The National Board of Higher Mathematics (NBHM) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) initiated activities leading to India's participation in the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) from the year 1989. The need for a similar National Olympiad Programme in basic sciences was recognized at the same time in several quarters. It was felt that with a large base of quality human resources in science, the country must also participate in the International Olympiads in physics, chemistry and biology. In 1997-98, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai and the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) jointly took the initiative in starting the Physics Olympiad Programme. Next year, HBCSE took steps to extend the programme to chemistry and biology. IAPT came forward to extend its wide network facility in conducting examinations in chemistry and biology. These moves received strong support and encouragement from the DAE, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) of the Government of India. India sent its first team to International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in 1998, International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in 1999 and International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in 2000.

The incentives/awards in the current Olympiad scheme in India differ from subject to subject. However, a major incentive, namely the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) Fellowship of DST is common to all subects. All the 19 students (6 in mathematics, 5 in Physics, 4 each in hemistry and biology) who are members of the Indian teams at the International Olympiads automatically qualify for KVPY Fellowship (Rs.3,000/- p.m. + Rs 6,000/- p.a. contingency grant plus a nurture programme) provided they continue to pursue careers in science. An important career incentive is offered by BARC for the physics and chemistry students of this set. The 5 students in physics and 4 in physics and 4 in chemistry are offered direct admission to BARC Training School five years in advance, provided again that they pursue undergraduate and post graduate careers in sciences. Students who are selected for the Indian teams in physics, chemistry and biology receive an award of Rs.5,000/- each at the end of the training programmes. The Award scheme in mathematics is slightly different. All the participants in the training camp are entitled to an award of Rs.5000/- each and students of the Indian team who received medals at the Olympiad receive further cash prizes. In the year 2001, the Government of India have announced an award of Rs.5,000/- to each of the 19 students of the Indian teams who have received medals at the International Olympiads.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THEINTERNATIONAL OLYMPIADS

• International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
• International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
• International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
• International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)
• International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)
• International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)

The National Talent Search Examination is a national level Scholarship in India to identify and nurture talented students. NTSE is conducted by NCERT. NTSE is conducted by NCERT. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established by the Government of India in the year 1961 with a view to bringing about qualitative improvement in school education in the country.

It honors and helps talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship for an academic career

Around 1000 such scholarships are awarded to students out of which around 150 scholarships are reserved for students belonging to the SC category and 75 scholarships for students belonging to ST category

• Science
• Social Science
• Engineering
• Medicine
• Management
• Law

• The scheme is open to students of Indian Nationality only
• Students studying in standard X are eligible to appear for selection process

It honours and helps talented students & realize their true potential by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship

For the courses in Basic Sciences, Social Sciences and Commerce, scholarship is given up to Ph.D level

For professional courses like Engineering, Medicine, Management & Law , the scholarship is given upto Post Graduation level

Stage I

Examination at the State/ UT level will comprise

1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Stage II

Examination at the National level will comprise

1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
2. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Stage	Exam	Dates
Stage I (State)	State Level Talent Search	3rd Sunday of November
Stage II (National)	NTSE Examination	2nd Sunday of May

Test	Duration	No. of Questions	Max. Marks
Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT)	90min.	100	100
Stage II (National)	90min.	100	100

• Each question will carry 1 mark. The total mark will be 100 for each test
• Minimum qualifying marks will be 40 marks for general category
• Minimum qualifying marks will be 32 marks for reserved category
• In SAT, the first 90questions are divided into three areas- 35 for Science, 20 for Mathematics and 35 for Social Science
• The last 10 questions are mixed from different subjects

The admission to Undergraduate Engineering Programs at NITs, IIITs, other centrally funded Technical Institutions, Institutions funded by several participating State Governments, and several other Institutions shall include the performance in the Joint Entrance Examination, JEE (Main).

The JEE (Main) will also be an eligibility test for the JEE (Advanced), which the candidate has to take if he/she is aspiring for admission to the undergraduate programmes offered by the IITs.

