The Offset Printers Association (OPA) has announced the 7th Edition of Print Olympiad 2026, India’s flagship talent hunt for printing and packaging students. Launched in 2014 by Kamal Mohan Chopra, this global initiative continues to spotlight young Indian innovators. Students across the country will compete for the title of ‘No. 1 Student of India’, which carries a ₹1 Lakh cash award, culminating in a historic grand finale in Shanghai, China.
Speaking at the launch, Chopra highlighted India’s commanding presence in the global print landscape, with more than 250,000 printing presses, 2.5 million professionals, and an impressive 12% annual growth rate. He said Print Olympiad plays a crucial role in channelling India’s demographic advantage into a skilled, future-ready workforce.
Echoing Victor Hugo’s words that printing was “the greatest event in history,” he noted that OPA’s Print Chetna movement—under which Print Olympiad flourishes—continues to inspire creativity, nurture unconventional thinking, and prepare youth for leadership in a rapidly evolving, digitally integrated, and globally competitive printing ecosystem.
The competition is open to students currently enrolled in Diploma, BVoc., BSc., DVoc, BTech., or BE programs in printing or packaging at any recognized institution in India. Designed to be inclusive and wide-reaching, the platform bridges academia and industry by offering real-world exposure, expert mentorship, and hands-on learning—empowering participants to step confidently into leadership roles in a technologically advanced, sustainable future.
India’s printing institutes are grouped into four zones for equitable reach — East Zone (Arunachal Pradesh to West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar); North Zone (Haryana to Delhi); South Zone (Andhra Pradesh to Puducherry); and West Zone (Chhattisgarh to Daman & Diu.)
The four zonal champions will advance to the national round to compete for the coveted title, the Certificate of Excellence, and the ₹1 Lakh prize.
For the first time ever, the national grand finale will be held from 12–16 October 2026, in Shanghai, China, during the All in Print China 2026, supported by Messe Düsseldorf . This collaboration elevates the event to a global platform, opening doors for international exposure, cross-border collaboration, and fresh opportunities for India’s rising print leaders.
Register by December 31, 2025, at: https://forms.gle/jsshLLEf79Bohehv6. Visit https://opaindia.in for details.
