is reviewed by educators and scientists at each step.
1Stage 1 · School
Submit your project
Students register, pick a question, run a hands-on experiment, and submit their project online. Every nominee receives a topic kit and guidance.
2Stage 2 · National Qualifiers
Get reviewed & qualify
Submissions are evaluated across categories. Qualifiers advance to Stage 2 and shortlisted students are invited as national finalists.
3Stage 3 · Finals
Present at the finals
Finalists present live to a jury of scientists and educators. Winners are honoured across junior, intermediate and senior categories.
Our reach so far
Science, at national scale
50,000+
Student nominees since 2017
8,000
Schools reached across India
9
Award seasons (2017–2025)
3
Grade categories every year
Figures are cumulative programme estimates across all editions to date.
Recent winners
Meet some of our young scientists
A few of the students whose curiosity and experiments earned them national recognition.
Dhaatri Bhat
National Award Winner
Soham Joshi
National Award Winner
Kavin Shanmugam
National Award Winner
From the blog
Ideas worth experimenting with
The Raman Effect & National Science Day
How a single discovery in 1928 still shapes the way we teach curiosity in classrooms today.
Why experiential science sticks
Doing beats memorising. The research behind learning by building, testing and observing.
Growth mindset in the lab
Every failed experiment is a finding. How young scientists learn to love the process.
A programme powered by
Help the next generation discover.
Enter a student, bring RYSI to your school, or support the programme. Every experiment starts with someone who believed it was worth trying.