The scientific spirit of Eastern India was on full display as the prestigious IndianOil Science Quiz 3.0 made its stop in Kolkata. The event, held on Tuesday, December 23, transformed the GD Birla Sabhagar auditorium into a buzzing arena of young intellects. A formidable contingent of 112 schools from Kolkata and neighboring regions, including Siliguri, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Purulia, and Kishanganj, participated in this cerebral contest organized by the Times of India.
A Fierce Battle of Wits and Knowledge
The competition commenced with a preliminary written round, which proved to be intensely close. The scores were so tight that a mere handful of points separated the top eight teams. Ultimately, six of the best progressed to the grand finale. Here, they faced the formidable quizmaster Kunal Savarkar, renowned as ‘the architect of questions’. He challenged the participants with a diverse array of topics viewed through the lens of scientific inquiry. The questions spanned physics, chemistry, biology, geology, environment, safety, sustainability, technology, and astronomy.
Reflecting on the high standards, Savarkar remarked, "Teams from across Kolkata demonstrated high levels of knowledge, while the high scoring reflects the increasing interest in science in India." Content curator and quizmaster Seema Chari was equally impressed, noting, "Students were up to the task of answering and solving the multi-format questions, demonstrating the talent in the next generation."
The Multimedia Finale and Nail-Biting Finish
The final round was a multimedia extravaganza, designed to test not just rote knowledge but also the students' awareness and their ability to connect disparate concepts. The quiz remained fiercely competitive, keeping all teams in contention until the very last moment. It truly went down to the wire.
In a climactic powered buzzer round, the duo of Devayudh Das and Iraj Singh from Delhi Public School, Megacity, emerged as the champions. The second place was secured by Jayabrata Ghosh and Ainak Chowdhury from Satish Chandra Memorial School. Their strong performance pushed Dipesh Das and Niyati Jois from Army Public School, Kolkata, to a respectable third place.
The winning teams were honored with trophies, plaques, certificates of merit, and cash prizes. In a thoughtful gesture, the teacher mentors were also felicitated with certificates of appreciation, with those from the top three schools receiving cash awards as well.
A Celebration of Science with No Losers
Prabir K Pal, Chief General Manager (Information Systems) at IndianOil Corporation Limited, commended the students' performance and enthusiasm. He beautifully encapsulated the event's spirit by stating that there were no losers at the quiz, only winners, as every participant gained valuable knowledge by being part of this grand celebration of scientific awareness.
The IndianOil Science Quiz 3.0 has now energized young minds in eight major Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The nationwide journey is set to culminate in a grand national finale in Mumbai in January 2026, where the best young scientific talents from across the country will converge for an ultimate showdown.
