Print Olympiad is the India’s biggest Talent hunt in Printing and is the only competition of its kind anywhere in the world.

The 5th edition of ‘Print Olympiad’ in 2022 is in progress these days. The first round of the competition for the students currently studying in the printing institutions of South India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Lakshadweep and Puducherry) was organized at virtual platform on 22nd May, 2022.

As per the standard norms, to select ‘top student’ of each of the four zones (North, South, East and West), the regional level competition will be held ‘online’ and will be organized under the supervision of two ‘Regional Coordinators’. The coordinators will organize two rounds of online competition(s) to select top 3 to 5 students of the region. The final round to select the top student of the region, will be organized under the supervision of a national team where these 5 students will have to speak on a given topic for specific time. This will also involve votes from onlookers of the online event.

After completing the regional competitions the national finale will be organized in-person, instead of virtually. Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra conceived the idea of Print Olympiad to drill out the best brains among the printing students and then award them. The 1st prize is Rs.1,00,000.

The South Zone competitions are being hosted by the School of Engineering, Avinashilingam Institute for Women, Coimbatore along with AGP, Sivakasi. Dr. (Mrs.) TKS Lakshmi Priya – Prof. and Head, Department of Printing Technology, Avinashilingam University and Dr. M Nandakumar, Principal Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic, Sivakasi.

The first round for the South Zone was moderated by Dr. (Mrs.) TKS Lakshmi Priya – Prof. and Head, Department of Printing Technology, Avinashilingam University. Speaking about the concept and necessity of Print Olympiad, Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra gave a quick brief about the objectives of Print Olympiad which is to give opportunity to students of printing to showcase their technical knowledge and their technology-readiness. This unique event has attracted the interest of Printer associations all over the globe.

In her inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Dr. Bharathi Harishankar praised the Print industry as one of the very few Industries that have survived the various industrial revolutions. “While the Internet can only be a puppet of data and words to its reader, book reading enhances critical and higher order thinking,” says Dr. Bharathi Harishankar who herself is an ardent reader and has read over 3000 books which she proudly has in her library. She also appealed to the organizers to initiate a nation-wide “Reading Print Celebration” to promote the reading of printed matter among all ages. “Print can never go out of fashion but is reinventing itself, and therefore printing as a technology will survive for years to come,” she declares.

Mr. K. Rajendran, President, Master Printers and Lithographer’s Association, Chennai, the Guest of Honour, briefed the current situation of Printing & Packaging industry in India and also the role of print teachers and student towards the futuristic development of the Print Industry.

The online question paper link was broadcast to the contestants individually, who had to answer the set of 50 questions in 30 minutes in the presence of three eminent judges during this online meet. The entire team of judges and coordinators, monitored the conduct of the test. The judges declared the following eight students eligible for the next round: