Indian students shine bright at science, maths Olympiad

Experts say the International Olympiads in science and mathematics is aimed at bringing the most gifted secondary and higher secondary students of the world together in a friendly competition of the highest level and is not linked to any admissions. They intend to work as a stimulus for young talents to seek careers in science and mathematics by providing them a window of challenging the human mind at the highest level of logical, scientific and mathematical thinking.

Professor Anwesh Mazumdar, national coordinator for Science Olympiads at the HBCSE, said, “The International Olympiads are not merely competitions but are celebrations of science and mathematics at secondary and higher secondary levels. Just like the Olympics are a competition at the highest level of individual athletes, the Olympiads are friendly competitions among very best students. They bring together the brightest minds from across the globe.”

He added, “The whole idea of the Olympiads is to encourage scientific temper, scientific thinking and to challenge the human mind. The Olympiads merely provide a glimpse into the world of an intellectually rewarding life of a scientist.”

Though the movement started with the first IMO held in 1959 in Romania, India has been participating in Mathematical Olympiads since 1989. It later began participation in Science Olympiads too — Physics (1998), Chemistry and Astronomy (1999), Biology (2000) and Junior Science (2007).

Typically, most days will involve lectures and tutorial sessions along with lab components, except for mathematics. (Photo: HBCSE)

And at the heart of India’s journey at the Olympiads over the past three decades is Mumbai-based HBCSE, which has trained the students selected from across the country after multiple tests.

Apart from mathematics, teams of students prepared at the HBCSE represent India at four International Science Olympiads — Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy and Biology. It also prepared students for the International Junior Science Olympiad until 2022 that has now been handed over to the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT).

Rigorous process

The Olympiads, as explained by professors, are not a speed test or evaluation of memory. Prof Prithwijit De, national coordinator for Mathematical Olympiad, explained, “In Mathematical Olympiads, more than a correct answer, the emphasis is on assessment of the process, evaluation of logical, mathematical and experimental thinking of the individual. In Science Olympiads, the thrust is on an individual’s ability to solve problems — theoretical or experimental in nature. The filtering process and training camps are accordingly structured to identify talent.”

It starts with a huge number of aspirants — between 30,000 and over a lakh, based on different subjects — appearing for the national level examinations, which are held in multiple centres across the country. While there are five stages of filtering for mathematics, for science subjects, it involves four stages. Finally, 30-50 short-listed candidates reach HBCSE for orientation-cum-selection camp.

The residential training camps at the HBCSE that spans across days ensures intensive academic preparation of selected students. While mathematics (24-25 days) and astronomy (18 days) have longer camps, physics, chemistry and biology camps vary from 10 to 14 days.

In astronomy, training also includes night-sky observation and telescope handling sessions. (Photo: HBCSE)

Just like an athlete undergoes an intensive physical routine to participate in Olympics, students at HBCSE have an intensive academic routine that include lectures, tutorials of problem solving with intensive mentoring, laboratory sessions and several assessment tests. Mazumdar said, “A large emphasis is on experiential learning because that is a neglected area in mainstream school education whereas in Olympiads it counts for 40 percent of the score.”

Typically, most days will involve lectures and tutorial sessions along with lab components, except for mathematics. In astronomy, training also includes night-sky observation and telescope handling sessions.

These camps held between April and June also include multiple assessment tests to further short-list the best candidates to form a team of four to six members (depending on subjects) to represent India at various International Olympiads. These teams then undergo more intensive academic training at the HBCSE in the pre-departure camp before they head to represent India at the International Olympiads.

One of the gold medallists, Ananda Bhaduri (18) from Assam said, “Though it was not stressful, it was inspiring to work around fellows having the same love for mathematics along with seniors and teachers. We developed personal bonds with instructors as most of them were our seniors in Olympiads and now college students. It was one of the best experiences in my life.” Bhaduri has participated twice in IMO and will be heading next month to Imperial College of London to study mathematics.

Adhitya Mangudy (17) from Pune, who has been participating in Mathematical Olympiad since he was in Class 9, said, “The training camp is always an enriching experience. Once the team is finalised, the pre-departure camp focuses more on mock tests, problem solving to prepare for the final stage of the International Olympiad. Since the camps are residential in nature, we get enough time to bond with each other through playing games and discussing study options.”

India’s performance

About 100 countries participate in the International Olympiads every year. While India achieved its highest rank (4th) this year, teams representing India have maintained rank in top 10 except on a few occasions. It saw its highest performance in physics and biology in 2018 and 2023 respectively, and in astronomy India topped the medal tally multiple times.

India has won a total of 252 gold, 331 silver, 151 bronze medals and 39 honourable mentions, since the country started participating in different International Olympiads. The data also indicates that with 43 percent, the share of gold medals is much higher in the past 10 years.

In July 2024 alone, apart from IMO, Indian teams won one gold and three silver medals at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) held in Astana, Kazakhstan, two gold and three silver medals at the International Physics Olympiad (IPO) held in Isfahan, Iran, and one gold, two silver and one bronze at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A team of students has just finished training at the HBCSE to represent India at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) at Rio De Janeiro from August 17 to 26, 2024. India has also hosted International Olympiads in the past it is all set to host the IOAA in 2025.

These camps held between April and June also include multiple assessment tests to further short-list the best candidates to form a team of four to six members (depending on subjects) to represent India at various International Olympiads. (Photo: HBCSE)

Why HBCSE?

Indian’s participation at IMO that began in 1989 under the aegis of the National Board of Higher Mathematics (NBHM) of DAE, a body that still oversees the national programme. HBCSE offered administrative support to the programme till around 2000, and thereafter provided academic support as well once the DAE members concerned were transferred to HBCSE. Since then, the academic programme has been coordinated fully by HBCSE in collaboration with NBHM.

Students’ enrolment for the first stage — the National Standard Examination (NSE) — of the National Science Olympiads 2025 has already started at https://www.iapt.org.in.

Leading students to pursue science, maths

Even as some of these students said the Olympiads has been a turning point for them in their career trajectory, Prof Mazumdar said, “It is very heartening to know that the Olympiads have at least partially succeeded in its goal of encouraging young students toward a career in science; however, I am not sure if we can claim sole credit for their career choices. On the other hand, it would not be fair to hold it against the Olympiads if participants do not go into scientific careers, since career decisions also depend on social and economic factors.”

The HBCSE was able to track close to 85 percent of Olympiad medallists from past years, especially those who have finished graduation; and 64 percent of them were found to have chosen “academic careers”, which according to professors at HBCSE are those who are either pursuing PhD or have compleited it, indicating that they are into research.

Specifically talking about students from Mathematical Olympiad, Prof De spoke how with fewer choices, these students would earlier pursue CSE in IITs. “But now they are making conscious choices to pursue a career in mathematics in India at institutes like Chennai Mathematical Institute or Indian Statistical Institute or abroad,” he said.