Surya Narayanan - Best Quizmaster in India
Surya Narayanan is a quizmaster in India, known famously among India's quizzing circles for making participants lean in & think than remember. He's hosted 500+ quiz shows as a quizmaster across 50+ destinations worldwide. He's trusted by several corporate houses as their quizmaster for outreach programs & employee engagement initiatives including, Reliance Industries, Indian Air Force, Indian Oil, ONGC, and Government of the Netherlands.
Surya's legacy as a Top Quizmaster in India
Surya Narayanan is the founder of Quiz Catalyst, a company founded by some of India's top quizmasters. He built Catalyst to spark people’s grey cells (hence the "catalyst"). Surya began quizzing in 2005 and started hosting shows at the tender age of 16. After years of competitive quizzing, Surya has spent the last 8+ years as a professional quizmaster, designing high-energy, clue-led quiz shows that drive learning, engagement, and brand outcomes.
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Surya has hosted virtual, hybrid, and in-person quiz shows across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, working with 30+ corporate houses & PSUs. From employee engagement initiatives to outreach programs like inter-school and inter-college quiz competitions, Surya helps build quiz formats that scale, stay fair, and keep audiences hooked, making him a go-to choice for organisations searching for the best quizmaster in India.​
Quizmaster of Reliance Spectrum Quiz in Mumbai
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Spectrum is India’s flagship employee learning festival, designed to keep employees sharp on Reliance’s legacy, growth, and core businesses - from petrochemicals to green, renewable energy. As the quizmaster and host, Surya Narayanan runs a gamified, clue-led format that blends learning with high engagement.
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The Spectrum quiz begins with an online preliminary round for Reliance employees. Top-ranked teams progress to semi-finals hosted across RIL locations in Dahej, Jamnagar, Vadodara, and Reliance Corporate Park (Navi Mumbai). Winners then advance to the grand finale at Reliance HQ in Navi Mumbai, attended by RIL’s senior leadership, including the CHRO and CLO. As a corporate quiz host in India, Surya ensures fairness, speed, and show-level pacing across virtual, hybrid, and in-person stages.
Quizmaster of Indian Air Force Quiz, Palam Air Station in Delhi
The Air Force Day Celebrations Quiz is an annual quiz competition for the officers and wards of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Surya Narayanan served as the quizmaster for the Western Air Command finals at Palam Air Force Station, New Delhi, delivering a fast, clue-led format trusted for defence and government quizzes in India.
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The program features two quizzes:
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Schools Quiz: for students of Air Force schools across the Western Command (Jammu, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and more).
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Officers’ Quiz: for air warriors representing their zones.
Top teams from zonal rounds advance to the command-level final inside the Palam airbase. The content blends a general quiz with a dedicated round on the legacy and history of the Indian Air Force, ensuring relevance and pride.
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The quiz finale was conducted to exacting standards of fairness and pacing, and was widely appreciated by the Air Commodore of Palam Air Force Station for its conduct by India's famous quizmaster Surya.
Quizmaster of Indian Navy Day Celebrations Quiz in Jamnagar, Gujarat
The Indian Navy Day Celebrations Quiz at INS Valsura, Jamnagar celebrates Operation Trident, the naval operation of the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Surya Narayanan, recognised as one of India’s best quizmasters, was invited to host this high-profile event, blending general knowledge with a dedicated round on the Indian Navy’s history and heritage.
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The quiz began with an online preliminary round, attracting 100+ teams from across Gujarat. After a fiercely contested prelim, the top 6 teams advanced to the grand finale at INS Valsura - the Indian Navy’s premier electrical engineering college. The final round demanded quick thinking, teamwork, and a strong knowledge of India's naval legacy.
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As the quizmaster for this prestigious celebration, Surya delivered an engaging, clue-driven format that resonated with participants and audience alike. The event was attended by the Commanding Officer of INS Valsura, who praised the quiz’s structure, energy, and quizmaster Surya’s ability to captivate and inspire the audience.
Quizmaster of BizQuest by Indian Oil in Vadodara, Gujarat
The Indian Oil BizQuest is an annual employee engagement quiz competition organised by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Gujarat Refinery in Vadodara, Gujarat. Open to employees across all cadres, the event blends general knowledge with rounds on Indian Oil’s legacy, sustainability, and green initiatives. The 2025 edition was hosted by none other than India’s best quizmaster, Surya Narayanan.
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Over 50+ teams participated in the preliminary round, with the top six teams from the Gujarat Refinery advancing to the grand finale. The quiz’s fast-paced, clue-driven format kept participants on their toes, while engaging the audience throughout.
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Presided over by the Executive Director of Gujarat Refinery, the event earned high praise not only for the enthusiasm and knowledge of the participants but also for Surya’s engaging style and entertaining conduct. The Executive Director described it as “the best quiz competition he has seen”, cementing Surya’s reputation as a leading corporate quiz master in India.
Quizmaster of Manufacturing Manthan by Confederation of Indian Industries in Indore
Manufacturing Manthan, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is a premier corporate quiz for the Malwa region of India, bringing together top manufacturers, PSUs like Bharat Petroleum and SAIL, and leading MSMEs. The quiz focuses on green manufacturing practices, the Make in India initiative, and key developments in the manufacturing sector, along with relevant general knowledge. The 2025 edition was hosted by esteemed quizmaster of India, Surya Narayanan.
