365telugu.com online news,Bengaluru, 21 November, 2025:Pratham Chetan Dand from Shree M. J. C. K. R. Higher Secondary School, Songadh, Gujarat has been crowned the National Champion of the 26th TCS Rural IT Quiz 2025. The grand finale was held on 20 November 2025 at the Bengaluru Tech Summit.
Anish Nauso Shetye from Dr. K. B. Hedgewar Vidyamandir, Sankhalim, Goa secured the Runner-Up position.
Prize Highlights
- National Champion: ₹1,00,000 educational scholarship
- Runner-Up: ₹50,000 educational scholarship
- All eight national finalists: ₹10,000 each from TCS
This year, the quiz witnessed a record participation of over 5.62 lakh students from classes 8 to 12 across rural and semi-urban India. The journey included online tests, virtual regional rounds, and intense on-stage battles at the national finals.
National Finalists 2025
- Roop Raunak – JPN Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
- Vishal Likhitkar – Govt. Sandipani H.S. School, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Pratham Chetan Dand – Shree M.J.C.K.R. H.S. School, Songadh, Gujarat (Champion)
- B. Jaya Raghavendra – AP Residential School, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
- Shivam M Thakare – JD Choudhari JR Science College, Wardha, Maharashtra
- KR Bhagath Surya – Sri Saraswathi Vidyaniketana, Anekal, Karnataka
- Shubham Choudhari – BSP Senior Secondary School, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh
- Anish Nauso Shetye – Dr. K. B. Hedgewar Vidyamandir, Sankhalim, Goa (Runner-Up)
The prizes were presented by Sunil Deshpande, Regional Head, TCS Bengaluru, and Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, Director – Electronics, IT & BT, and MD, Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society, Government of Karnataka.
Since its inception in 2000 in partnership with the Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, the TCS Rural IT Quiz has reached over 21.5 million students from smaller towns and districts, creating IT awareness and inspiring the next generation of tech talent. It continues to be recognised by the Limca Book of Records as India’s first and longest-running IT quiz for rural students.