Sunday, September 2, 2012

NATIONAL OLYMPIAD PROGRAMME IN PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, ASTRONOMY AND JUNIOR SCIENCE 2012-2013



Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
V. N. Purav Marg, Mankhurd
Mumbai - 400 088, India
Tel:   022 – 2507 2300, 2507 2304
Fax:  022 – 2556 6635, 2556 6803

NATIONAL OLYMPIAD PROGRAMME IN PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, ASTRONOMY AND JUNIOR SCIENCE 2012-2013

leading to participation in International Olympiads

National Science Olympiad programme 2012-13 :  Download Information Brochure here.

A major olympiad programme in basic sciences is operational in the country.  The programme aims at promoting excellence in science among pre-university students and selecting teams of students to represent India at the International Olympiads in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and junior science.

Do India Proud at the International Olympiads 2013.

Enroll for NSEP/NSEC/NSEB/NSEA/NSEJS

The  need for a national olympiad programme in basic sciences had been recognized by the scientific community in India for a long time. India started participating in the International Mathematics Olympiad from 1989. It was felt that with a large base of quality human resources in science, the country must also participate in the International Olympiads in basic sciences:
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Astronomy.
In 1997-98, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) [a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai] and the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) jointly took initiative in starting the physics olympiad programme. A year later, HBCSE took the initiative to extend the programme to chemistry and biology also.
IAPT came forward to offer its wide network for help in the conduct of chemistry and biology examinations also. These initiatives received strong support and encouragement from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) of the Government of India. India sent its first team to the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in 1998, International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in 1999 and International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in 2000. Around the same time TIFR in association with the National Council of Science Museums and Astronomical Society of India initiated efforts to participate in the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO). Our first foray into IAO was in 1999. Indian teams started participating in International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) and International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) from 2004 and 2007 respectively.  The good performances of the Indian teams right from the first few years of participation helped in the consolidation of the programme.

In July 2001, India hosted the 33rd International Chemistry Olympiad in Mumbai. Further, India hosted the 11th International Astronomy Olympiad in Mumbai in November, 2006 and the 19th International Biology Olympiad in Mumbai, in July 2008.  India is expected to host IJSO in December 2013.
These events organized by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR) give a boost to the entire programme of academic Olympiads in India.
The National Olympiad progamme in physics, chemistry, biology and astronomy is overseen by   National Steering Committee constituted by the DAE. From the year 2008 – 2009 junior science olympiad is added to the list of subjects. The Olympiad programme is financially supported by Board of Research in Nuclear Science (BRNS, DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organization (DoS, ISRO).The programme follows a five stage  process. Stage I of the programme is the organizational responsibility of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT). All the subsequent stages are conducted by HBCSE. The programme for the year 2012-2013 is lined below.

Stage I  National Standard Examinations (NSEs)
National Standard Examinations constitute the first stage of selection of students in the National Olympiad Programme. Every student aspiring to go through successive stages of the programme must enroll for the NSEs.

Stage II  Indian National Olympiad Examinations
Indian National Olympiads will be held in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and junior science. They will be organized by HBCSE. These examinations are held at about 15 centres in the country. The dates and schedule of these examinations will be communicated in the first week of January to the eligible students selected from  Stage I examinations. They will  also be announced on the website: www.olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in.
Please note that hard copy of the selection letter sent by postal communication (normally speed post) is to be taken as official and not the announcement on the website.  HBCSE will not be responsible for postal delays or delays due to incomplete, illegible/incorrect addresses provided by students, or any other reasons beyond HBCSE’s control. As far as possible the National Olympiads in different subjects are held on separate days/timings so that a student who is eligible to appear for more than one subject can do so. Students appearing for INPhO/INChO/INBO/INAO/INJSO are eligible for TA/DA as per the norms of the programme.

Stage III Orientation Cum Selection Camps (OCSC)
Physics, Chemistry and Biology
The selected group of students in different subjects will be invited to the Orientation Cum Selection Camps at HBCSE. The camps will be of two to three weeks duration in each subject. The camps include several theoretical and experimental tests. Orientation is provided to students especially for the experimental tests. The camp conclude with a valedictory function where distinguished scientists are invited to speak to the students.
On the basis of their performance in OCSC the top 5 students in Physics, top 4 in Chemistry and top 4 in Biology will be declared to be special merit awardees. These special merit awardees are given Rs. 5000/- each in the form of books and cash. In addition there will be special prizes in each subject to recognize meritorious performance in theory and experiments.
The 5 special merit awardees in Physics constitute the 5-member student team to represent India at the International Physics Olympiad. The 4 special merit awardees in Chemistry constitute the 4-member student team to represent India at the International Chemistry Olympiad. The 4 special merit awardees in Biology constitute the 4-member student team to represent India at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO).


The HBCSE is also a nodal centre for  the Mathematics Olympiad. The details of selection to this Olympiad maybe found in a separate brochure and also on the HBCSE website.
We  mention below a few other  Olympiads recognized but not directly organised by HBCSE.
1. Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO): This is organized by IAPT.
Students aspiring for this Olympaid must normally appear in the first stage NSEP exam followed by the second stage INPhO exam. The
detail of further selection and training is decided by IAPT and you may consult their website (http://www.iapt.org.in).
2. Indian Astronomy Olympiad - Junior (IAO - Jr): This is organized by National Council of Science Museum (NCSM). Students aspiring for this Olympaid must normally appear in the first stage NSEJS exam followed by the second stage  INAO exam. The details of further selection and training is decided by NCSM and you may consult their website (www.nehrusciencecentre.org).
3. Earth Science Olympiad (IESO): This is organized by the Geological Society of India and you may consult their website for more information (www.geosocindia.org).
4. International Olympiad in Informatics: This is organized by the Indian Association for Research in Computing Science and you may consult their website for more information (http://www.iarcs.org.in/inoi).

We  caution the students  and teachers about numerous  private examinations titled 'Olympiads', which are not officially recognized by  the Government of India and which do not lead to participation in International Olympiads.

All queries regarding Stage I examinations (NSEs) should be addressed to IAPT (Prof. M. L. Oglapurkar or Prof. R. M. Dharkar)

For general queries regarding all Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Junior Science) Olympiad programmes you may contact:
Prof. Vijay Singh
National Co-ordinator, Science Olympiads
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR)
V. N. Purav Marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai 400 088.
Tel:  022-2507 2300; 022-2507 2322, 022-25482104
Fax: 022-2556 6635, 2556 6803

For general queries regarding the Astronomy Olympiad programmes you may contact:
Prof. M. N. Vahia
National Co-ordinator, Astronomy Olympiad.
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005.
Tel: 022-2278 4545; 2278 2350

For more information visit the website:


No comments: