International Olympiads in Science and Mathematics are the world championships for school students held every year in a different country.

The most famous Olympiads are The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), The International Biology Olympiad (IBO), The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) and The International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO).

Olympiads are divided into two parts namely Science Olympiad and Mathematics Olympiad.

The National Science Olympiad starts with an examination held at nearly 1400 schools across the country and culminates with the international Olympiads at different corners of the world. The national level examinations are designed to assess the conceptual understanding, logical reasoning, laboratory skills, and above all, ability to apply problem-solving skills to novel situations, both theoretical and experimental. Training is included from the third stage of the programme and the first two stages do not necessarily require any specialised coaching outside the regular school system.

The first stage examination, the National Standard Examination (NSE) is the organisational responsibility of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT). The academic responsibility for Chemistry and Biology rests with the Association of Chemistry Teachers (ACT) and the Association of Teachers in Biological Sciences (ATBS) respectively, while Physics, Astronomy and Junior Science are handled by IAPT itself. The NSEs are tests with objective type questions and are offered in English and Hindi, with additional languages also available in Physics. The syllabus is broadly equivalent to up to Class XII (for Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and Class X (for Junior Science) of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). However, the questions in all levels of Olympiads (including NSEs) may be expected to be of a higher difficulty level than the board examinations. These examinations are held close to the end of November every year at nearly 1400 centres across the nation. Students can register for this preliminary stage at their own schools. The registration fee is Rs 100, which is the only fee that the student has to pay in the entire process up to the International Olympiads.

The best-performing students from the NSEs (approximately 300 in each subject) qualify for the second stage — the Indian National Olympiads (INOs). The responsibility of the programme from this stage onwards lies with HBCSE. The INOs are held in late January at around 18 centres across the country. The syllabus is same as that of the NSEs. The tests consist of objective as well as long questions.

The top students from the INOs (approximately 35 in each subject) are invited for the third stage, the Orientation-cum-Selection Camps (OCSCs) held at HBCSE during April to June. At these camps orientation is provided to students for Olympiad level of theoretical, experimental and observational (for astronomy) tasks. Emphasis is laid on developing conceptual foundations and problem-solving skills. Students are exposed to innovative experiments with focus on conceptual and procedural understanding in experimental science. In astronomy, students are trained in basic notions in astrophysics, astronomical data analysis and night sky observations. Several theoretical and experimental/observational tests are held during the camp. On the basis of performance in these tests, few students (numbers specified below) are selected to represent India at the international Olympiads.

The selected Indian teams undergo a rigorous training programme at HBCSE in theory and experiment and in case of astronomy, observational astronomy prior to their departure for the international Olympiads. Special laboratories have been developed in HBCSE for this purpose. Resource persons from different institutions across the country are invited to the training camps.

The Olympiad programme culminates with the participation of the Indian students (4-6 in each subject) in the International Olympiads. The students are accompanied by 2-4 teachers or mentors. Almost every Indian student who has participated in the Science and Astronomy Olympiads has returned with a medal.

The Mathematical Olympiad Programme in India, which leads to participation of Indian students in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is organized by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) on behalf of the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. This programme is one of the major initiatives undertaken by the NBHM. Its main purpose is to spot mathematical talent among pre- university students in the country.

For the purpose of training and selection of students for the Olympiad contest, 25 regions all over the country have been designated and each assigned a Regional Coordinator (RC). Additionally, three groups (Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathana (KVS) have a ‘Regional Coordinator’ each. The Mathematical Olympiad programme consists of six stages.

The first stage examination, the pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad (PRMO) is a two and half hour examination with 30 questions. The answer to each question is either a single digit number or a two digit number and will need to be marked on a machine readable OMR response sheet. The PRMO question paper will be in English and Hindi.

The second stage examination, the Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO) is a three hour examination with six problems. The RMOs are offered in English, Hindi and other regional languages as deemed appropriate by the respective Regional Coordinators.

The best-performing students from the RMO (approximately 900) qualify for the third stage – the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO). The INMO is held on the third Sunday of January at 28 centres across the country.

The top students from the INMO (approximately 35) are invited for the fourth stage, the International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC) held at HBCSE during April to May. At this camp orientation is provided to students for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Emphasis is laid on developing conceptual foundations and problem-solving skills. Several selection tests are held during this camp. On the basis of performance in these tests six students are selected to represent India at the IMO. Resource persons from different institutions across the country are invited to the training camps.

The selected team undergoes a rigorous training programme for about 8-10 days at HBCSE prior to its departure for the IMO.

The Olympiad programme culminates with the participation of the students in the IMO. The students are accompanied by 4 teachers or mentors.

The Science Olympiad programme follows a five-stage procedure. To know more about this process click here or see the brochure.

National Standard Examinations in Astronomy (NSEA), Biology (NSEB), Chemistry (NSEC), Junior Science (NSEJS), and Physics (NSEP) constitute the first stage of selection of students in the National Olympiad Programme. Every student aspiring to go through successive stages of the programme and participating in the international Olympiads in 2020 must enroll for the NSEs in the respective subjects to be held in 2019.

The first stage examination, the pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad (PRMO) is a two and half hour examination with 30 questions. The answer to each question is either a single digit number or a two digit number and will need to be marked on a machine readable OMR response sheet. The PRMO question paper will be in English and Hindi.

1. Must be eligible to hold an Indian passport.*

   - As per the orders of the Madras High Court, OCI students will NOT be eligible for selection to the Indian team in the International Olympiads. However, such students are provisionally eligible for selection at all prior stages, up to and including the OCSC (stage III), provided they fulfill all other criteria. They are also provisionally eligible to write the selection tests at the OCSC. This policy is subject to revision without prior notice depending on any further orders issued by the courts, or by a competent government authority.

2. Date of birth between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2005, both days inclusive.
3. Must be residing and studying in India since 30 November 2017 or earlier. OR Must be studying in an Indian school system since 30 November 2017 or earlier.
4. Must not have completed (or scheduled to complete) class 12 board examination earlier than 30 November 2019.
5. Must not have commenced (or planning to commence) studies in a university or equivalent institution by 1 June 2020.
6. Must not be appearing in NSEJS 2019.

1. Must be eligible to hold an Indian passport.*

   - As per the orders of the Madras High Court, OCI students will NOT be eligible for selection to the Indian team in the International Olympiads. However, such students are provisionally eligible for selection at all prior stages, up to and including the OCSC (stage III), provided they fulfil all other criteria. They are also provisionally eligible to write the selection tests at the OCSC. This policy is subject to revision without prior notice depending on any further orders issued by the courts, or by a competent government authority.

2. Date of birth between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006, both days inclusive.
3. Must be residing and studying in India since 30 November 2017 or earlier. OR Must be studying in an Indian school system since 30 November 2017 or earlier.
4. Must not have completed (or scheduled to complete) class 10 board examination earlier than 30 November 2019.
5. Must not be appearing in any of NSEA, NSEB, NSEC or NSEP 2019.

It is the student’s responsibility to determine if he/she satisfies the eligibility norms. If at some later stage it is found that the student does not meet the eligibility norms, he/she may face disqualification from the programme.