Birdspiracy AI Competition 2026
The Birdspiracy AI Competition is a free national AI competition for students in classes 9 to 12. Built for schools across India.
₹50,000 prize pool · Classes 9–12 · Closes 22 Oct 2026, 11:59 PM IST
Before you start
Read these first. They show exactly how entries are scored.
What is this competition about?
Find a problem in your community. Work out how AI could help solve it. Present your plan in 4 to 6 content slides.
Look around your school, your street or your town for something that isn't working. For example: water shortages, crop losses, waste that isn't sorted, patients who can't reach a doctor, or traffic outside your school gate. These are only examples, and you can choose any real problem. Find out how big the problem is and who it affects. Then design a solution that uses AI, explain what the AI would actually do, and show how it could be built.
You may use AI for research and analysis. The writing, structure and design of your slides must be your team's own work.
Judges
Chief Academic Judge: Dr. M.H. Balakrishnaiah, Former ISRO scientist. ME and PhD, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
Meet the judge →Who can enter
- Students in classes 9 to 12, or the equivalent (such as PU college or junior college), at any school. Built for schools across India.
- Teams of 1 to 4 students. One entry per team.
- A school or institution may enter as many teams as it likes.
- Any subject background. No coding experience required.
- Free to enter.
What you submit
Your entry is 4 to 6 content slides, exported as a PDF, maximum 10 MB.
You also need a title slide and a sources slide. Neither counts toward the 4 to 6, so your PDF will be 6 to 8 pages in total.
Name your file TeamName - SchoolName.pdf
Your content slides must cover:
1. The issue (10 marks)
A real problem you can see and describe. Who it affects, how big it is, and the evidence.
2. Solution and AI impact (20 marks)
- What your solution is and what the AI does
- What already exists, and why yours is different
- What it needs to work, and where it would fail
- How it would be built
Presentation (10 marks) is how clearly your slides make the case. An entry without a sources slide cannot score above 5 for presentation.
Prize
A total prize pool of ₹50,000, split three ways.
Every team that submits a complete, valid presentation receives a Certificate of AI Innovation, personalised with each student's name, team name and school, and co-signed by our Chief Academic Judge and the founders, Sam Irfan and Ishat Gangatkar. The top three teams receive exclusive 1st Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place certificates.
Prizes are paid in Indian rupees.
Take part
Read the documents
The judging criteria, a marked example, the slide template and the competition packet are at the top of this page.
Go to the documents ↑Register your team
Teams of 1 to 4 students in classes 9 to 12. One form per team. Register before you submit.
Register your teamSubmit your presentation
Upload your finished slides as a PDF. Use the same team name you registered with. One submission per team.
Submit your presentationTimeline
- Registration and submissions open1 September 2026
Register your team and submit your presentation through the online forms.
- Registration and submissions close22 October 2026, 23:59 IST
Final deadline for both forms. No late entries.
- JudgingFrom 23 October 2026
Entries are reviewed and scored from 23 October.
- Results announced1 November 2026
Winners are notified and published on this site.
Questions
Is it free?
Yes. The competition is free to enter.
Who can enter?
Students in classes 9 to 12, or the equivalent (such as PU college or junior college), at any school. Built for schools across India. Any subject background is welcome.
Can I enter alone?
Yes. Teams can be 1 to 4 students. One entry per team, and each student may be on one team only.
Can my school enter more than one team?
Yes. A school or institution may enter as many teams as it likes.
Do I need to know coding?
No. No coding experience is required.
What do I submit?
4 to 6 content slides, exported as a PDF, maximum 10 MB. A title slide and a sources slide are both required, and neither counts toward the 4 to 6. So the shortest valid entry is 6 pages in total and the longest is 8.
How should I name my file?
Name your file: TeamName - SchoolName.pdf
What should my slides cover?
Two parts: 1. The issue (10 marks). 2. Solution and AI impact (20 marks). Presentation (10 marks) is how clearly your slides make the case. An entry without a sources slide cannot score above 5 for presentation.
When is the deadline?
Registration and submission close 22 October 2026 at 11:59 PM IST. Results are announced on 1 November 2026.
How is it judged?
Out of 40: the problem 10, solution and AI impact 20, presentation 10.
Do all participants get a certificate?
Yes. Every team that submits a complete, valid presentation before the deadline receives a Certificate of AI Innovation, personalised with each student's name, team name and school. The top three teams receive exclusive 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place certificates instead. All certificates are co-signed by our Chief Academic Judge, Dr. M.H. Balakrishnaiah, and by the founders, Sam Irfan and Ishat Gangatkar.
How do I ask a question?
Join the WhatsApp group, or email birdspiracy.competition@gmail.com.