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School science exhibitions often turn into a contest of who bought the shiniest kit. NCERT's own guidelines push hard against that, and if you know how exhibits are judged, you can plan a model that scores well for the right reasons. This post explains what RBVP is, the 2026-27 theme, the judging weights, and a worked score for a sample exhibit.
What is RBVP?
According to NCERT's RBVP page, the first national science exhibition for children was held in Delhi in 1971 by NCERT and the UGC. It was later called the Jawaharlal Nehru National Science, Mathematics and Environment Exhibition, and has now been renamed Rashtriya Bal Vaigyanik Pradarshani. It runs in two phases: exhibitions from district to state level (Rajya Stariya Bal Vaigyanik Pradarshani, RSBVP), and then the national exhibition, hosted by a different state or union territory each year.
NCERT's guidelines for organising RBVP 2025 describe the national event as a platform for students aged 14 to 18, with about 600 students and teachers taking part, usually held between October and December over five days. Organisations such as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti run their own exhibitions and send entries to NCERT directly.
What is the theme for 2026-27?
NCERT's notice dated 28 August 2026 sets the theme for RSBVP 2026-27 and RBVP 2027 as Science, Technology, and Innovation for a Sustainable and Viksit Bharat. The sub-themes are:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Better Life
Green Energy and Environmental Conservation
Mathematical Modelling and Computational Thinking
Health, Hygiene, and Sanitation
Indigenous Agricultural Practices
Science for Rural Transformation
Disaster Management
The notice says the sub-themes are suggestive and students may build models on other sub-themes related to the main theme.
How are exhibits judged?
The latest detailed guidelines we could open are for RSBVP 2025-26 and the 53rd RBVP; check whether NCERT issues new ones for 2026-27. For state-level judging they suggest these weights:
Children's own creativity and imagination: 20%
Originality and innovation: 15%
Scientific thought, principle or approach: 15%
Technical skill, workmanship and craftsmanship: 15%
Utility for society and scalability: 15%
Low cost, portability and durability: 10%
Presentation, demonstration and explanation: 10%
They also suggest 5% extra weightage for exhibits from rural or backward regions and 3% for semi-urban ones. Three entries per sub-theme, preferably by students of Classes 9 to 12, may be forwarded to NCERT, plus two exhibits by students with disabilities. At NCERT, entries are screened on their write-up and a five-minute video.
Worked example: scoring a sample exhibit
Imagine a Class 10 team builds a low-cost soil-moisture alarm for a school garden under the Green Energy and Environmental Conservation sub-theme. A judge's sample marks:
Creativity 16 of 20
Originality 9 of 15
Scientific principle 12 of 15
Workmanship 10 of 15
Utility 12 of 15
Low cost and durability 8 of 10
Presentation 7 of 10
Total: 16 + 9 + 12 + 10 + 12 + 8 + 7 = 74 out of 100. The weakest share is originality, 9 of 15 or 60%, because soil-moisture alarms are common. The team could raise it by measuring something new, such as how readings change with soil type, and showing that data on the chart.
Which mistakes cost marks?
No principle on the chart. Judges score the science, so name it and explain it.
A model that only works once. Durability is in the criteria; test it many times.
Expensive parts with no reason. Low cost carries 10%.
A teacher or parent doing the talking. Presentation is the student's job.
A routine for the term
Read the 2026-27 notice and choose one sub-theme.
Write one sentence stating the principle your exhibit uses.
Build a rough version early and take measurements.
Draft the write-up and a five-minute video script alongside the build.
Rehearse explaining it to someone outside science.
If the principle behind your model is hard to picture, the Fermi Simulation Lab has interactive simulations for ideas that are easier to see than read.
For research-style alternatives, see our posts on the National Children's Science Congress and the IRIS National Fair.
Ask your science teacher this week when your district round of RSBVP is, and write the principle of your planned exhibit in one sentence.
