Science In Focus (SIF) by FAST India
by FAST India (Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology India)
₹30,000 Cash Prize
Science in Focus (SIF) is the premier science photography and illustration competition of the India Science Festival, aimed at sparking visual creativity among students, researchers, and professionals.
Mode
Hybrid
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
1 day (Final Event)
Time needed
Depends on the time taken to make the entry
Eligibility
Open to all Indian citizens, including students, researchers, and professionals, with no age restrictions. Participants can participate in 2 categories. Category A: For photography entries, Category B: For illustration entries. The participants must have an Indian bank account.
- Age range
- 6 years and above
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Open to students, researchers, and professionals.
- Prerequisites
- Interest in science and visual arts
- Ability to convey scientific concepts through photography or illustration
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
₹30,000
Cash prizes of ₹30,000 for 1st place and ₹20,000 for 2nd place in both Category A and B.
Certificate
Certificate of Participation & Achievement
Certificates of participation will be provided to all eligible participants, and certificates of achievement will be awarded to finalists and winners.
Recognized by
Opens doors to
Showcasing achievements in SIF can enhance university applications for STEM, design, and media-related courses, demonstrating interdisciplinary skills and a passion for science.
Career pathways
Participation and recognition in SIF can open doors to opportunities in science journalism, medical illustration, scientific research communication, and visual content creation for educational platforms and scientific organizations.
Recognition
National Recognition
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration opened
- 1 Jun 2026
- Registration closed
- 31 Jul 2026
How to apply
- 1Visit the official India Science Festival website (indiasciencefest.org/sif-2025/).
- 2Carefully read all program details and guidelines for submission.
- 3Register on the platform by providing the required personal details.
- 4Use the received credentials to log into your account.
- 5Navigate to the 'Apply' section and accurately fill in all necessary information.
- 6Upload your photography or illustration entries as per the specified format and size limits.
- 7Review all provided information and uploaded files thoroughly before final submission.
- 8Click 'Submit' to finalize your application before the deadline.
Rules and guidelines
- Entries must be original and not previously published or submitted to other competitions.
- AI- and software-generated images are strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification.
- For Category B (Illustrations), comics should not exceed 4 panels and artwork should be square-oriented for A1 printing.
- Digital illustrations in Category B must be in CMYK color mode with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI.
- Basic editing (color enhancement, filters, cropping) is allowed; advanced manipulation (adding/removing significant elements) is prohibited.
- The decision of the jury and the ISF team is final and non-negotiable.
- Files must adhere to specified formats (JPEG for photos, TIFF/PNG for illustrations) and size limits (max 10 MB).
Technology requirements
- For photography entries (Category A): Digital camera, DSLR, mobile phone, light microscope, electron microscope, or telescope.
- For illustration entries (Category B): Software for digital illustrations (must not be AI-generated).
- Reliable internet access for online submission via the designated Google Form.
About this opportunity
Science in Focus (SIF) is the flagship science photography and illustration competition of the India Science Festival, organized by FAST India. This national competition invites students, researchers, and professionals across India to ignite their visual creativity and explore contemporary scientific themes.
Participants are encouraged to convey unique scientific insights through compelling images, detailed illustrations, and engaging science humor sketches. The competition aims to simplify complex scientific ideas that words alone cannot fully capture, providing a dynamic platform for science enthusiasts to share their visual stories of scientific discoveries, innovative experiments, or imaginative interpretations of scientific concepts.
SIF also offers a unique opportunity for participants to interact with renowned professional science photographers and illustrators who serve as judges and provide inspiration through interactive sessions.
The top entries will receive significant cash prizes and will be showcased in a dazzling exhibition at the India Science Festival. The competition is free to enter and open to all Indian citizens with an Indian bank account.
Rounds and format
Round 1: Online submission of entries. Round 2: In-person exhibition of top 15 entries from each category and evaluation by jury members.
How entries are judged
Entries are evaluated based on technical quality, originality, composition, story and relevance to the theme, artistic element/aesthetic appeal, and overall impact.
Selection process
Top 15 entries in each category are selected for final evaluation. The top 2 entries from each category, based on averaged jury scores, receive cash prizes.
How to prepare
- Official website guidelines for detailed submission requirements.
- Interactive sessions with professional photographers and illustrators (as part of the festival).
Academic details
Difficulty: Mixed Levels
What's covered
The competition does not follow a fixed curriculum but encourages participants to explore scientific themes through their chosen visual medium. Focus areas include 'Photos of Science' and 'Science Illustrations and Science Humor Sketches'.
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