Rules &
Guidelines.
Eligibility criteria, submission requirements, display rules and research conduct - everything you need to know to compete at IRIS National Fair.
Who can participate.
Open to students of Indian origin enrolled at India-based schools. Projects submitted individually or as a team of two - original, research-based or a novel engineering design.
- Indian origin, Classes 5–12. Students residing and studying in schools based in India - government, semi-government and private institutions all welcome.
- Individual or team of two. Projects may be submitted individually or as a team of exactly two students. Teams of three or more are not accepted.
- Original & innovative thinking. Work must demonstrate original research with experimental data, or novel engineering improvements over existing solutions.
- Recent data only. Experimental data cannot exceed 12 months old, though projects may extend previously started work.
IRIS will not consider any project synopsis from a student who has previously registered for IRIS as a Class 12 student - regardless of whether the previous application was evaluated or shortlisted.
21 disciplines, one research community.
Projects must be submitted under one of 21 ISEF-aligned subject categories. The Scientific Review Committee may reclassify projects as needed based on volume.
What you need to submit.
All submissions are online only - no email or physical submissions accepted. The seven mandatory components, with their word limits:
You should also maintain a research data book with detailed notes, alongside the synopsis and a full research paper (with title page, table of contents, introduction, methodology, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgements and references). A single guide per project is required.
No projects are allowed to disclose their school’s name, city name or state in their project video, research paper, project report, presentation, or abstract.
What we won’t consider.
The following types of projects will not be evaluated for IRIS:
- Textbook experiment replication (e.g. oxygen generation, seed germination)
- Science essays or survey reports without personal experimentation
- Unsubstantiated hypotheses lacking personal experimental work
- Claims violating established scientific laws (e.g. perpetual motion)
- Toxicity studies causing vertebrate animal death
- Display-only models without a research foundation
- Survey-based reports without an experimental component
At the National Fair.
If shortlisted, the following rules govern your physical booth and exhibit at the National Fair.
Allowed
- Sealed dried plant materials
- Sealed soil or liquid samples
- Empty combustible-liquid tanks
- Class II lasers - operator-controlled with safety signage
- Properly shielded vacuum tubes
- Insulated high-temperature apparatus
Prohibited
- Living organisms
- Taxidermy or preserved animals
- Human or animal tissue / fluids (teeth, hair, nails and sealed slides excepted)
- Open chemicals, dry ice, sharp items, open flames
- Open or unsealed batteries
- Any student identity disclosure
- Photographs of animal surgery or dissection
Booth specifications
Rules for responsible research.
Strict ethical and safety standards apply - mirroring international science fair protocols.
Human Participants
Informed consent is mandatory and participation must be voluntary. Parents’ written permission required for any minor participants. Students cannot diagnose disease or administer medication independently.
Vertebrate Animals
The Four Rs apply: replace, reduce, refine, respect. No animal deaths permitted. All vertebrate studies must be approved before experimentation begins.
Recombinant DNA
Non-exempt studies involving recombinant DNA require supervision at a registered institution. Approval documentation must accompany the project submission.
Controlled Substances
All applicable federal and state regulations apply. Students under 21 cannot handle smokeless powder or other regulated substances in their research.
Pathogenic Agents
All micro-organisms are considered potentially pathogenic for evaluation purposes. Approval required before any work involving micro-organisms can be submitted.
Recognising extraordinary work.
Beyond the main grand prizes, IRIS recognises outstanding contributions in specific fields through three dedicated special awards.
Recognises distinguished contributions to ecology, sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Honours outstanding materials research and innovation.
Supports STEM equity initiatives and behavioural research.
For any clarifications, contact us at contact@irisnationalfair.org or call +91 98704 00310 / +91 92113 98453 (Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm IST).