India's Young Print Stars to Shine at Global Finale in Shanghai

Ludhiana, December 11, 2025: The Offset Printers Association (OPA) proudly announced the 7th Edition of Print Olympiad 2026, India’s flagship talent hunt for printing and packaging students. Launched in 2014 by visionary leader Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra, this one-of-a-kind global initiative continues to spotlight young Indian innovators. Students across the country will compete for the prestigious title of “No. 1 Student of India” along with a ₹1 Lakh cash award, culminating in a historic grand finale in Shanghai, China, amid worldwide recognition.

Speaking at the launch, Prof. Kamal Mohan 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 emphasized that 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, B.Voc., B.Sc., D.Voc., B.Tech., or B.E. 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 strategically grouped into four dynamic zones for equitable reach:
•    East Zone (Arunachal Pradesh to West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar): Hosted by RIPT Kolkata & Govt. Polytechnic Patna. Coordinators: Mr. Shankhya Debnath, Mr. Beer Bahadur Singh.
•    North Zone (Haryana to Delhi): Hosted by GJUST Hisar, KUK Kurukshetra, CUH Mahendergarh. Coordinators: Dr. Bijender Kaushik, Dr. Shammi Mehra, Mr. Kanwardeep Sharma.
•    South Zone (Andhra Pradesh to Puducherry): Hosted by Anna University Chennai, IPT Chennai, AGPC Sivakasi, NPC Pollachi. Coordinators: Dr. M. Nandakumar, Dr. J.P. Nirmala, Dr. T. Murugesan, Mr. Murugapandiyan P.
•    West Zone (Chhattisgarh to Daman & Diu): Hosted by PVG’s COET & GKPWIM Pune, MIPT Pune, K.S. Wani Dhule. Coordinators: Prof. Madhura Mahajan, Prof. Parmeshwar Shinde, Mr. Prasad Puranik.
Chief Coordinator: Prof. Madhura Mahajan; Technical: Dr. Mohit Kumar (GJUST).

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 October 12–16, 2026, in Shanghai, China, during the prestigious All in Print China 2026, supported by Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. This groundbreaking 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.

Past champions—Sachin Verma (2014), S. Manjula (2016), Ashish (2018), Nivedha N (2020), Vishwa Sree K. (2022), and Annu (2024)—are testaments to the Olympiad’s transformative impact. From on-ground contests to virtual editions during the pandemic, the initiative has inspired thousands across six successful editions.