Bhubaneswar: Mettle Meet 2026 is all set to kick off Saturday, bringing together around 80 teams from across Odisha and different parts of the country for one of the biggest and most prestigious quizzing competitions in eastern India. The opening day will feature the preliminary rounds in both the junior and senior categories.
The top eight teams from each category will qualify for the grand finale, scheduled to be held Sunday. Renowned quizmaster Ajay Poonia will host the competition this year as well, promising an engaging contest with his trademark wit and energetic presentation.
The winners in each category will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the first and second runners-up will receive Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively. Defending champions AIIMS Bhubaneswar (Senior) and DAV Public School, Unit-VIII, Bhubaneswar (Junior) will aim to retain their titles.
Last year’s runners-up — IIT Kharagpur and IIM Calcutta (Senior), and KIIT International School and Loyola School (Junior) — will also be among the strong contenders.
This year’s edition will also mark the debut participation of prestigious institutions such as IIT Guwahati. Other premier institutions taking part include IIM Calcutta, IIT Kharagpur and NIT Raipur, further strengthening the competition’s national profile.
Launched in 2016, Mettle Meet is an initiative of Orissa POST, Odisha’s only home-grown English daily, aimed at promoting the culture of quizzing and nurturing intellectual curiosity among students. Over the years, the event has evolved into one of eastern India’s premier quiz competitions, attracting participants from leading schools, colleges and higher educational institutions across the country.
