Olympiad · Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, under the National Olympiad Programme

INPhO (Physics Olympiad) — Indian National Physics Olympiad (via NSEP)

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

2 written stages: the National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP) and the Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO)XI-XII classes eligible, as stated in the programme brochure4 areas: mechanics, electromagnetism, thermal-waves-optics-modern and experimental methods Free · tutor-verified

INPhO (Physics Olympiad) at a glance

Conducted byHomi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, under the National Olympiad Programme

CycleOnce a year. NSEP is held in the autumn, and INPhO follows at selected centres in the following months. Confirm the dates and centres on the HBCSE site.

ModeNSEP: written objective paper of about two hours, as reported. INPhO: written problem-solving paper in several parts. Later stages include an orientation camp with theory and experimental tests.

EligibilitySchool students of Classes XI and XII, as stated in the programme brochure, with age and registration conditions set each year. Read the official eligibility notice.

LanguagesEnglish; confirm any provision for other languages on the notice.

Selection intoNot applicable. The olympiad leads to recognition, scholarships and the training camp for the international team.

Where the Physics Olympiad leads

The Orientation-cum-Selection Camp and the team for the International Physics OlympiadRecognition and certificates for top performersA strong profile for admission to leading physics and engineering programmesPreparation for research careers in physics

⚡ What changed recently

Formats, counts and dates come from published summaries of the latest cycle, so treat them as indicative and confirm on the HBCSE notice.
The chapters cover the four areas with the method an olympiad expects: conservation laws, symmetry, estimation and error analysis.
Experimental skills are part of the later stages, so practise estimation and error propagation as well as theory.

How INPhO (Physics Olympiad) selection works

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

SCREENING

NSEP: first stage

A written paper of about two hours in the autumn. A small top fraction is called to the national olympiad.

NATIONAL STAGE

INPhO: national olympiad

A problem-solving paper in several parts at selected centres. Top performers are invited to the camp.

FINAL STAGE

OCSC and the international team

A residential camp with theory and experimental work, from which the team for the International Physics Olympiad is chosen.

The exam pattern, tier by tier

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

NSEP: first stage

Written, objective as reported

— marks

About 2 hours

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Mechanics	—	—	One paper
Electricity and magnetism	—	—	One paper
Thermal physics, waves, optics and modern physics	—	—	One paper
Estimation and experimental skills	—	—	One paper

💡 The first stage of selection. Confirm the question count and any negative marking on the notice.

INPhO: second stage

Written problem-solving in parts

— marks

See the notice

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Mechanics	—	—	One paper
Electricity and magnetism	—	—	One paper
Thermal physics, waves, optics and modern physics	—	—	One paper
Estimation and experimental skills	—	—	One paper

💡 A multi-part problem-solving paper. Marks and duration are set in the notice for the year.

Where the olympiad marks come from

The physics route is NSEP, then INPhO, then the Orientation-cum-Selection Camp (OCSC) and the team for the International Physics Olympiad. NSEP is a two-hour paper held in the autumn, with a recent date reported as 22 November 2026, and roughly the top one percent of NSE candidates are reported to be called to the Indian National Olympiad. The syllabus is described as built on Classes XI and XII with extensions beyond the school curriculum. HBCSE does not publish a marks split by topic, so the shares shown are indicative. Question counts, marking and the experimental component can change, so confirm them on the HBCSE notice. Click any block to open its chapter:

Mechanics40 marks · 40%

Indicative share. The largest and most reliably tested area.

Electricity and magnetism30 marks · 30%

Indicative share. Symmetry and energy methods.

Thermal, waves, optics and modern physics20 marks · 20%

Indicative share. Shorter formula-led blocks.

Experimental methods10 marks · 10%

Indicative share. Estimation and error analysis, and the experimental stage.