• NEET
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • Class 6-10
      • Class 6th
      • Class 7th
      • Class 8th
      • Class 9th
      • Class 10th
    • View All Options
      • Online Courses
      • Offline Courses
      • Distance Learning
      • Hindi Medium Courses
      • International Olympiad
    • NEET
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE (Main+Advanced)
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE Main
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
  • NEW
    • JEE MAIN 2025
    • NEET
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
    • Class 6-10
    • JEE Main
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • JEE Advanced
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Mock Test
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • NEET
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Mock Test
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • NCERT Solutions
      • Class 6
      • Class 7
      • Class 8
      • Class 9
      • Class 10
      • Class 11
      • Class 12
    • CBSE
      • Notes
      • Sample Papers
      • Question Papers
    • Olympiad
      • NSO
      • IMO
      • NMTC
    • ALLEN e-Store
    • AOSAT
    • ALLEN for Schools
    • About ALLEN
    • Blogs
    • News
    • Careers
    • Request a call back
    • Book home demo

Frequently Asked Questions

The INPhO is a highly competitive exam designed to identify and nurture exceptionally talented pre-university physics students. It's a crucial step towards representing India at the prestigious International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).

Indian citizens born between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2010, residing and studying in India, and currently in Class X, XI, or XII are eligible.

The INPhO typically consists of 6 theoretical questions, lasting 3 hours. The syllabus covers a wide range of physics topics, from mechanics and thermodynamics to electromagnetism and quantum physics.

NSEP: November 2025 (Tentative) and INPhO: February 2026 (Tentative)

  • About
    • About us
    • Blog
    • News
    • MyExam EduBlogs
    • Privacy policy
    • Public notice
    • Careers
    • Dhoni Inspires NEET Aspirants
    • Dhoni Inspires JEE Aspirants
  • Help & Support
    • Refund policy
    • Transfer policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact us
  • Popular goals
    • NEET Coaching
    • JEE Coaching
    • 6th to 10th
  • Courses
    • Online Courses
    • Distance Learning
    • Online Test Series
    • International Olympiads Online Course
    • NEET Test Series
    • JEE Test Series
    • JEE Main Test Series
  • Centers
    • Kota
    • Bangalore
    • Indore
    • Delhi
    • More centres
  • Exam information
    • JEE Main
    • JEE Advanced
    • NEET UG
    • CBSE
    • NCERT Solutions
    • NEET Mock Test
    • Olympiad
    • NEET 2025 Answer Key
    • JEE Advanced 2025 Answerkey
    • JEE Advanced Rank Predictor

ALLEN Career Institute Pvt. Ltd. © All Rights Reserved.

ISO

Join ALLEN!

(Session 2025 - 26)


Choose class
Choose your goal
Preferred Mode
Choose State
Special Books
Home
Olympiad
Indian National Physics Olympiad

Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO)

INPhO is a scholarly competition instituted to sift through India's exceptionally able pre-university students and foster their talents in the science of Physics. Such competitions mark a big stepping stone toward participation at the highest level in this activity at the International Physics Olympiad, IPhO.

The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education comes under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. It guides INPhO, which is a process of shortlisting the team to appear and represent India in the International Physics Olympiad. At the same time, it allows the students to better learn the material and, in the process, enhance the teaching-learning experience of the concerned teacher.

1.0Stages in the INPhO Program

The INPhO Exam involved typicaly involves multiple stages.

  • National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP): This is the first round, a multiple-choice test open to thousands of students nationwide.
  • Indian National Physics Olympiad (INPhO): Those students who qualify through performance in NSEP are nominated to take part in the INPhO, the more challenging theoretical test.
  • Orientation-Cum-Selection Camp, OCSC: The best candidates from the INPhO are called to an orientation-cum-selection camp held at HBCSE. There, they are theoretically and experimentally trained in physics to finalize the teams for India for IPhO.
  • International Physics Olympiad or IPhO: The future select Indian team will participate in an international competition where selected students from all over the world compete.

The INPhO program consists of a very rigorous selection procedure, with an emphasis on building critical thinking and problem-solving and experimental skills. It is a special chance to pursue one's interest in physics and work through challenging scientific principles.

