Olympiad · The Mathematical Olympiad programme coordinated by HBCSE (Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education) with partner bodies; confirm the organisers on the official notice

INMO (Mathematical Olympiad) — Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (via IOQM and RMO)

The complete INMO (Mathematical Olympiad) blueprint: tier-wise pattern, topic weightage from previous-year analyses, and free chapter-by-chapter study material.

3 stages before the camps: IOQM, RMO and INMO100 marks in the IOQM, as reported: 30 integer-answer questions of 2, 3 and 5 marks over 3 hours4 areas: number theory, algebra, combinatorics and geometry Free · tutor-verified

INMO (Mathematical Olympiad) at a glance

Conducted byThe Mathematical Olympiad programme coordinated by HBCSE (Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education) with partner bodies; confirm the organisers on the official notice

CycleOnce a year, with the IOQM first and the RMO and INMO following in later months. Dates for the 2026 cycle were reported as RMO on 15 November 2026 and INMO on 17 January 2027; confirm on the notice.

ModeIOQM: offline, integer answers. RMO and INMO: pen-and-paper proof-based papers marked by human graders with partial credit.

EligibilitySchool students, with the IOQM open to Classes 8 to 12 in separate categories and age and enrolment conditions set each year. Read the official eligibility notice before registering.

LanguagesEnglish, with some regional language provision announced for the IOQM; confirm on the notice.

Selection intoNot applicable. The olympiad leads to recognition, scholarships and training camps rather than a post; the international team selection is decided by the organisers.

Where the Mathematical Olympiad leads

Training camps for the International Mathematical Olympiad teamRecognition and certificates for top performersA strong profile for admission to leading mathematics and science institutionsPreparation for research-oriented careers in mathematics and computer science

⚡ What changed recently

Every number here, from the IOQM marks to the dates, is as reported for the latest cycle, and the organisers can change them.
The chapters cover the four areas as problem-solving toolkits, and a separate chapter covers proof writing and time use.
Check the official HBCSE and Mathematics Olympiad Foundation pages for the current regional and class-category rules.

How INMO (Mathematical Olympiad) selection works

Know what each stage is for before you spend a single hour preparing.

ENTRY STAGE

IOQM: integer-answer screening

30 questions with answers from 00 to 99, as reported. Cut-offs and regional quotas decide who proceeds to the RMO.

REGIONAL STAGE

RMO: proof-based

Proof-based problems across the four areas, with partial credit. Qualifiers proceed to the INMO.

NATIONAL STAGE

INMO: proof-based

A harder proof-based paper. Top performers are invited to the training camps for the international team.

The exam pattern, tier by tier

Marks, timing and negative marking exactly as per the official notification.

IOQM: integer-answer paper

Objective with integer answers, as reported

100 marks

3 hours

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Number theory	—	—	One paper
Algebra and inequalities	—	—	One paper
Combinatorics	—	—	One paper
Geometry	—	—	One paper

💡 Thirty questions in three groups of ten, worth 2, 3 and 5 marks, with no negative marking. Fill every answer.

RMO: proof-based paper

Descriptive proofs

— marks

About 3 hours

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Number theory	—	—	One paper
Algebra and inequalities	—	—	One paper
Combinatorics	—	—	One paper
Geometry	—	—	One paper

💡 Proof-based problems from the four areas. Marks and number of problems are set by the notice.

INMO: proof-based paper

Descriptive proofs

— marks

Several hours

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Number theory	—	—	One paper
Algebra and inequalities	—	—	One paper
Combinatorics	—	—	One paper
Geometry	—	—	One paper

💡 A harder proof-based paper from the four areas, with partial credit for progress.

Where the olympiad marks come from

The mathematics olympiad is a filter, not a single exam. The IOQM is an integer-answer paper (answers from 00 to 99, 30 questions worth 2, 3 and 5 marks, 3 hours, no negative marking, as reported for recent cycles). Qualifiers sit the RMO, a proof-based paper, and the top performers sit the INMO, also proof-based. The strongest then attend training camps for the team sent to the International Mathematical Olympiad. The papers draw from four areas, and no official split is published, so the shares shown are indicative. Cut-offs, class categories, dates and formats change every year, so confirm them on the official notices. Click any block to open its chapter:

Number theory25 marks · 25%

Indicative share. One or two problems at each stage.

Algebra and inequalities25 marks · 25%

Indicative share. An inequality, polynomial or functional equation.

Combinatorics25 marks · 25%

Indicative share. Counting at the IOQM, proof at the RMO and INMO.

Geometry25 marks · 25%

Indicative share. A diagram plus a few theorems.