The National Science Olympiad starts with an examination held at nearly 1400 schools across the country and culminates with the international Olympiads at different corners of the world. The national level examinations are designed to assess the conceptual understanding, logical reasoning, laboratory skills, and above all, ability to apply problem-solving skills to novel situations, both theoretical and experimental. Training is included from the third stage of the programme and the first two stages do not necessarily require any specialised coaching outside the regular school system.
Participation in any International Olympiad in 2022 would be guided strongly by consideration of safety of the students and the mentors during their travel and stay abroad. At appropriate stages in the process, the Govt. of India (as well as the govt of the host country if necessary) will be approached for explicit clearance to proceed. Further continuation of the selection and training processes will be subject to obtaining the necessary clearances.
TENTATIVE revised schedule for OCSCs in different subjects is announced below. This schedule is subject to change at very short notice. Students are advised NOT TO FINALISE travel plans till these dates are confirmed by HBCSE on or before May 1, 2022.
Please note that HBCSE keeps track of various entrance examinations and academic sessions of educational institutions. While every effort will be made to enable maximum number of students to attend the OCSC, avoiding a clash with their other academic interests, it may not be possible to adjust the schedule to suit every student, especially under the current extraordinary circumstances. Students and parents are requested not to approach HBCSE with specific requests of change of dates.
The schedule announced above is under the assumption that conditions prevailing in the country at that time permit safe travel to Mumbai. An OCSC may be cancelled if this would not be the case.
The schedule is also subject to the international Olympiads being held according to their original dates. In the event that an international Olympiad is cancelled, the OCSC in that subject will be cancelled as well. If the international Olympiad is postponed to a later date, the corresponding OCSC may be postponed as well, and a suitable announcement will be made in due course.
Irrespective of future eventualities, all students who secured marks in INO above the OCSC cutoff marks in a subject will be awarded a Certificate of Merit by HBCSE.
In the event that it is impossible to conduct an OCSC in time to select an Indian team for an international Olympiad in any subject, a suitable method of selection will be announced at an appropriate time.