NE EDUCATION BUREAU
CHENNAI, AUG 31
In a world where artificial intelligence can produce an answer in seconds, Chennai’s young quizzers were challenged to demonstrate something more powerful—the ability to think, connect, question and arrive at the answer themselves.
That spirit of intellectual curiosity took centre stage as Harshith A. and Tarun KD of Manthan Vidyashram emerged winners of the Chennai edition of TCS InQuizitive 2026, the flagship inter-school quiz initiative of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
- Harshith A. and Tarun KD of Manthan Vidyashram emerge champions at the Chennai edition of TCS InQuizitive 2026
- 692 teams from 88 schools put their knowledge, teamwork and analytical thinking to the test in the city’s fiercely contested quiz
- AI-powered real-time analytics gives students instant insights into their performance and areas for improvement
- With STEM taking centre stage, the quiz spans artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, automation and biometrics
- Chennai’s winners now advance to the national semi-finals as the 28-year-old TCS initiative searches for India’s brightest young quizzers
The closely fought competition brought together 692 teams representing 88 schools, including institutions from Puducherry, Madurai, Coimbatore and Kanchipuram, turning the Chennai edition into a formidable test of knowledge, teamwork, speed and analytical thinking.
The Manthan Vidyashram duo will now represent Chennai at the national semi-finals, taking their intellectual battle from the city stage to the national arena.
Where curiosity meets technology
The Chennai edition was attended by Rajaseeli Reginald, Scientist G and Additional Director (Vehicle Electronics), CVRDE, DRDO, as Chief Guest, while Alex Duraisamy, Regional Head, TCS Chennai, represented TCS on the dais.
This year, the quiz introduced an important technological twist of its own.
For the first time, participants were able to access real-time AI-powered analytics, giving them detailed performance insights after each round and helping them identify areas in which they could improve.
It was a fitting addition to a competition increasingly testing students on a world being transformed by AI.
But the message behind the innovation was equally important: technology can measure performance, but curiosity, reasoning and the ability to make connections remain fundamentally human strengths.
Chennai’s quizzing spirit gets a technology boost
Speaking on the occasion, Alex Duraisamy said Chennai’s technology ecosystem provides an ideal environment for nurturing young talent.
“Chennai is home to TCS Siruseri, Asia’s largest IT campus, which continues to nurture exceptional technology talent that creates impact on a global scale.”
He said TCS InQuizitive was intended to encourage students to develop an interest in technology while cultivating curiosity.
“Through TCS InQuizitive, we aim to inspire students to pursue technology and cultivate their curiosity, helping ensure that the city continues to shine as a hub for the next generation of technologists.”
He also described the intense competition as evidence of Chennai’s enduring quizzing culture.
“This year’s closely contested edition is a testament to the city’s enduring quizzing excellence and competitive spirit.”
Congratulating the participating teams and the winners, Duraisamy wished the Chennai champions success as they move into the national semi-finals.
Not merely a quiz, but a test of connected thinking
Open to students from Grades 8 to 12, TCS InQuizitive combines learning with competition through questions drawn from a remarkably wide canvas.
Education, entertainment, sports, business trends, advertising and social media form part of the quiz universe, while the growing emphasis on STEM exposes students to rapidly evolving fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, automation, biometrics and robotics.
That breadth is perhaps the competition’s greatest educational strength.
A student may know a fact—but the real challenge is knowing where that fact fits into the larger picture.
In that sense, the quiz moves beyond memory-based learning and encourages students to develop the intellectual agility needed to connect seemingly unrelated developments.
28 years of turning questions into possibilities
Now in its 28th year, TCS InQuizitive has evolved into one of India’s prominent inter-school quiz platforms, bringing successive generations of students into an environment where knowledge is not simply acquired but actively tested.
Its enduring appeal lies in a simple educational proposition: a good question can be as valuable as a good answer.
The initiative encourages students to explore new ideas, broaden their perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of developments shaping the world around them.
That becomes especially relevant in an era when information is available at unprecedented speed.
When facts are only a click away, the ability to question information, evaluate it critically and connect it intelligently becomes an increasingly important educational skill.
From Chennai to the national stage
The 2026 edition is travelling across Pune, Indore, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai, before culminating in the National Finale.
The country’s top young quizzers will eventually converge to compete for the coveted title of TCS InQuizitive National Champions 2026.
For Harshith A. and Tarun KD, that journey now begins in earnest.
They have already conquered the Chennai field.
The next challenge is national.
And in a competition where questions can come from virtually anywhere, one quality could prove more valuable than knowing everything: the curiosity to keep asking why.
