The Mathematical Olympiad Programme in India leading to participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad is organized by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) on behalf of the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Stage I: Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO and pre-RMO)
The RMO is a 3-hour written test with 6 or 7 problems. On the basis of the performance in RMO, a certain number of students from each region is selected for Stage 2 (INMO). The Regional Coordinators are in charge of conducting the RMO in their respective regions. They have the option of preparing RMO question papers all by themselves or they may choose to use the central RMO question paper prepared by the Mathematical Olympiad Cell, HBCSE, TIFR. Some regions may hold a pre-RMO examination by way of which students will be selected to appear for RMO. For those regions opting for the central RMO paper, a pre-RMO will be mandatory. All pre-RMOs will be conducted by the concerned regions. The format of the pre-RMO paper and the criteria for selecting students for RMO is at the sole discretion of the respective Regional Coordinator.
The central RMO will be held on the first Sunday of December this year (December 06, 2020) between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. RMO for those regions not opting for the central RMO will be held on date decided by the concerned Regional Coordinator, but this date will be no later than December 15, 2020. Students from Class IX, X, XI and XII are eligible to appear for the RMO. Highly motivated and well prepared students from Class VIII may also take the RMO at the discretion of the Regional Coordinator. At most 6 Class XII students from each region will be selected to appear for Stage 2 (INMO). The Regional Coordinators may charge a nominal fee to meet the expenses for organizing the contest.
Stage 2: Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) :
The INMO will be held on first Sunday of February (February 07, 2021) between 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm (12.00 noon to 04.00 p.m. at some centres). Only those students who are selected in the RMO are eligible to appear for the INMO. This contest is a 4-hour written test. On the basis of the INMO, the 30-35 students from all over the country are chosen as INMO awardees and receive a Certificate of Merit. (A maximum of 6 students of Class XII can be INMO awardees.)
Stage 3: International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC) :
The INMO awardees are invited to a month long training camp in April-May each year at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Mumbai. The INMO awardees of the previous year who have satisfactorily gone through postal tuition throughout the year are invited again to a second round of Training (Senior Batch). The senior batch participants who successfully complete the camp receive a prize of Rs. 5,000/- in the form of books and cash. On the basis of a number of selection tests through the Camp, a team of the best six students is selected from the combined pool of junior and senior batch participants.
Stage 4: Pre-departure Training Camp for IMO:
The selected team of six students goes through another round of training and orientation for about 10 days prior to departure for IMO.
Stage 5: International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) :
The six member team selected at the end of IMOTC accompanied by a leader, a deputy leader and an observer represents the country at the IMO, held in July each year in a different member country of the IMO. The IMO contest consists of two 4 and 1/2-hour written test held on two days . Travel to the IMO venue and return takes about two weeks. India has been participating in the IMO since 1989. Students of the Indian Team who receive gold, silver and bronze medals at the IMO receive a cash prizes of Rs. 5000/-, Rs. 4000/- and Rs. 3000/- respectively at a formal ceremony at the end of the training Camp during the following year.
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) finances international travel of the team, the leader and the deputy leader, while NBHM(DAE) finances the other expenditure connected with the international participation and the entire in-country programme.
Students aiming to go through the Mathematical Olympiad programme leading to international participation (IMO) should note that RMO is the first essential step for the programme. To appear for the RMO, the students should get in touch with the RMO co-ordinator of their region well in advance for enrollment and payment of stipulated (nominal) fees.