2.0Eligibility

  • Indian citizenship or Indian passport holder.
  • Born between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2010.
  • Residing and studying in India since November 30, 2022.
  • Studying in Class X, XI, or XII.
  • Not passed Class XII before November 30, 2024.

3.0Exam Dates

  • NSEP (National Standard Examination in Physics): November, 2025 (Tentative)
  • INPhO (Indian National Physics Olympiad): February, 2026 (Tentative)

4.0Exam Centers

List of Centers for INPhO Exam

Ahmedabad

Bengaluru

Ranchi

Bhopal

Bhubaneshwar

Chandigarh

Chennai 

Delhi

Guwahati

Hyderabad

Mumbai 

Jaipur

Kochi

Kolkata

Kota 

Lucknow

Nagpur 

Patna

5.0Selection Process

NSEP:

  • Multiple-choice questions (48) with single correct answers.
  • Multiple-choice questions (12) with one or more correct alternatives.

INPhO:

  • Based on NSEP performance, a target of 400 students (200 from Group A (Class XII) and 200 from Group B (Class XI or X)) will be selected for INPhO.
  • Selection criteria include:
    • Minimum Admissible Score (MAS)
    • Merit Index (MI)
    • Proportional Representation Clause (state-wise quota)
    • Minimum Total Number Clause
    • Super-numerary Quota for Female Students
    • Previous International Representation Clause

OCSC (Orientation-Cum-Selection Camp):

  • 40 students will be selected for OCSC based on INPhO performance.
  • OCSC includes theoretical and experimental training.
  • Based on OCSC performance, a team of 5 students will be selected to represent India at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).

6.0INPhO Examination 2025 Overview

INPhO provides and enables promising children with an opportunity to achieve their aspiration by representing their nation in the International Physics Olympiad.

Here, the Separate INPhO 2025 Registration Process is not covered and qualifying for NPEC 2025 is the initial phase of the IPhO Exam. For this registration, one has to obtain their respective examination admit card. Application fee for the INPhO Exam is INR 300/-For a quick glance, go to the overview table for the Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INPhO 2025).

Host

Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education

Examination

(INPhO) Indian National Physics Olympiad 2025

Registration Dates

Once Candidates are Shortlisted

INPhO 2025 Exam Date

Feb 2026

Application Fee

Rs. 300/-

Application Mode

Online

7.0Exam Pattern for INPhO

Here is the Exam Pattern for Upcoming INPhO:

Duration of INPhO

3 Hrs

Syllabus

Very Equivalent to senior secondary level (up to and including Class XII) of CBSE India

Language

English & Hindi, Can be Choose During Registration

Number of Questions

6

Total Score

80

8.0Syllabus for INPhO 2025

1. Mechanics

  • Definition of Kinematics for a point mass
  • Newton's Laws and inertial system.
  • closed and open system-Momentum and Energy, work power.
  • Conservation of energy- Impulse, Conservation of linear Momentum.
  • Elastic force-Law of gravitation friction.
  • potential energy-work done in Gravitational field Centripetal acceleration, Keple's Laws.

2. Mechanics of Rigid Bodies

  • Statics, Torque, Centre of Mass.
  • Translation, angular velocity, and rotation of rigid bodies with their motion. Angular acceleration and conservation of angular momentum.
  • Identification of motion of a rigid body around the fixed axis, Kinetic energy of a rotating body, Moment of inertia, External and Internal Forces.
  • Accelerated reference systems and inertial forces.

3. Hydromechanics

  • No particular questions will be asked from this topic but students should know the elementary concepts of pressure, the continuity law, and buoyancy.

4. Thermodynamics and Molecular Physics

  • Internal energy, First and Second laws of Thermodynamics, Work and Heat.
  • Model of a perfect gas, Pressure and molecular kinetic energy, Formulation of state of a perfect gas, Avogadro's number, Absolute Temperature.
  • Work accomplished by an expanding gas for processes of isothermal and adiabatic expansion.
  • The Carnot cycle, Reversible and Irreversible processes, Thermodynamics Efficiency, Entropy (statistical approach), and Boltzmann factor.

