Esri India Young Scholar Program 2026

About the Program

The Esri India Young Scholar Program recognizes outstanding geospatial projects developed by students currently enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs across India, who use Esri technology to address real-world challenges.

The program also offers a unique opportunity for a selected student to showcase their project/research at the world’s largest gathering of GIS professionals, researchers, and industry leaders, and to join a global community of Young Scholars at the Esri User Conference in San Diego, USA.

Eligibility

The Esri India Young Scholar Program is open to students who meet the following criteria:

Enrolment Status: Full-time undergraduate or postgraduate students of Indian origin enrolled in colleges or universities in India, pursuing GIS or related disciplines.
Graduating Students: Students graduating in 2026 are also eligible to apply.
Individual Submission: Entries must be individual projects. Group or team submissions will not be considered.
Use of Esri Technology: The submitted project or research must demonstrate the application of Esri (ArcGIS) technology.
India-Focused Study: The project should address a real-world challenge in India, using geospatial analysis to derive insights or solutions.
Single Entry: Only one submission per applicant is permitted. Applicants are encouraged to submit their best and most impactful work.

How To Apply?

The following are the steps to apply for Esri India Young Scholar Program 2026

Register for the Esri India Young Scholar Program. Once registered, a confirmation email will be sent to your registered email ID with a link to provide additional details and complete your application to submit the following documents.
A0 size poster with map elements to summarize the research and visualize the project effort i.e. 84.1cm x 118.9cm; in PDF format in 300 dpi.
The submitted project/research must use Esri technology for research, analysis, visualization, and mapping.
Abstract (no more than 500 words) outlining the objective of your project, its value proposition, and why you should be selected as Esri India's Young Scholar.
All submissions must fully comply with U.S. Export laws and all other applicable laws including COVID-19 mandates.

Terms & Conditions

Awards, Recognition & Global Exposure

The Esri India Young Scholar Program recognizes exceptional student work in GIS and geospatial sciences. Three students will be selected as Esri India Young Scholars 2026, with one scholar earning the opportunity to present their project at the Esri India User Conference, San Diego, CA.

Esri India Young Scholars - Top Three
The top three students with outstanding projects will receive:
- The title of Esri India Young Scholar 2026
- An official trophy and certificate from Esri India
- A 12-month ArcGIS Personal Use License
- Recognition for excellence in GIS and geospatial innovation at the national level
Global Young Scholar Winner - One Student
One scholar from the Top Three will be selected as the Esri India Young Scholar – Global Winner and will receive:
- Complimentary registration to the Esri Education Summit and Esri International User Conference
- Sponsored travel and hotel accommodation (up to 7 nights)
- Formal award presentation at the Esri Awards Ceremony, including a group photograph with Jack Dangermond, President & Founder, Esri
- Display of the winning poster in the Map Gallery’s Special Displays section at the conference
- Exclusive networking opportunities with global Young Scholar Award recipients and GIS leaders

Evaluation Criteria

Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Application of Esri Technology: Submissions must be developed using Esri (ArcGIS) technology.
Nativeness – Representation of Indian Scenarios and resolving challenges with spatial technology.
Uniqueness
Creativity and innovation
Real-world relevancy

Important Dates

Last date for registration: 1 March 2026
Last date for project submission: 8 March 2026
Students are encouraged to submit their projects well in advance of the deadline. Doing so will allow Esri India Technical Experts to provide guidance, helping students enhance their projects. The latest version should be resubmitted by March 8, 2026.

For any information regarding the Esri India Young Scholar Program please write out to us at gis.education@esri.in.

Esri India Young Scholars Through the Years

Raihan Ahmad Khan

Department of Remote Sensing
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Archer: An Open-Source GIS AI Assistant For ArcGIS Pro

View Contest Project
Anjali Shivsharan

Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Geospatial and IoT Solutions for Smart Lake Monitoring in India

View Contest Project
Shubham T. Girigosavi

Department of Geography
Shivaji University Kolhapur

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: A Mobile Application for Koyna Dam

View Contest Project
Navjoth Boddepalli

M. Tech Infrastructure design and Management
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: GeoAI-Driven Customised Geocoding System for IIT Kharagpur Campus Using Geohashing, VGI and NLP Techniques.

View Contest Project
Suchitra Kumud

M.Tech Disaster Mitigation and Management
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Flood Risk Assessment using BIM and GIS Integration at Neighbourhood Scale

View Contest Project
Pondharshini A

M.Sc. Environmental Sciences
Bharathiar University

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Assessment of Female-Led Household Waste Management for Sustainable Waste Management: Understanding Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Coimbatore City Corporation, India.

View Contest Project
Radhakrishnan Thulasi

Department of Environmental Sciences, Bharathiar University.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: AHP-GIS based Garbage Vulnerability Zone Mapping: A Case Study from Coimbatore City, India

View Contest Project
Mira Shivani Sankar

Centre for Wireless Network & Applications, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Critical Analysis Of Hydrological Mass Variations Of Northwest India

View Contest Project
Ishita Singh

M.Tech in Geomatics, CEPT University

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭: Urban Flood Resilient Cities Empowered Through GIS

View Contest Project