For admission to NITs, Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) like IIITs etc. and other participating Institutions, the merit/rank list shall be prepared based on 40% weightage to school Boards marks in class 12th or equivalent examination and 60% weightage to JEE(Main). The weightage to school Board/Equivalent examination marks shall be considered only after normalization.

Mode of Examination

The Paper-1 (described below) of JEE (Main) will be conducted in two separate modes i.e. Offline (Pen and Paper Based Examination) mode and Online (Computer Based Examination) mode.

The Paper-2 of JEE (Main) will be conducted only in Pen and Paper based examination mode. A candidate will opt for either Pen or Paper Based or Computer Based examination modes for Paper-1 only.

Type of Examination

JEE (Main) – 2013 shall have two papers, Paper-1 and Paper-2. Candidates may take Paper-1, or Paper-2, or both as per the course(s) they are seeking admission to. Subject combination for each paper, type of questions in each paper and mode of examination available is given in the table below.

SUBJECTS TYPE OF QUESTIONS MODE OF EXAM

	Subjects	Type of Questions	Mode of Exam
Paper 1	Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics	Objective type with equal weightage to Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics	Pen and Paper based OR Computer based
Paper 2	Mathematics – Part I Aptitude Test – Part II & Drawing Test – Part III	Objective type Objective type Questions to test drawing aptitude	Only Pen and Paper based

Requirement of papers for different courses is given in the table below.

Course	Papers
B.ARCH/B. PLANNING(At Institutions other than IITs)	Paper –2
All other undergraduate courses	Paper –1

The second test, called the JEE (Advanced), will be only offline. Only 1,50,000 of the top rankers in JEE(Main), which includes students from all categories( GE,OBC(NCL), SC and ST ) will be eligible to appear in JEE (Advanced).

The JEE (Advanced)-2013 will have two objective type papers. Each paper will consist of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Duration of each paper will be 3-hours. Question papers will be in both English and Hindi.

Admissions to IITs will be based only on category wise All India Rank (AIR) in JEE (Advanced) subject to the condition that such candidates are in the top 20 percentile of successful candidates of their Boards in applicable categories.

The "Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana" (KVPY) is a program started in 1999 by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India to encourage students of Basic Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to take up research careers in these areas. The aim of the program is to identify and encourage talented students with aptitude for research.
The KVPY is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, The program is Administered by Indian institute of Science (IISc, Bangalore)

(a) Stream SA: Students enrolled in the XI Standard (Science Subjects) and have secured a minimum of 80% (70% for SC/ST) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects in the X Standard Board Examination. [Students promoted through both the Summative Assessments-II conducted by the school and conduced by the Board are eligible to apply, if they satisfy eligibility criteria].
(b) Stream SX : Students enrolled in class 12 (+2) and aspiring to join undergraduate program in Basic Sciences (B.Sc./B.S./ Int. M.Sc) provided they secured a minimum of 80% (70% for SC/ST) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects in the X Standard Board Examination.
(c) Stream SB: Students enrolled in the 1st Year Science undergraduate program (B.Sc./B.S./integrated M.Sc.) and having secured a minimum of 60% (50% for SC/ST) marks in aggregate in Mathematics and Science subjects in the XII Standard Board Examination.
The question paper in SA Stream will be both multiple choice objective and descriptive types. In the objective type, 4 choices for the correct answer will be provided and the choice for the correct answer has to be made. In the descriptive type solution to a problem, formula for a sum, etc., has to be worked out and written.

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET is a qualifying cum entrance exam for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical course (MBBS) or dental course (BDS) or a postgraduate course (MD / MS) in government and private medical colleges in India.

NEET - UG, for MBBS and BDS courses, will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). NEET - UG will replace the All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) and all individual MBBS exams conducted by states or colleges themselves also conducted by CBSE.

The Entrance Examination shall consist of one paper containing 180 objective type questions (four options with single correct answer) from Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany & Zoology) to be answered on the specially designed machine-gradable sheet using Ball Point Pen only.