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
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:
