International Olympiads in Science Subjects 2021

Announcement regarding National Olympiad Programme in Science subjects for 2020-2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected educational systems worldwide, leading to the near-total closures of schools, universities and colleges.

The national Olympiad programme in science subjects culminating in the International Olympiads of 2021 has been disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic in the country. In view of the prevailing situation, the following decisions are announced.

In a departure from the usual three-stage procedure for the selection of the teams to represent India at the international Olympiads that has been followed in previous years, the selection procedure for the 2020-2021 cycle has been condensed to a two-stage process as a one-time exception.

About Stages : -

There will be two stages in each subject:

Stage-1 : Indian Olympiad Qualifier (IOQ), jointly organised by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) and the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) - HBCSE (TIFR).

Stage-2 : Orientation-cum-Selection Camp (OCSC) organised by HBCSE

Exam Details : Stage-1: Indian Olympiad Qualifier (IOQ)

1. The IOQ in each subject will be a combination of two examinations, held in a single sitting for the examinee.
2. In this stage, a three-hour two-part examination will be conducted.

Part I: National Standard Examination (NSE): This will replace the standalone NSE of other years. The duration of this part will be 1 hour and will consist of multiple-choice questions, similar in standard to the usual NSE. This part will be a screening examination for selective evaluation of the second part (INO) only and performance in this part will not play any role in the selection for the next level (OCSC). This part of IOQ in different subjects will be called National Standard Examinations (NSEs) in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Junior Science and Physics: NSEA, NSEB, NSEC, NSEJS and NSEP, respectively.

Part II: Indian National Olympiad (INO): This will replace the standalone INO of other years. The duration of this part will be two hours and will consist of detailed questions, similar in standard to the usual INO. This part will be evaluated only for students screened through the first part (NSE), and the selection for the next level (OCSC) will be determined solely by the performance in this part. This part of IOQ in different subjects will be called Indian National Olympiads (INOs) in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Junior Science and Physics: INAO, INBO, INChO, INJSO and INPhO, respectively.

About Enrollments : -

Online enrolment for IOQ is expected to start on IAPT website (iaptexam.in) by 15 October, 2020.

Exam Schedule : -

The tentative schedule of IOQ examinations is as under:

  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Junior Science (IOQJS): January 17, 2021 (Sunday) 14:30 - 17:30 hrs
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Astronomy (IOQA): February 6, 2021 (Saturday) 9:00 -12:00 hrs
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Chemistry (IOQC): February 6, 2021 (Saturday) 14:30 - 17:30 hrs
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Physics (IOQP) February 7, 2021 (Sunday) 9:00 - 12:00 hrs
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Biology (IOQB): February 7, 2021 (Sunday) 14:30 - 17:30 hrs

*Please note that this schedule is tentative, and is subject to change at short notice, depending on the prevailing pandemic situation in the country.

Selection Criteria : -

For Part-2 Exam: The screening criterion for the Part II (INO) of IOQ to be evaluated will be similar to the qualification criteria for INO from NSE in previous years. Detailed criteria will be announced soon.

For OCSC: The criteria for qualification for OCSC on the basis of performance in Part II (INO) of IOQ will be similar to INO-to-OCSC criteria applied in previous years. Detailed criteria will be announced soon.

International Mathematical Olympiad 2021

The national Olympiad programme in mathematics culminating in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2021 and European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2022 has been disrupted by the COVID -19 pandemic in the country. In view of the prevailing situation, the following decisions are announced.

❖ In a departure from the usual four-stage procedure for the selection of the teams to represent India at the IMO 2021 and EGMO 2022 that has been followed in previous years, the selection procedure for the 2020-2021 cycle has been condensed to a three-stage process as an exception only for this year.

About Stages : -

There will be 3 stages:

1. A three-hour examination called the Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) organised by the Mathematics Teachers’ Association (India) (MTA(I)).
2. The Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) organised by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (HBCSE - TIFR).
3. The International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC) organised by HBCSE.

Exam Details :

❖ The IOQM will have 30 questions with each question having an integer answer in the range 00-99. The syllabus and standard of this examination will be the same as that of PRMO of previous years.

❖ The INMO will be a four-hour examination with 6 questions. The syllabus and standard of this examination will be the same as that of the INMO of previous years.

❖ The IOQM will be conducted by the MTA(I) with support from Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) and HBCSE.

❖ The INMO and the subsequent stages of the Olympiad programme will be carried out by HBCSE.

About Enrollments :

❖ Online enrolment for IOQM is expected to start on the IAPT website (iaptexam.in) by October 15, 2020. Further confirmation regarding this and detailed information regarding eligibility and enrolment for IOQM will be announced shortly. These are expected to be similar to previous years.

Exam Schedule :

❖ The tentative schedule for IOQM is Sunday, January 17, 2021 from 9:00 - 12:00 hrs.
❖ The tentative schedule for INMO is Sunday, March 7, 2021 from 12:00 - 16:00 hrs.
❖ Please note that the schedules are tentative, and are subject to change at short notice, depending on the prevailing pandemic situation in the country.
❖ There will not be any examination equivalent to the Regional Mathematical Olympiad for the 2020-2021 cycle. The detailed criteria for qualification from IOQM to INMO and from INMO to IMOTC will be announced soon.
❖ The programme for stages beyond INMO will be announced at an appropriate later time.