Junior
Guided exploration of everyday phenomena, with an emphasis on careful observation.
Overview & FAQ
What the Raman Young Scientist Initiative stands for, where it comes from, and how it works — in detail.
Our mission
Make every child feel like a scientist
RYSI exists to put the experience of real science within reach of every school student in India. We want children to feel the thrill of asking a question no one has answered for them, building something to test it, and being surprised by what they find.
Examinations measure what a student can recall. RYSI measures something harder and more valuable: whether a student can observe carefully, reason from evidence, and keep going when an experiment does not behave. These are the habits of mind that serve a young person for life, whether or not they become a scientist.
Our inspiration
Sir C.V. Raman
The programme is named for Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, the Indian physicist who, in 1928, discovered that light scattering off molecules changes colour in a way that reveals the molecule itself — now known as the Raman Effect. The discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, the first awarded to an Asian scientist.
What inspires us most is not only the discovery but how it was made: with simple apparatus, sharp observation and relentless curiosity. India marks the date of that discovery, 28 February, as National Science Day every year. RYSI carries that same spirit into the classroom.
What we aim for
Our goals
- Bring genuine, hands-on science to students who may never have built an experiment before.
- Reward original thinking and sound reasoning over memorisation.
- Give every participant — not only the winners — a meaningful, confidence-building experience.
- Help teachers and schools make experiential science a regular part of learning.
- Build a national community of young people who enjoy figuring things out.
Categories
Judged within their grade band
Students compete only against peers at a similar stage of learning, so expectations are matched to age.
Intermediate / Middle
Designing fair tests and beginning to explain results in terms of cause and effect.
Senior
Framing a hypothesis, controlling variables and presenting findings with early-research rigour.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Any school student in grades 3 to 10 may take part. Students compete in one of three categories — Junior (grades 3–4), Intermediate / Middle (grades 5–7) or Senior (grades 8–10) — based on their current grade.
Fee details for the current season are confirmed when registration opens. Please check the registration page or contact the programme team for the latest information before you enrol students.
Students can be entered through their school or independently. Begin on the registration page. Schools entering several students can use the bulk-upload format available in our resources.
RYSI runs in stages: students register and submit a project online in Stage 1; qualifying projects advance to Stage 2 evaluation; and shortlisted students are invited to the national finals. See the full process and the schedule.
A student picks a question or topic, carries out a hands-on experiment, and submits their work online — typically a written account of the question, method, observations and conclusions, supported by photos or a short video of the experiment. We provide a submission format and a sample submission in resources.
Registration usually opens around July, with submissions and evaluation running through the second half of the year and the national finals held early in the following year. Exact dates for the current season are on the schedule page.
Yes. Nominees and finalists are recognised with certificates for taking part, and category winners and runners-up receive cash awards, trophies and an annual experiential-science programme subscription.
Our team is happy to help schools, parents and students. Reach out through the contact page and we will get back to you.
Still have a question? Start on the registration page, browse our resources, see the full process and schedule, or contact the team.
Bring RYSI to your students
Enter a student, or get your school involved this season.