Indian National Chemistry Olympiad
The Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO) is one of the most esteemed competitions for school students across India with a serious interest in chemistry. It is a platform for students to showcase their knowledge, skills, and analytical thinking in chemistry and to get first-hand experience for the international level subject competitions such as the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).
The competition is run under the auspices of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), in tandem with the Indian Association of Chemistry Teachers (IACT), and happens annually, aiming to identify and develop talent for the discipline across the country. It aims to inspire students towards excellence in chemistry as well as enhancing their problem-solving skills, understanding of concepts and practical skills.
For many students, clearing INChO is a defining academic moment—the beginning of a journey towards more research in science, further study and exposure to the global academic landscape.
Stages of INChO
Similar to other sciences disciplines Olympiads, INChO runs through two phases to get progressively the best students to represent Indian Chemistry at the International Chemistry Olympiad.
- National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC):
- This is the first step, organized in several centers throughout India.
- It is open to thousands of students from the 11th and 12th classes who wish to evaluate their chemisty knowledge.
- Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO):
- Students who do well from the NSEC take the INChO.
- This is a much harder stage, with advanced theoretical and problem-solving creativity.
- Orientation-Cum-Selection Camp (OCSC):
- Students who did well at INChO are invited to HBCSE for the OCSC.
- At this camp, we provide students with intensive theoretical training of experimental chemistry and laboratory training of chemistry.
- The final team of 4 students will be selected to go on and represent India at IChO.
- International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO):
- Selected Indian Team represents and competes with students across the world.
- This is the final stage , creativity, knowledge and scientific innovation is put to the test on an International level.
INChO Examination 2025 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
|
Host |
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE)
|
|
Exam |
Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO) 2025
|
|
Registration Dates
|
After shortlisting from NSEC
|
|
Exam Date
|
2nd February 2025 (Tentative)
|
|
Application Fee
|
₹300 |
|
Mode of Application
|
Online |
|
Duration |
3 Hours
|
|
Language |
English & Hindi (choice available during registration)
|
|
Total Questions
|
6 |
|
Maximum Marks
|
80 |
Exam Centers for INChO
INChO is organized across several big cities of India to have the exam accessible at many locations. The following are major locations:
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Ranchi
- Bhopal
- Bhubaneswar
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Mumbai
- Jaipur
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Kota
- Lucknow
- Nagpur
- Patna
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to appear for INChO, the candidate must meet the following requirements:
- Age criteria – the candidate must be born between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2008.
- Nationality – Only Indian students who are resident and studying in India are eligible.
- Educational Qualification – the candidate must be a student of classes XI or XII. Any student who has passed class XII is not eligible.
- Previous Education – Students formed in any undergraduate program or those who have already passed 12th board exams before eligibility date are not allowed to participate.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The INChO exam is made to test not only conceptual clarity but analytical skills in Chemistry.
Exam Pattern
- Duration – 3 hours
- Mode – Offline (pen-paper based)
- Type of Questions – Descriptive, analytical, and problem solving based.
- Languages – English and Hindi
- Total Marks – 80
Syllabus
The syllabus is broadly based on CBSE Class XI and XII syllabus but higher difficulty in line with Olympiad expectations.
Inorganic Chemistry
- Atomic structure and electronic configuration
- Periodic classification and periodic properties
- Chemical bonding character and molecular structure
- Coordination compounds
- s, p, d block elements
- Oxidation-reduction chemistry and chemistry calculations
Organic Chemistry
- Hydrocarbons: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics
- Halogenated hydrocarbons
- Alcohols, phenols, ethers
- Aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids
- Amines and nitrogen compounds
- Biomolecules: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids
Physical Chemistry
- Mole concept and stoichiometry
- Chemical equilibrium and ionic equilibrium
- Thermodynamics and energetics
- Electrochemistry
- Kinetics and reaction dynamics
- Phase equilibrium and colligative properties
Biochemistry
- Amino acids, peptides, proteins
- Lipids and membranes
- Enzymes and functions
- Carbohydrates
- Photosynthesis and respiration
- Synthesis of DNA, RNA, proteins
Experimental Chemistry
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis
- Synthesis of inorganic and organic
- Laboratory safety, measurement techniques, titration methods
Registration Process
The registration typically consists of the following steps:
- Official website: First, go to the HBCSE website.
- Olympiad: Find the Olympiad section, where you will find the details of forthcoming Olympiads.
- Fill out registration form: Enter personal and educational details accurately.
- Choose exam center: Choose a city or center that is advisable for you from the provided list.
- Pay fee: Online payment of ₹300 must be made.
- Submit form and download admit card: After completing the form, you will need to download and print your admit card that will allow you to attend the exam.
Preparation Tips for INChO
It is not enough to simply memorize when it comes to INChO. This exam involves strong conceptual knowledge, thinking skills and practicality of knowledge. Here are a few suggestions:
- Reinforce fundamentals: Use NCERT textbooks from Class 11 and 12 to reinforce your fundamentals.
- Past year papers: Solve various papers from the past few years, i.e., Olympiad papers and past competitive exams.
- Higher-level resources: Use higher-level chemistry subject books and Olympiad resources.
- Experience Lab: Work through lab experiments and new forms of problem-solving.
- Time management: Practice writing papers in 3 hours.
- Guidance: Attend coaching or have prior teacher teaching assistance.
- Stay abreast of current Chemistry: Read journals, online, or articles on current Chemistry and its application in the world.
Benefits of Participating in INChO
There are many benefits to participating in the Indian National Chemistry Olympiad:
- Increased Understanding: Students increase their understanding of Chemistry.
- Skill Building: They learn problem-solving, reasoning, and analytical skills.
- Exposure to Higher Concepts: They will prepare for graduate school in Chemistry or research.
- Prizes and Scholarships: Winners get medals and recognition for their achievements.
- International Opportunity: These top performers could be invited to represent India in the IChO.
- Personal Growth: Participation develops a sense of discipline, determination, and scientific thinking.
Conclusion
The Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO) is not just a tournament but it is a process of self discovery, learning and development to every future chemist. It provides a rare chance to the students to push themselves and proving their knowledge with the best students in the country, to practice their skills and knowledge in international level, and to build their interest and passion in science.
In case students are seeking a career in Chemistry, research, or as an academic, INChO assists the students to be ready to succeed later in these activities. With dedicated planning, to certain objectives, and appropriate mentality, involvement in INChO may result in numerous subsequent educational and career prospects.
FAQs on INChO
The first stage is Ans- NSEC (National Standard Examination in Chemistry) and the second stage is INChO of Indian Olympiad program. INChO can only be taken by shortlisted NSEC students.
The number of students to be selected in NSEC to do the INCho examination is approximately 300-350 annually.
It is good to study on your own, but you need a professional coach to help you through an organized preparation, practice, and professional guidance in your studies (Institute of origin educare).
It is more difficult than board tests and JEE because it is focused on testing the knowledge of the concept and skills in application in-depth.
Yes, Class 11 students meeting eligibility criteria can participate, though most participants are in Class 12.
Quick Links
- National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP)
- National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC)
- Internatinal Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)
- Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO)
- Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO)
- Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO)
- Internatinal Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)
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