Science Olympiads 2019–20

Important announcement regarding next stages of national Olympiad programme

The national Olympiad programmes in Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Junior Science and Physics culminating in international Olympiads in 2020 are severely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. In this regard, the decisions listed below for each Olympiad subject are announced. This announcement supersedes the previous announcement made on June 6.

It is noted that alternative events have been announced by the organizers of the International Chemistry and Biology Olympiads. The academic merit of such events along with the impact of changed procedures of implementation have been taken into account in arriving at the decisions. It has been observed that given the constraints imposed due to the pandemic, HBCSE may not be in a position to implement the significantly changed modalities so as to ensure that students from India perform to their best capacity. It is also observed that any inadvertent exposure to infection, besides putting the students to great risk, may adversely affect the morale of the participants.

Taking into account the changed nature of the alternative Olympiad events and all considerations including those mentioned above, the following decisions are announced. The decisions have been approved by the competent authority of the Govt of India.

The current status of the national programme in different subjects is as follows:

  • Astronomy: The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2020 has been cancelled. An alternative online competition, named Global e-Competition on Astronomy and Astrophysics (GeCAA) has been proposed by the international body of IOAA. It has two components — an individual component and a team component. After careful consideration, at different levels including the National Steering Committee on Science Olympiads, of the merit of the competition and associated procedures, it has been decided that India will not participate in the individual component of this online competition. However, ten students from the Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO) merit lists (4 from the list of Group A and 6 from the list of Group B) will be nominated to participate in the team component of GeCAA. The students will be selected in order of merit in INAO, irrespective of their OCSC preferences, but satisfying all other eligibility criteria to represent India in the international Olympiads. In case a student declines, the spot will be offered to the next eligible student in the respective merit list. HBCSE will contact the concerned students and complete all formalities of registration in due time; students are requested not to approach either HBCSE or IOAA in this regard. It is to be noted that participation in GeCAA is NOT considered equivalent to participation in an international Olympiad either by IOAA or by HBCSE, and therefore, any benefit of participation in international Olympiads will not apply to the participants of GeCAA team competition. This decision has been approved by the competent authority of the Government. Students will be awarded an appropriate certificate on the basis of their performance in INAO 2020.

  • Biology: The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2020 has been cancelled. An alternative online competition has been proposed by the organisers of IBO 2020. However, after careful consideration, at different levels including the National Steering Committee on Science Olympiads, of the merit of the competition and associated procedures, it has been decided that India will not participate in this online competition. Therefore, the national programme in Biology for 2020 stands terminated. This decision has been approved by the competent authority of the Government. Students will be awarded an appropriate certificate on the basis of their performance in INBO 2020.

  • Chemistry: The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) of 2020 has been converted into an online competition. However, after careful consideration, at different levels including the National Steering Committee on Science Olympiads, of the merit of the competition and associated procedures, it has been decided that India will not participate in this online IChO 2020. Therefore, the national programme in Chemistry for 2020 stands terminated. This decision has been approved by the competent authority of the Government. Students will be awarded an appropriate certificate on the basis of their performance in INChO 2020.

  • Junior Science: The International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) 2020 has been cancelled. Therefore, the national programme in Junior Science for 2020 stands terminated. Students will be awarded an appropriate certificate on the basis of their performance in INJSO 2020.

  • Physics: The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2020 has been cancelled. Therefore, the national programme in Physics for 2020 stands terminated. Students will be awarded an appropriate certificate on the basis of their performance in INPhO 2020.

  • In the subjects where the OCSC has been cancelled, training camps that cover the theoretical and experimental aspects of the Olympiads may be held later in the year for the educational benefit of the students who have qualified for the OCSC. This proposal is under consideration and will be implemented based on the availability of suitable dates, the pandemic situation at that time and the Government restrictions in place.