Contest Rules
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN
Please read these Contest Rules carefully as the rules form a binding legal agreement between you and Innovation and Science Promotion Foundation (ISPF) with respect to the Raman Young Innovator Award (RYSI Award) (“Contest”). You may not participate in the Contest and are not eligible to receive any prizes unless you agree to these Contest Rules. Your registration for the Contest constitutes your agreement to these Contest Rules.
The words "include" and "including" as used herein mean “including but not limited to.”
1. Description of the Contest
1.1 Sponsor. The Contest is sponsored by ISPF, a Trust with its principal place of business at 63, 11th Main, 13th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore 560003.
1.2 Overview
a) The Contest is a competition designed to establish Science as a Fun and interesting activity that can be explored anywhere with simple materials.
b) As a registered contestant in the Contest, you may select a topic and sub-topic to create hands-on science activities that demonstrate a principle in the selected topic. Working models, toys or experiments that help demonstrate a scientific principle may be submitted.
1.3 Contest Website. The website for the Contest (“Contest Website”) is located at www.ramanaward.org
1.4 Contest Period. The Contest begins at 00:00:00 A.M. IST on 1 August 2026 and ends at 9:00:00 P.M. IST on 7 February 2027 (“Contest Period”).
1.5 Changes to Contest. ISPF may suspend, cancel, or modify the structure of the Contest if technical difficulties or events beyond ISPF’s reasonable control prevent or make it unfair to run the Contest in accordance with these Contest Rules.
2. Eligibility
2.1 Proof of Eligibility, Parental Consent. To participate in the Contest:
a) You must be at least eight (8) years of age and no older than sixteen (16) years of age on 1st January 2026 to participate.
b) Your parent or legal guardian must consent to your participation and agree to these Contest Rules (“Parental Consent”).
c) Finalists will have to provide a bona fide certificate from their school or birth certificate in case a child is home schooled.
2.2 Requirements to Enter. In order to participate in the Contest, you must have
a) a valid mobile phone number,
b) a valid postal address, and
c) a valid email address,
d) access to the Internet is recommended.
2.3 Verifying Eligibility. ISPF reserves the right to verify your eligibility and to adjudicate on any dispute at any time. You agree to provide ISPF with any proof of eligibility requested by ISPF and your refusal or failure to timely provide such proof may result in your disqualification from the Contest.
2.4 Communications. All communications between ISPF and you, including the Contest Website and email communications, will be in English.
3. How to Register
3.1 Registration. To enter the Contest, you must first register on the Contest Website during the listed registration times. Students who do not have access to the Internet, may register by sending a letter with necessary details to the postal address provided on the Contest Website.
3.2 Privacy
a) How ISPF May Use Your Information
(i) ISPF will use the information you provide during registration and in any subsequent communications to administer the Contest (including verifying your eligibility to participate in the Contest, sending notifications regarding the Contest, and delivering prizes).
(ii) In addition to the uses set forth in ISPF’s Privacy Policy, ISPF may use your information as follows:
(A) ISPF may use your information to respond to participation verification requests from third parties pursuant to school admissions applications, employment applications, and the like that you have submitted to such third parties.
(B) ISPF may use your aggregated, non-personally identifiable information for statistical purposes.
(C) ISPF and its agents may use your name, likeness, and statements without compensation to promote ISPF, including displaying it on the Contest Website.
b) Sharing Your Information. In addition to the circumstances set forth in ISPF’s Privacy Policy, ISPF may share your information as follows:
(i) The display name you create during registration may be displayed publicly on the Contest Website and any archives of the Contest Website.
(ii) ISPF will share your display name with the Organisations.
(iii) If you win a prize, ISPF will share your legal name, phone number, email address, and shipping address with third parties to fulfil shipment of the prize to you.
(iv) If you are a Finalist, ISPF may display your name on ISPF affiliated websites, including the ISPF and the Contest Website.
c) Accessing Your Information. You may access and review the personal information in your Contest profile and edit such information through your profile during the Contest Period. If you would like to edit such information after the Contest Period, you may write to ISPF above for further assistance.
4. How to Submit an Entry Once Registered
To submit an entry to the Contest, you should visit the Contest website and provide the required details. One entry is allowed per contestant for Stage 1. Two entries are allowed per contestant for Stage 2 and a challenge must be completed at the National Finals.
5. Judging
Judging will be done by qualified volunteers and a panel of scientists. ISPF’s decision in this matter is final and binding.
6. Prizes
6.1 No Completed Entries. In the event that no completed entries are received, no prizes will be awarded.
6.2 Prizes for Finalists. If you are selected as a Finalist, you are eligible to receive one (1) Certificate. You are eligible to attend a Finals at Sir C.V.Raman’s Home in Bangalore with one (1) parent or legal guardian. Only students who study at Government Schools will be provided travel and reimbursement by sleeper class train and accommodation will be organised in Bangalore. All other students will need to make their own travel and stay arrangements.
