From a single question to the finals stage.
Every RYSI journey starts with curiosity and ends in front of a jury of scientists. Here is the full path a project takes, stage by stage.
From idea to finals
Reviewed by educators and scientists at every step.
- Step 1 · Register
Sign up & choose a topic
Students register online (through their school or independently) and pick a question or topic to investigate. Every nominee gets guidance and topic suggestions to start from.
- Step 2 · Stage 1: Submit
Run the experiment & submit
Students build and carry out a hands-on experiment, record what they observe, and submit their project online, describing the question, method, observations and conclusion, with photos or a short video.
- Step 3 · Stage 1: Review
Evaluation & qualifiers
Reviewers assess each submission within its category on scientific thinking, experimentation, reasoning, originality and communication. Qualifying students advance to Stage 2.
- Step 4 · Stage 2: Develop
Take the project further
Stage 2 asks qualifiers to deepen their investigation. This round determines who is invited to the national finals as a finalist.
- Step 5 · Finals: Present
Present to the jury
Finalists travel to the national finals, present their work live and answer questions from a jury of scientists and educators, alongside an exhibition of projects.
- Step 6 · Celebrate
Winners announced
Winners and runners-up are honoured in each category at the awards ceremony. All finalists and nominees are recognised for their work.
The process, in one picture
The official RYSI process flow for the current season.
What to expect along the way
Three things that make the journey approachable for first-time participants.
It is online until the finals
Registration, submission and the first stages all happen online, so students can take part from anywhere in India. Only finalists travel for the live finals.
Every entry is reviewed
Submissions are evaluated within their grade category, so younger students are never measured against older ones.
Start the journey
It begins with a single question worth investigating.