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On the day of the event, qualified teams were grouped into three semi-finals, with the top two teams from each advancing to the grand finale. The format delivered a mix of speed, strategy, and subject expertise, making it both competitive and highly engaging.
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The quiz received an overwhelming response, leading the CII Western Region to announce it as an annual flagship quiz for Central India. Quizmaster Surya Narayanan was widely appreciated for crafting the quiz in record time and delivering a hosting experience that was both dynamic and deeply engaging solidifying his standing as one of the best quiz hosts in India.
Quizmaster of UrjaQuest by ONGC, Govt of India
UrjaQuest is an online employee engagement quiz competition organised by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Government of India. Designed to inspire learning and camaraderie among employees, the quiz featured themes around the history of ONGC, the oil & gas sector, and India’s net zero plan. For this prestigious edition, Quizmaster Surya Narayanan was invited to host the event virtually.
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With 1,000+ employees participating across the organisation, the quiz - curated and presented by India’s famous quizmaster, Surya Narayanan, and his team - was a resounding success. Questions were carefully crafted with built-in clues to guide participants toward the answer, ensuring the event felt like an interactive and engaging learning experience rather than a high-pressure test.
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The initiative received wide appreciation from participants and the ONGC leadership, who praised Surya for delivering an engaging, clue-led quiz that kept morale high and knowledge flowing further cementing his reputation as one of the best quizmasters in India for corporate and PSU-level quiz competitions.
Quizmaster of Pragati by All India Management Association in Delhi
Pragati, organised by the All India Management Association (AIMA), is an annual quiz competition exclusively for women employees in India. Set alongside panel discussions on women in the workplace, the quiz serves as a high-energy general knowledge engagement platform, attracting participants from leading PSUs and corporate organisations such as ONGC, SAIL, Indian Oil, GAIL, Oriflame, Microsoft, and more. Hosted by quizmaster in India, Surya Narayanan, the event combined competition with celebration of women’s talent and knowledge.
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The Pragati quiz began with a preliminary round, after which the top 12 teams were split into two semi-finals of six teams each. Following an intense mix of passing and buzzer rounds, the top six teams advanced to the grand finale. The structure ensured fairness, excitement, and equal opportunity for all participants.
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The quiz received widespread appreciation from both participants and organisers for its seamless flow and engaging content. Many returning participants noted that this was “one of the best quizzes they have seen”, praising the professional conduct and hosting expertise of Surya Narayanan, further establishing his stature as one of the famous and best quizmasters in India.
Quizmaster of Fit India Quiz by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt of India
The Fit India Quiz is India’s largest inter-school quiz competition, an initiative by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, under the aegis of Shri Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister. Designed to promote awareness about sports and fitness, the quiz attracted participation from 10 lakh+ students nationwide. The highest-scoring school teams advanced to the television rounds, televised on DD National** across all 36 states and union territories.
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Surya Narayanan, recognised as one of the top quizmasters in India, was one of four quizmasters selected to host the national television rounds. Surya anchored 24 televised episodes, leveraging his visual media background to deliver a high-energy presentation style that kept both participants and viewers engaged from start to finish.
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His ability to hook audiences with a balance of pace, personality, and precision earned praise from organisers, participants, and viewers alike. With proven expertise as a television quiz host, Surya continues to be a sought-after name for broadcast-based knowledge events in India.
Quizmaster of Verghese Kurien Memorial Quiz by Amul Dairy in India
The Verghese Kurien Memorial Quiz, organised by Amul Dairy, is an inter-school quiz competition held to honour Dr. Verghese Kurien, the visionary behind India’s White Revolution. Hosted by India’s best quizmaster, Surya Narayanan, the quiz toured several cities across India, engaging young minds with a with a mix of questions about agriculture, food, and general knowledge.
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A highlight of the event was the special Amul round, featuring questions about the company’s history, products, and the life of Dr. Kurien. In each city, the quiz began with a 20-question written preliminary round, from which the top six teams advanced to the stage finals. The finals featured general passing rounds, fast-paced buzzer rounds, and the much-anticipated Amul-themed round.
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Winners received medals and certificates, while the other finalists were awarded gift boxes of Amul products. With his years of experience as a quizmaster, Surya executed the event with ease, maintaining a balance of professionalism, energy, and engagement, further cementing his reputation as one of the most sought-after school quizmaster in India.
Quizmaster of Discover Holland Quiz by the Netherlands Embassy in India
The Netherlands Embassy in India launched the Discover Holland Quiz to promote the Netherlands as a premier destination for higher studies among undergraduate students across India. To deliver this unique cultural and educational experience, they engaged India’s best quizmaster, Surya Narayanan. The entire quiz was dedicated to the Netherlands, its universities, and Dutch culture, offering students an immersive way to learn about study and life in the country.
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In the lead-up to the main event, the Netherlands Embassy partnered with quizmaster Surya to run an online quiz campaign, building awareness and excitement. This strategic pre-event engagement boosted offline participation, particularly in the Delhi and Bengaluru editions. Each quiz began with a written preliminary round, from which the top six teams advanced to a live final. The grand prize for winners: paid return tickets to the Netherlands.
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The Delhi edition was presided over by His Excellency Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of the Netherlands to India, who expressed delight at the depth of knowledge participants displayed, admitting that even he learned new facts! He praised quizmaster Surya Narayanan for crafting content-rich questions about the Dutch and delivering a show that captivated the audience, including the Ambassador himself, for over an hour. This event reinforced Surya’s reputation as one of the top cultural quiz masters in India.
