OLYMPIADS
International Olympiads in Science and Mathematics are the world championships for school students held every year in a different country.
ABOUT OLYMPIADS
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). Countries send a delegation of students and leaders to participate at the International level. India conducts National Olympiads to identify the best students who can represent India at the international level.
MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD
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.
Stage 1 – Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM)
The IOQM will be a three-hour examination with 30 questions & 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. Students who do well in IOQM qualify for next stage i.e. INMO (Indian National Mathematical Olympiad).
Stage 2 – Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO)
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 INMO 2021 is tentatively scheduled to be held on March 7, 2021, from 12:00 – 16:00.
The list of students qualified for the INMO 2021 will be prepared according to the following rule:
- Top 300 (class XI or below category)+ 60 (class XII category) from each region in IOQM will get a certificate, provided they have a minimum cut-off score of 5% of the total marks of the IOQM paper. But this is not a qualifying criterion for INMO.
- Top 540 in IOQM merit list will qualify for INMO regardless of regional quota. In this pool (a) the number of class XII students will be 90. (b) the number of class VIII, IX, X, XI students will be 450.
- A minimum of 30 (class XI or below category) + 6 (class XII category) + 5 (girl students irrespective of the number of girl students qualifying in class XI or below category. No girl student from class XII is eligible to qualify in the girls’ category.) from each region will qualify for INMO regardless of the scores (provided each qualifying candidate has a score above a minimum cut-off score of 5% of the total marks of the IOQM paper.)
Stage 3 – Orientation Cum Selection Camps (OCSC)
In this stage the student undergoes some theoretical and experimental sessions and only 35-40 students from all over India compete against each other to Qualify for Pre Departure Camp. 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
Stage 4 – Pre Departure Camp
In this stage, only 4-6 students who qualify from stage 2 undergo some rigorous training programme at HBCSE in theory and experiments before the departure to compete at the International level. Special laboratories have been developed in HBCSE for this purpose. Resource persons from different institutions across the country are invited to the training camps.
Stage 5 – International Olympiad
The Olympiad programme culminates with the participation of the Indian students (4-6) in the International Mathematical Olympiad. The students are accompanied by 2-4 teachers or mentors.
First Step Towards International Olympiads In Science Subjects 2020-21
The National Olympiad Programme in science subjects for the year 2021 has been disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic in the country. In view of the prevailing situation, the examination has undergone a major change in its pattern and the number of stages has reduced as compared to previous years. A three-hour and two-part examination called as Indian Olympiad Qualifier (IOQ) will be jointly organised by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) and Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) – HBCSE (TIFR).
Different Stages of Science Olympiad
A usual five-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 changed to just a four-stage process (five-stage for Mathematics Olympiad) as a one-time exception only.
Stage 1 – Indian Olympiad Qualifier (IOQ)
This IOQ (except IOQM) will be a 3 hrs examination which will be both objective and subjective. Paper 1 will be Objective of 1 hr and Paper 2 will be purely subjective of 2 Hrs. Students who clear the cut off for the Paper 1 only their answer sheets will be checked for paper 2.
Stage 2 – Orientation Cum Selection Camps (OCSC)
In this stage the student undergoes some theoretical and experimental sessions and only 35-40 students from all over India compete against each to Qualify for Pre Departure Camp. 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 skill
Stage 3 – Pre Departure Camp
In this stage, only 4-6 students who qualify from stage 2 undergo some rigorous training programme at HBCSE in theory and experiments before the departure to compete at International level. Special laboratories have been developed in HBCSE for this purpose. Resource persons from different institutions across the country are invited to the training camps.
Stage 4 – International Olympiad
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.