Free chess program for schools
The National School Chess League (NSCL) 2026 has opened onboarding for schools across India. The initiative aims to provide structured chess education to students at no cost to participating schools. The program is headed by World Champion Gukesh, structured by coach Vishnu Prasanna and International Master Soumya Swaminathan, and presented by CircleChess. It is designed as a structured digital league model for schools across India.
Students participating in NSCL have access to:
Curriculum-based interactive chess lessons
Assignments and monthly assessments
School and national leaderboards
Competitive exposure through school, inter-school, state, and national levels
Official completion certificates signed by Gukesh
The program will conclude with a national competition for students who complete the structured cycle.
Learning dashboard
School Onboarding
Schools can join by submitting basic details and a student list on the NSCL website. The NSCL team handles login credentials, dashboard activation, and program setup. The system is entirely digital, requiring no additional faculty, infrastructure changes, or cost for schools. Schools that have already onboarded confirm that the setup is simple and time-efficient.
Optional Advanced Training
Schools interested in additional support can request:
Live online classes
Group training sessions
Advanced preparation for competitions
Pathways for high-performing students
Expansion and Participation
Onboarding is open on a rolling basis. Schools that register early get the full benefit of the structured learning cycle from day one. The programe is open to CBSE, ICSE, and state-board schools. Schools can apply at NSCL 2026 School Partnership. For coordination, they can contact nscl@circlechess.com.
Students can register individually at Student Registration.