6.3 Prizes for Grand Prize Winners. If you are selected as Award Winner or Runners Up, you will receive cash prizes and other benefits as mentioned on the Contest website.
6.4 Substitute Prizes. ISPF may provide a substitute prize of equal or greater value at ISPF’s discretion, or where required by law, or in the event all or part of a prize becomes unavailable.
6.5 Taxes. You are solely responsible for complying with all applicable tax laws and filing requirements.
6.6 No Warranties. Except as required by law, ISPF makes no warranties, express or implied, for prizes.
6.7 Disqualification. You may be disqualified from the Contest, forfeit any prizes you may be eligible to receive, and prohibited from participating in any future ISPF Contests if ISPF reasonably believes that you have attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest, including:
a) Providing false information about yourself during registration or concerning your eligibility;
b) Breaching or refusing to comply with these Contest Rules;
c) Threatening or harassing other contestants, ISPF, or any Organisation, including their employees and representatives;
d) Tampering or interfering with administration of the Contest or with the ability of other contestants to participate in the Contest; or
e) Submitting content in an entry that:
(i) is not original,
(ii) violates the rights of a third party,
(iii) is lewd, obscene, pornographic, racist, sexist, or otherwise inappropriate to the Contest, or
(iv) violates any applicable law.
7. Rights in Your Entries.
7.1 You retain all rights to your entry that you had before submitting it.
7.2 For any entry that you submit to the Contest, you grant ISPF and the Organisation that listed the corresponding task a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, free licence to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, distribute, perform, display, and otherwise use such entry for the purpose of administering the Contest and promoting ISPF and other Contest sponsors.
8. Your Representations, Warranties, Indemnities.
8.1 Representations and Warranties. You represent and warrant that:
a) the information you provide about yourself while registering or in subsequent communications with ISPF is truthful and accurate;
b) your entries are original;
c) you own all rights in your entries;
d) your entries do not violate any applicable laws; and
e) your entries do not violate any rights of any other person or entity or any obligation you may have with them.
8.2 Indemnities. You will indemnify ISPF and its affiliates, directors, officers, and employees against all liabilities, damages, losses, costs, fees (including legal fees), and expenses relating to any allegation or third-party legal proceeding to the extent arising from:
a) your acts or omissions in relation to the Contest (including your use or acceptance of any prize and your breach of or non-compliance with these Contest Rules); and
b) your entries violating any rights of any other person or entity or any obligation you may have with them.
8.3 Disclaimer. THE CONTEST WEBSITE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. ISPF DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES (EXPRESS OR IMPLIED), INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ISPF IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCOMPLETE, FAILED, OR DELAYED TRANSMISSION OF YOUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION OR SUBMISSIONS DUE TO THE INTERNET, INCLUDING INTERRUPTION OR DELAYS CAUSED BY EQUIPMENT OR SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION OR OTHER TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.
8.4 General
Not an Offer or Contract Of Employment.
You acknowledge that your participation is voluntary.
You acknowledge that no confidential, fiduciary, agency or other relationship or implied-in-fact contract now exists between you and ISPF or Co-sponsors and that no such relationship is established by your submission of an entry to the Contest.
You understand and agree that nothing in these Contest Rules or an entry to the Contest or an award of a prize may be construed as an offer or contract of employment with either ISPF or any Organisation.
Severability. If any term (or part of a term) of these Contest Rules is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the rest of the Contest Rules will remain in effect.
Translations. In the event of any discrepancy between the English version of these Contest Rules and a translated version, the English version will govern.
Governing Law. ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE CONTEST RULES WILL BE GOVERNED BY INDIAN LAW; THE PARTIES CONSENT TO JURISDICTION OF BANGALORE COURTS.
UNPARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE POLICY
Dear RYSI Participant/School/Teacher,
For all of us at Team Raman Awards, customer experience is one of our core values. We are committed to treating all our customers with politeness, courtesy, and respect at every stage of any interaction with them, whether on phone, via email, on social media, or in person.
We are always willing to go the extra mile and more in order to resolve issues that our participants are facing. At times, there could be exceptional situations where our suggested solution may not be to your satisfaction in spite of our best efforts. Some of these could be due to technology-related issues, a problem with our partners' systems, or even factors completely beyond our control, the COVID-19 pandemic being a recent example.
Most participants understand our compulsions during such situations and continue to maintain a pleasant interaction, and we really appreciate that. However, at times, some customers may resort to the usage of rude, abusive, or unparliamentary language, or behave in a disruptive manner. Such behaviour can affect the morale, dignity, and efficiency of our team, who are doing their best in these circumstances.
If the resolution provided by us is not to your satisfaction, there are options to further escalate the issue through internal processes.
We regret to state that in spite of the above if a participant continues to be abusive or uses unparliamentary language or behaves in an unbecoming manner, we may be compelled to blacklist participants from participating in the award. We really hope we do not have to resort to such drastic action. Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation!
Sincerely,
Team Raman Awards