62ND SHANKAR'S ON-THE-SPOT PAINTING COMPETITION 2026
Event Overview — 62nd Shankar’s On-The-Spot Painting Competition 2026
Organized by Children’s Book Trust (CBT) under the aegis of Shankar’s International Children’s Competition (SICC)
The 62nd Shankar’s On-The-Spot Painting Competition 2026 was held on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. Organized by Children’s Book Trust (CBT) as the flagship live painting event of Shankar’s International Children’s Competition (SICC), the competition brought together young artists to create original artworks on the spot on subjects announced at the start of the session.
Event Highlights and Photographs
Glimpses of young artists painting live on the spot at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
Every edition of Shankar’s On-The-Spot Painting Competition transforms the stadium arena in New Delhi into a vibrant open-air studio where young artists bring their imagination to life with colours, brushes, and paper. Browse official photographs and highlights from the October 2026 Competition below.
About Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition
Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition is one of India’s most iconic and prestigious children’s art events, celebrated nationwide for encouraging creativity, imagination, and artistic confidence among young learners. The competition evolved as a flagship live extension of the world-famous Shankar’s International Children’s Competition, first introduced in 1952 in New Delhi to demonstrate the genuine original talent of child artists.
Grand Comeback
Returned at IG Stadium with 3,000+ children on Children's Day after 2005.
Doubled Excitement
Organized twice a year in 2023 & 2024 due to overwhelming enthusiasm.
61st & 62nd Editions
Celebrated in January 2026 & the 62nd edition held on 25 October 2026 at JLN Stadium.
Participant Rules and Guidelines
Official competition rules, drawing material specifications, back-of-painting details, and arena regulations
Official Participant Rules & Guidelines Document (2026)
OFFICIAL • 2026Complete circular with official participant rules, paper sizes, allowed media & competition guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions — Competition Guidelines
No. Entry to Shankar’s On-The-Spot Painting Competition is completely free of charge.
Participants brought all drawing materials including paper, colours, brushes, and boards. Official paper sizes were 15″ × 11″ (Quarter Imperial) and 22″ × 15″ (Half Imperial). Paintings were preferably in colour.
Full name, full residential address, date of birth, age, mobile number, school name, full school address, and gender (boy or girl).
No. Only participating children were allowed inside the competition arena. Parents, teachers, and other adults sat in their designated area, as unauthorised entry into the arena disqualifies the participant.
The best entry receives the Shankar's Memorial Gold Medal. The next two receive the Children's Book Trust Gold Medal and the Children's World Gold Medal. There are additional prizes, and entries selected for exhibition receive Certificates of Merit.
Official Rules Circular: Download the 2026 Participant Rules PDF.
Previous Edition and Prize Winners (61st Edition – January 2026)
Official prize distribution photograph, Medal Winners Portal (152 Medalists), and Certificate of Merit Portal (320 Recipients) from the 61st edition
About Children’s Book Trust
Children’s Book Trust (CBT) was founded in 1957 by the celebrated political cartoonist and visionary K. Shankar Pillai (Shankar) at Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. Established as a pioneer in quality children’s publishing in India, CBT is dedicated to promoting well-written, well-illustrated, and affordably priced books for children, while nurturing young talent across literature, painting, and cultural exchange through Shankar’s International Children’s Competition (SICC).
Contact Information
Reach out to Shankar’s International Children’s Competition (SICC) & Children’s Book Trust, New Delhi
View Official Contact Page →