National Aviation Olympiad 2026
NAO
📌 About the Program
The National Aviation Olympiad (NAO) 2026 is the 1st Pan-India Aviation Olympiad, organized by the Centre for Scientific Outreach (CSO).
Designed for school students in Classes 8th to 12th, NAO aims to inspire and prepare India’s youth for emerging opportunities in aviation, aerospace, space technology, and defense innovation. It provides structured learning pathways, hands-on exposure, and career mentorship to bridge talent gaps in India’s expanding aviation sector.
🗓️ Program Details & Schedule
- Registration Deadline: Extended to August 10, 2026
- Program Timeline: August 2026 – December 2026
- Target Audience: Students of Classes 8th to 12th across 36 States & UTs
- Organizing Body: Centre for Scientific Outreach (CSO)
- Contact Email:
nao@thecso.in| Contact Numbers: +91 97739 87836 / +91 92112 29927
🎯 Contest Format & Structure
The Olympiad is conducted across three structured phases:
- Phase 1: School Level Screening (August 2026)
- Format: Online or offline 90-minute screening test.
- Qualifiers: Top 3 students from Group 1 (Middle School: Classes 8–10) and Top 3 from Group 2 (Higher School: Classes 11–12) per school.
- Phase 2: State/UT Rounds (October 2026)
- Format: Online or offline State/UT screening test.
- Qualifiers: Top 2 from Group 1 and Top 3 from Group 2 per State/UT advance to the National Level.
- Phase 3: National Finals (December 7, 2026 – New Delhi)
- Format: 145 National Finalists participate in quizzes, viva sessions with aviation experts, presentations, and experiential exposure visits.
💰 Awards, Scholarships & Benefits
- ₹5+ Crore in Scholarships: Dedicated scholarship pool for high-performing students.
- Drone Pilot Licenses: 145 free DGCA-aligned drone pilot licenses awarded to national finalists.
- Experiential Exposure & Internships: Airport/ATC tower visits, MRO hangar tours, drone flight training, and internship opportunities.
- National Recognition: National felicitations, academic awards, participation certificates, and career mentorship from over 100 industry and academic leaders (DRDO, ISRO, HAL, Airbus, Boeing, DGCA, AAI).