NSEP / INPhO 2025–26 — Classes 11–12
Pathway: NSEP → INPhO → OCSC → IPhO | Organisers: IAPT (Stage‑1) & HBCSE‑TIFR (Stages‑2/3)
📝 IAPT Student Login (Enrolment)
📄 NSE 2025–26 Student Brochure (PDF)
🌐 HBCSE Science Olympiad Brochure (2025–26)
📅 Key Dates (IST) — 2025–26
- Enrolment (students): 21 Aug – 14 Sept 2025 (online on IAPT portal); correction window 25–27 Sept 2025.
- NSEP (Stage‑1): Sun, 23 Nov 2025 — 8:30–10:30 AM (OMR, offline).
- INPhO (Stage‑2): Sun, 1 Feb 2026 — 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (descriptive).
- OCSC‑Physics (Stage‑3): Apr–May 2026 (camp; dates via HBCSE notice).
🎯 Eligibility (Class 11–12 focus)
- Class: Studying in Class X/XI/XII at the time of enrolment (this page focuses on XI–XII).
- DOB window: 1 Jul 2006 – 30 Jun 2011 (both days inclusive).
- Passport / OCI: Eligible to hold Indian passport. OCI students are provisionally eligible up to OCSC; they are not eligible to represent India at IPhO as of current court orders.
- Residency: Studying/residing in India since 30 Nov 2023 or earlier.
- Not appearing in NSEJS 2025 (cannot write junior & senior NSE in same year).
📝 NSEP Exam Pattern (Total: 216 marks)
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Part A1: 48 single‑correct MCQs — +3 for correct, −1 for wrong.
- Part A2: 12 multiple‑correct MCQs — +6 only if all correct choices are marked and no wrong choice is marked; no negative in this part.
- Mode: OMR, offline; paper offered in English + selected Indian languages (based on demand).
- Calculator: Non‑programmable scientific calculators are allowed.
🧪 INPhO — What to Expect
- Format: Descriptive (theory); English & Hindi.
- Duration: 3 hours; typical venues are major cities (HBCSE list).
- Syllabus: Broadly equivalent to Class XI–XII CBSE physics, but problems are non‑routine and at Olympiad level.
⛳ Selection to INPhO (from NSEP)
Shortlisting uses Merit Index (MI), Minimum Admissible Score (MAS), Proportional State/UT representation (min 4 per subject per State/UT), and a 15% super‑numerary quota for female students to reach the target number for INO.
➡️ After INPhO → OCSC‑Physics
- Target intake: ~40 students (typically 20 Group‑A + 20 Group‑B).
- Outcome: Selection tests at camp choose 5 students for the Indian team to the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).
💳 Fees (Stage‑1 by IAPT)
Approx. ₹300 per subject (as per IAPT notice). Check your centre’s final fee and payment mode on the enrolment portal.
🧭 How to Apply (Quick Steps)
- Visit iapt.manageexam.com/Student/ and register with mobile/email.
- Fill profile, choose your NSE centre and subject: NSEP; pay the fee online.
- Download hall ticket (from early Nov) and sit for NSEP on 23 Nov 2025.
- If shortlisted, apply for INPhO (1 Feb 2026) per HBCSE instructions.
📚 Preparation for Class 11–12 (Physics)
- Focus areas: mechanics (multi‑step problems), electricity & magnetism (fields, circuits), waves & optics, thermal physics, modern physics; data analysis & estimation.
- Practice: Solve NSEP/INPhO past papers; aim for accuracy in A1 and complete correctness in A2; for INPhO, write full solutions with reasoning.
🔗 Official Links
- IAPT Student Enrolment: iapt.manageexam.com
- NSE 2025–26 Student Brochure (PDF): iapt.org.in
- HBCSE Science Olympiad Brochure 2025–26: olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in
📝 Disclaimer
All dates, pattern and policies are summarized from IAPT & HBCSE 2025–26 documents. Always verify latest notices on the official portals before applying.