CBSE Inter-School Swimming Championship U-19
by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
CBSE national medal
CBSE's inter-school swimming championship for the Under-19 age group, raced at zonal meets and then nationally, with its own events and boys and girls in separate sections.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual and team
Teams of 1 to 5
Duration
Two stages in a season, the zonal meet and then the national championship, each over a few days
Eligibility
Open to bona fide students of CBSE affiliated private schools within the Under-19 age group as on 31 December of the competition year. Boys and girls compete separately. A younger player may move up an age group but then gives up their own. The school enters the player through the CBSE sports portal.
- Age range
- 17 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Bona fide student of a CBSE affiliated private school. A student who has failed twice in a class is not eligible.
- Prerequisites
- Within the Under-19 age group as on 31 December of the competition year
- Bona fide student of a CBSE affiliated private school
- Has not failed twice in a class
- Registered on the CBSE sports portal with a student UID
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Gold, silver and bronze medals
The top three in each event take medals and merit certificates. The Best Swimmer title in the age group goes to one swimmer per section on medals won, and a prize may go to the school with the most team points.
Certificate
CBSE merit certificate
Merit certificates go to the winners and participation certificates to everyone who plays. All are issued online and no printed copy is given. A player who reports but does not play receives no certificate.
Recognition
CBSE national championship
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Competition
- 27 Jul 2026 to 29 Oct 2026
How to apply
- 1The school registers the student on the CBSE sports portal and gets a UID, which stays with the student in later years
- 2The school completes Apply to Participate for swimming in the Under-19 age group, which is required on top of registration
- 3The school emails the host school to confirm participation at least a week before the meet
- 4The student swims the zonal meet, and the first two in each event go on to the nationals
Rules and guidelines
- A swimmer may enter at most 5 individual events plus the relays, and a school enters one swimmer per event
- Races follow Swimming Federation of India rules, and no swimmer may start without a proper swimming costume
- Only bona fide students of CBSE affiliated private schools may take part, and a student who has failed twice in a class is not eligible
- A junior player may compete in a senior age group, but then gives up their own age group
- Entries are made only online by the school, and no offline or on the spot entry is accepted
About this opportunity
The CBSE swimming championship for Under-19 is entered, played and medalled as its own age group. A player must be within the Under-19 age group as on 31 December of the year of the competition. Boys and girls compete in separate sections.
Swimmers in this age group race 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle for girls and 1500 m freestyle for boys, 50 m, 100 m and 200 m backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, and the 200 m and 400 m individual medley, along with the 4x100 m freestyle and 4x100 m medley relays. A swimmer may enter at most 5 individual events plus the relays, and a school may enter one swimmer per event.
Only bona fide students of CBSE affiliated private schools take part, and a student who has failed twice in a class is not eligible. The school enters the player online through the CBSE sports portal in three steps: it registers the student to get a UID, completes Apply to Participate for the sport, and emails the host school to confirm at least a week before the meet.
The swimming championship runs in two stages, a zonal meet and then the national championship. Swimming is not held at cluster level. The first two in each event at a zonal meet go on to the national championship, and when a zonal event has fewer than four swimmers it may still run, with medals but no points towards the championships.
Gold, silver and bronze medals go to the winners, with merit certificates for them and participation certificates for everyone who plays, all issued online. Travel, food and kit are paid for by the school or the family, and teams report to the host school the day before the event starts.
Rounds and format
Two stages. At the zonal meet the first and second in each event qualify for the national championship. Time trial events give each swimmer a single swim, with places set on time across all heats; other events run to finals. The championship is decided separately for boys and girls.
How entries are judged
Races are decided on finishing order and time under Swimming Federation of India rules. Team points go 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 for the first six places in individual events and 14, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 in relays. The Best Swimmer title goes to one swimmer per section on medals won, with performance breaking a tie.
Selection process
At the zonal meet, the first and second in each event qualify for the national championship. The top three at each stage take medals and merit certificates.
Frequently asked questions
Who belongs in the Under-19 age group?
A player within the Under-19 age group as on 31 December of the year of the competition. For the 2026-27 season that means born on or after 1 January 2008.
Which events can a swimmer enter?
In the Under-19 age group: 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle for girls and 1500 m freestyle for boys, 50 m, 100 m and 200 m backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, and the 200 m and 400 m individual medley, plus the 4x100 m freestyle and 4x100 m medley relays. A swimmer may enter at most 5 individual events plus the relays.
How does a swimmer reach the national championship?
Through the zonal meet. The first and second in each event qualify. Swimming is not held at cluster level.
When are the 2026-27 national championships?
At Bhopal, boys from 24 to 28 September 2026 at Technocrats International School and girls from 25 to 29 October 2026 at The Oriental Public School.
Is there a fee for the family?
No entry fee per student. CBSE charges each private affiliated school an annual sports fee of Rs 10,000 with its Class IX to XII registration. Travel, food and kit are paid for by the school or the family.
Can a younger player compete in an older age group?
Yes. CBSE lets a junior player compete in a senior age group, but the player then gives up their own age group.
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