5. Oscillations and Waves

  • Harmonic oscillations and the equation of Harmonic Oscillation.
  • Harmonic waves, Transverse and longitudinal waves, Propagation of wave, Linear polarization, Sound wave and classical Doppler effect.
  • Superposition of harmonic waves, Interference, Coherent waves, Standing waves, Beats

6. Electric Charge and Electric Field

  • Conservation of charge, Coulomb’s law
  • Electric field, Gauss’ Law, Potential
  • Dielectric constant and energy density of the electric field, Capacitors, and Capacitance, etc.

7. Current and Magnetic Field

  • Ohm's Law, Source's Internal resistance, Kirchhoff's Law, Joule's Law. Work with the currents of current and direct AC power.
  • Magnetic field of a current, Lorentz force, Current in a magnetic field.
  • Ampere's law
  • Law of electromagnetic induction, Lenz's law, Magnetic Flux, Self-induction, Energy Density of Magnetic field, Inductance, Permeability.
  • Voltage and Current (series and parallel) Resonances, Resistors, Inductors and Capacitors in AC circuits, Alternating current.

8. Electromagnetic Waves

  • Generation by feedback and resonance, Frequency of Oscillation, Oscillatory Circuit.
  • Wave optics Diffraction gratings Diffraction by one and two slits Bragg reflection Resolving power of a grating.
  • Line Spectra of Gases, and Dispersion and Diffraction spectra
  • Electromagnetic waves as transverse waves, Polarizers, Polarization by reflection.
  • Resolution Power of Imaging Systems. Black body and Stefan-Boltzmann's law.

9. Quantum Physics

  • The impulse of the Photon, and Photoelectric effect and energy
  • De Broglie Wavelength and Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.

10. Relativity

  • Principle of Relativity, Doppler shift in special relativity, Composition of Velocities.
  • Energy, Momentum, Relation between energy and mass, Conservation of energy and Momentum, Relativistic identification of motion.
  • Simple applications of the Bragg equation.
  • The energy levels of atoms and molecules are described qualitatively as absorption and emission spectrum of hydrogen-like atoms.
  • Alpha- Beta-Gamma-Decomposition, half-life, and exponential decay, Absorption of radiation, Components of nuclei, Nuclear reactions, Mass defect, Energy levels of nuclei (qualitatively).

9.0Training

Selected students will undergo rigorous training at HBCSE before the IPhO.

IPhO(International Physics Olympiad) 2025: To be held in France in July 2025.

10.0Key features of Indian National Physics Olympiad

Academic Excellence

  • Fosters Scientific Talent: INPhO seeks to identify and nurture exceptionally talented pre-university students in physics.
  • High-Level Competition: It helps Indian students participate in the highly competitive International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).
  • Long selection procedure including NSEP, INPhO, and an orientation-cum-selection camp focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving, and experimental skills.

Eligibility and Participation

  • Open for Indian Citizens: The applicant students should hold Indian citizenship or a passport.
  • Born between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2010.
  • Educational Qualifications: Class X, XI, and/or XII studies.

Exam Details

  • NSEP: Stage I, multiple choice test.
  • INPhO: Second stage; a slightly more difficult theoretical exam.
  • Exam Centers: Held across major cities in India.
  • Syllabus: A wide syllabus covering everything in physics - mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, and quantum physics.

Training and Support

  • OCSC: The selected students would attend an intensive theoretical and experimental course at HBCSE.
  • Mentorship: HBCSE offers mentorship and assistance to students during and after the selection process.

International Representation

IPhO Participation: Top-level students of OCSC get selected to represent India in the International Physics Olympiad.


Table of Contents


  • 1.0Stages in the INPhO Program
  • 2.0Eligibility
  • 3.0Exam Dates
  • 4.0Exam Centers
  • 5.0Selection Process
  • 6.0INPhO Examination 2025 Overview
  • 7.0Exam Pattern for INPhO
  • 8.0Syllabus for INPhO 2025
  • 9.0Training
  • 10.0Key features of Indian National Physics Olympiad
  • 10.1Academic Excellence
  • 10.2Eligibility and Participation
  • 10.3Exam Details
  • 10.4Training and Support
  • 10.5International Representation