INOIndian National Olympiads (INPhO, INChO, INBO, INAO, INJSO)
About INO
The Indian National Olympiads are the second stage of India’s government-supported science olympiad programme, conducted by HBCSE for several hundred NSE qualifiers per subject. Where Stage 1 is an objective screen, the INOs are demanding descriptive papers that test sustained reasoning — closer in spirit to the international olympiads they feed into.
Each subject runs its own paper in late January or early February: INPhO, INChO, INBO, INAO and INJSO. The best performers in each are called to the Orientation-cum-Selection Camp in Mumbai, where theory and experimental tests decide the national teams. Merit at the INO stage itself is a significant distinction, recognised by leading research institutions in India.
Accepted by: Top INO performers in each subject are invited to the Orientation-cum-Selection Camps at HBCSE, from which India’s teams for IPhO, IChO, IBO, IOAA and IJSO are selected
Official websiteINO eligibility
Only students who clear the subject-wise NSE (Stage 1) cut-offs; senior subjects draw from Classes 10–12, INJSO from Classes 8–10
INO exam pattern
Sections
- One national paper per subject: Physics (INPhO), Chemistry (INChO), Biology (INBO), Astronomy (INAO) and Junior Science (INJSO)
- Papers are predominantly subjective/descriptive, unlike the objective Stage 1 NSEs
Marking scheme: Generally none on descriptive sections; any objective components follow the scheme printed on the paper
INO syllabus outline
- Subject depth beyond Class 12 boards, aligned to the corresponding international olympiad syllabi
- Durations differ by subject — INPhO and INChO run about three hours, while the restructured INBO written paper runs about two hours
- Stage structure: NSE → INO → Orientation-cum-Selection Camps (OCSC) at HBCSE → pre-departure training → international olympiads
Preparing for INO?
Olympiads reward deep fundamentals — the same preparation that pays off later in JEE, NEET and other entrance exams. Explore every national and international olympiad, or check the official site for this year's dates and registration.