Bhubaneswar: One of Eastern India’s premier quizzing extravaganzas, Orissa POST Mettle Meet 2026, got off to an enthusiastic start at Hotel Swosti Premium in Bhubaneswar Saturday, with more than 80 leading educational institutions from Odisha and beyond taking part in the contest.
After a challenging preliminary round, 16 teams — eight each in the junior and senior categories — qualified for the Grand Finale scheduled to be held Sunday. Teams from West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and the Northeast also participated, adding a national character to the 2026 edition.
In the junior category, the finalists are defending champions DAV Public School Unit VIII, DAV Public School Kalinga Nagar, KIIT International School, DAV Public School CDA Cuttack, DAV Public School Pokhariput, SAI International School, Mother’s Public School Unit I, Bhubaneswar and Loyola School.
In the senior category, defending champions AIIMS Bhubaneswar will be joined by IIT Guwahati, National Law University Odisha, Cuttack, IIT Kharagpur, Hi-Tech Medical College, IISER Berhampur, Odisha University of Technology and Research (OUTR), and Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar.
Speaking at the event, Orissa POST Editor Tathagata Satpathy said quizzing was not merely about winning prizes but about discovering oneself through knowledge and curiosity. “Quizzing is an art where you discover yourself; the prize is secondary,” Satpathy said.
Orissa POST Chief Executive Adyasha Satpathy said the 2026 edition marked a decade of the Mettle Meet, which began in 2016. “Over the past decade, Mettle Meet has made a significant mark in the world of quizzing. The spirit of quizzing continues to live on, and we are proud to see this journey grow from strength to strength,” she said.
Quizmaster Ajay Poonia, who returned to host the prestigious competition, said Mettle Meet had succeeded in reviving and strengthening the quizzing culture. “Like every year, this year too, we have tried to make the quiz interesting, engaging and fresh for the participants,” he said.
Adding a musical dimension to the event, freestyle rapper Ocsyde delivered an energetic performance for the audience. His spontaneous rap added to the youthful atmosphere at the venue and drew an enthusiastic response from the audience.
The venue remained abuzz from early morning as participants arrived from different parts of Odisha and other states. Several teams undertook overnight journeys to participate in the competition.
The preliminary rounds in both categories comprised 35 questions carrying a maximum of 90 points. There was no negative marking for incorrect answers, while partial points were awarded for partially correct responses.
The preliminaries tested participants across a wide range of subjects, including politics, cinema, sports, history, global affairs, health and culture. Audio-visual elements added further variety and excitement to the contest.
The 16 finalists will battle it out for the coveted Mettle Meet crown at Sunday’s Grand Finale. Defending champions AIIMS Bhubaneswar in the senior category and DAV Unit VIII in the junior category will seek to retain their titles, while the remaining finalists will aim to claim the championship and end the decadal edition on a winning note.