COFAS 2026: Day 2 Updates
The second day of the four-day International Computer Olympiad COFAS-2026, organised by City Montessori School (CMS), Rajendra Nagar Campus I, on 14th October 2026 gave over 500 young innovators from Thailand, Bangladesh, Uganda, Nepal and various states of India the opportunity to showcase technological skills, scientific thinking, and creative expression. Through a series of exciting competitions, students highlighted the creative use of digital technology while promoting social awareness and human values.
The day began with a prayer assembly and lighting of the lamp by our distinguished guests Mr Aniruddh Gupta (Chief AI Officer and Head of AI Services, Silver Skill), Maj. Virat Mishra, IRTS Retd. (Adviser – Defence Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur), Lt. Col. Prashant Kumar Singh (Director General – UIDA, Uttar Pradesh & CMS alumnus) Mr Aindri Kumar Jha (Director – KPMG & CMS alumnus), Mr Akshat Baranwal (Co-founder and CTO – Stimular AI; Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 awardee & CMS alumnus), Mrs Jayashree Krishnan (Convenor of COFAS-2026 and Senior Principal, CMS Rajendra Nagar Campus I), and Ms Khyati Lamba (Co-convenor of COFAS-2026 and Principal, CMS Rajendra Nagar Campus I).
In his keynote address, Lt. Col. Prashant Kumar Singh covered a wide range of subjects and skills, including some fascinating insights into the railways.
This was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Aligning technological progress with human values’ moderated by Mr Aindri Kumar Jha. During the discussion, our eminent panellists Mr Aniruddh Gupta, Maj. Virat Mishra, IRTS Retd., and Mr Akshat Baranwal highlighted the importance of balancing technological advancement with empathy, ethical responsibility, and social awareness. They emphasised that innovation must remain rooted in human values.
Following this insightful beginning, the day’s student engagement events were organised under three categories: Junior, Senior and Team Events.
Ctrl + Alt + Del (Restart Humanity Dramatics) invited students to present short plays on the theme A Glitch in the System, A Reboot for the Soul. The participants explored the impact of technology on human relationships, highlighting the enduring importance of compassion, emotional sensitivity and meaningful human connections.
Caricaturas (Digital Comic Making) encouraged young artists to transform their ideas, stories and emotions into engaging digital comics.
Robo Vision (Robot Balloon Challenge) tested participants’ engineering and robotics skills. Teams designed robots capable of bursting balloons within the stipulated three hours, demonstrating logical reasoning, technical expertise and innovative thinking.
Softek (Game Designing) challenged students to develop engaging digital games addressing important social and environmental issues, including traffic safety, pollution control, waste management, cyber safety and water conservation.
In the Confabular (Debate), senior participants engaged in preliminary rounds exploring pressing questions related to artificial intelligence, digital privacy and sustainability.
Adding a musical dimension to the junior category, Beats & Strings (Musical Fusion) brought together teams of eight students for performances based on Essence of Digital Humanity.
The day’s activities culminated in ‘Navrang’, a vibrant cultural programme where the participating teams enthralled the audience with colourful folk dances and traditional songs representing their diverse cultural backgrounds. It was truly a celebration of the spirit of ‘One World; Many Cultures; One Celebration’.
