Olympiad HBCSE came into existence in 1974. It is to improve the health of Science taught in India. HBCSE (Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education) was the idea initiated by TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research). In olympiads, HBCSE partners with many government organizations. The organizations select the brightest in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Junior Science. The best performers of HBCSE are sent to IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) to represent India.
Olympiad HBCSE- Highlights
| Conducting Body | Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education |
| Frequency of Conduct | Once in a Year |
| Number of HBCSE Olympiads | 2 |
| Name of HBCSE Olympiads | HBCSE Mathematics Olympiad HBCSE Science Olympiad |
| HBCSE Stages | HBCSE Mathematics Olympiad- 3 stages HBCSE Science Olympiad- 2 stages |
| Exam Level | Intermediate |
| Language | English & Hindi |
| Mode of Application | Offline |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
INO (Indian National Olympiad)
Indian National Olympiad or HBCSE Science Olympiad is for students lower than class 12th. In the INO more than 1400 schools in the country take part. It is to select the candidates for International Olympiads taking place around the world.
Important Dates for INO
| Events | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Begins | The third week of September |
| National Standard Exam | In November |
| INO for all Subjects | Last Week of January |
| Result in the announcement of INO | By the last week of January or the first week of February |
| Orientation-cum-selection camp | April-June |
| Pre-Departure Camp | July-November |
| International Olympiad | July-December |
Eligibility for INO HBCSE
Eligibility for NSE (National Standard Examination)
For Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics:
- The nationality of the candidate should only be Indian.
- Age should range from 15 to 20 years.
- They should not have completed or studying in class 12th board examination before 30 November as in the year of examination.
- They must not have taken or been planning to take admitted to any University in the following year of the Olympiad.
- The students must not be appearing in NSE Junior Science in the same year of examination.
For Junior Science
- The nationality of the candidate must be Indian.
- The age should be 14-15 years in the exam year.
- They should not have completed or studying in class 10th board examination before 30 November as in the year of examination.
- The candidates should not be participating in any other National Olympiad.
Eligibility Criteria for Indian National Olympiad
The INO is Stage 2 of the selection criteria and its eligibility are
- Students must obtain a Minimum Admissible Score (MAS) which is 50% of the average of the top ten scores in a respective subject.
- Merit Score: 1. Merit Score is set for each subject of olympiad called the Merit Index (MI)
2. MI score is 80% of the top ten scores in each subject and rounded off to their lowest marks.
3. Students who score more than or equal to the MI score are selected for the next stage of INO.
Syllabus for HBCSE INO Olympiads
Biology / Chemistry / Physics: The syllabus for HBCSE INO is based on the syllabus of up to class 12th or below as per the CBSE board pattern for the subjects.
Astronomy: The syllabus for HBCSE INAO is based on up to CBSE Class 12th level for Physics and Mathematics (excluding calculus), and also elementary popular astronomy and basics of night sky observation.
Junior Science: The syllabus for INJSO is based on the syllabus prescribed by CBSE for up to Class 10th Science subject.
Stages of INO
Stage 1: National Standard Examination
Candidates have to clear the NSE level exam for being a part of INO. Which includes Astronomy, Junior Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. The exam is based on conceptual understanding of the subject, logical reasoning, laboratory skills, as well as problem-solving skills including both theoretical and practical.
The pattern of NSE
NSEJS (Junior Science): It is a paper consisting of 80 MCQs to be solved in 2 hours. The medium of paper in Hindi and English. Also, there is negative marking for wrong answers.
NSEP (Physics): There would be MCQs of 3 marks and 6 marks. The given time is of 2 hours. The paper would be bilingual which is English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Bangla.
NSEA (Astronomy): The paper consists of 80 MCQs to be solved in 2 hours. The paper is bilingual in English and Hindi. Also, there is negative marking for wrong answers.
NSEB (Biology): The paper consists of 80 MCQs to be solved in 2 hours. The paper is bilingual in English and Hindi. Also, there is negative marking for wrong answers.
NSEC (Chemistry): The paper consists of 80 MCQs to be solved in 2 hours. The paper is bilingual in English and Hindi. Also, there is negative marking for wrong answers.
Stage 2: Indian National Olympiad
Stage 2 is INO including the olympiads of Astronomy, Junior Science, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. It is conducted every year in the month of January in 18 centers across the country.
Stage 3: Orientation-cum-Selection Camp
This stage begins after the results of every subject of the INO Olympiad. Every year 35 students from each subject are shortlisted and are selected for OCSC. This is a training camp organized by HBCSE for providing an orientation for International Olympiad as well as training them for theoretical, experimental, and observational (for Astronomy subject) skills-based tasks. Moreover, these students are awarded merit awards including books, cash prizes, etc.
After the OCSC, the students are selected for each subject as under –
- 5 students each for International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) and International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) respectively
- 4 students each for International Biology Olympiad (IBO) and Internation Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) respectively
- 6 students for International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)
Stage 4: Training for International Olympiads
Before sending the shortlisted candidates for International Olympiads, they are provided rigorous training by HBCSE.
Stage 5: International Olympiads
The shortlisted students along with 2 or 4 teachers are formed into teams and are sent to International Olympiad as per their chosen subject.
School in Sikar preparing for Olympiad HBCSE
Olympiad HBCSE is a platform for students to prove their extraordinary knowledge of the subject. Navjeevan Science School encourages students who are eager to take part. Every year the school registers for the Olympiads HBCSE. The esteemed faculties provide proper guidance to students who are going to participate. Navjeevan Science School is part of Navjeevan Science Group, Sikar. Its other units like Kautilya IIT Academy, Navjeevan Defence Academy, Navjeevan CBSE School, Navjeevan RBSE School, etc. are also achieving high.
Source: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education
Related Article: Olympiads SOF, Olympiad of Maths
