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Talent Certifications Regional Olympiads (India) Chemistry

NSEC

National Standard Examination in Chemistry

Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), in collaboration with the Association of Chemistry Teachers (ACT)
Olympiad stage (national/international)
Annual (a new edition is held each year)

Official website ↗

About This Exam

Talent Certifications Regional Olympiads (India)
Conducted byIndian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), in collaboration with the Association of Chemistry Teachers (ACT)
Exam typeOlympiad stage (national/international)
FieldChemistry
Who can applyStudents of Class 10, 11 or 12 who are eligible to hold an Indian passport, live and study in India (or in an Indian-system school), have not begun university studies and are not sitting NSEJS in the same year.
Age / classClass 10, 11 or 12 (a date-of-birth window is announced each year)
How oftenAnnual (a new edition is held each year)
StagesStage I: National Standard Examination. Stage II: Indian National Olympiad. Stage III: Orientation-Cum-Selection Camp. Stage IV: training of the Indian team at HBCSE. Stage V: the international Olympiad.Source: Science Olympiad Brochure 2026-27 (English), Stage III p. 16; Stages IV and V p. 20
What it leads toStudents chosen by score and state-wise representation qualify for the Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO).
Talent categoryOlympiads
PathwayNSEC > INChO > OCSC (Chemistry) > IChO
RecognitionOfficial / statutory body
LevelNational
AchievementReport card for every candidate and merit certificates for top performers (IAPT brochure).

Exam pattern

First stage of the Science Olympiad programme: the National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC), conducted by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) with its partner association. Its syllabus is the one HBCSE prints for the National Standard Examination and the Indian National Olympiad together; the paper pattern is not copied here because the HBCSE document describes the second stage.

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), title of the Syllabus page

Syllabus

Chemistry27 topic groups
I. Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry

General Introduction: Importance and scope of chemistry; Nature of matter, laws of chemical combination, Dalton's atomic theory: concept of elements, atoms and molecules; Atomic and molecular masses, mole concept and molar mass, percentage composition, empirical and molecular formula, chemical reactions, stoichiometry and calculations based on stoichiometry

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit I
II. Structure of Atom

Bohr's model and its limitations, concept of shells and subshells, dual nature of matter and light, de Broglie's relationship, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, concept of orbitals, quantum numbers, shapes of s, p and d orbitals, rules for filling electrons in orbitals - Aufbau principle, Pauli's exclusion principle and Hund's rule, electronic configuration of atoms, stability of half-filled and completely filled orbitals

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit II
III. Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties

Modern periodic law and the present form of periodic table, periodic trends in properties of elements -atomic radii, ionic radii, inert gas radii, Ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, electronegativity, valency. Nomenclature of elements with atomic number greater than 100

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit III
IV. Chemical Bonding and Molecular structure

Valence electrons, ionic bond, covalent bond, bond parameters, Lewis structure, polar character of covalent bond, covalent character of ionic bond, valence bond theory, resonance, geometry of covalent molecules, VSEPR theory, concept of hybridization, involving s, p and d orbitals and shapes of some simple molecules, molecular orbital theory of homonuclear diatomic molecules (qualitative idea only), hydrogen bond

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit IV
V. States of Matter: Gases and Liquids

Three states of matter, intermolecular interactions, types of bonding, melting and boiling points, role of gas laws in elucidating the concept of the molecule, Boyle's law, Charles law, Gay Lussac's law, Avogadro's law, ideal behaviour, empirical derivation of gas equation, Avogadro's number, ideal gas equation; Deviation from ideal behaviour, liquefaction of gases, critical temperature, kinetic energy and molecular speeds (elementary idea) Liquid State: vapour pressure, viscosity and surface tension (qualitative idea only, no mathematical derivations)

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit V
VI. States of Matter: Solid State

Classification of solids based on different binding forces: molecular, ionic, covalent and metallic solids, amorphous and crystalline solids (elementary idea). Unit cell in two dimensional and three dimensional lattices, calculation of density of unit cell, packing in solids, packing efficiency, voids, number of atoms per unit cell in a cubic unit cell, point defects

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit VI
VII. Chemical Thermodynamics

Concepts of System and types of systems, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive and intensive properties, state functions. First law of thermodynamics -internal energy and enthalpy, heat capacity and specific heat, measurement of ∆U and ∆H, Hess's law of constant heat summation, enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion, formation, atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution and dilution. Second law of Thermodynamics (brief introduction).Introduction of entropy as a state function, Gibb's energy change for spontaneous and non- spontaneous processes, criteria for equilibrium; Third law of thermodynamics (brief introduction)

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit VII
VIII. Equilibrium

Equilibrium in physical and chemical processes, dynamic nature of equilibrium, law of mass action, equilibrium constant, factors affecting equilibrium- Le Chatelier's principle, ionic equilibrium- ionization of acids and bases, strong and weak electrolytes, degree of ionization, ionization of poly basic acids, acid strength, concept of pH, Henderson Equation, hydrolysis of salts (elementary idea), buffer solution, solubility product, common ion effect (with illustrative examples)

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit VIII
IX. Solutions

Types of solutions, expression of concentration of solutions of solids in liquids, solubility of gases in liquids, solid solutions, colligative properties - relative lowering of vapour pressure, Raoult's law, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point, osmotic pressure, determination of molecular masses using colligative properties, abnormal molecular mass, Van't Hoff factor

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit IX
X. Electrochemistry

Redox reactions: Concept of oxidation and reduction, oxidation number, balancing redox reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number, applications of redox reactions; conductance in electrolytic solutions, specific and molar conductivity, variations of conductivity with concentration, Kohlrausch's Law, electrolysis and law of electrolysis (elementary idea), dry cell-electrolytic cells and Galvanic cells, lead accumulator, EMF of a cell, standard electrode potential, Nernst equation and its application to chemical cells, Relation between Gibbs energy change and EMF of a cell, fuel cells, corrosion

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit X
XI. Chemical Kinetics

Rate of a reaction (Average and instantaneous), factors affecting rate of reaction: concentration, temperature, catalyst; order and molecularity of a reaction, rate law and specific rate constant, integrated rate equations and half-life (only for zero and first order reactions), concept of collision theory (elementary idea, no mathematical treatment); Activation energy, Arrhenius equation

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XI
XII. Surface Chemistry

Adsorption - physisorption and chemisorption, factors affecting adsorption of gases on solids, catalysis, homogenous and heterogenous activity and selectivity; enzyme catalysis colloidal state distinction between true solutions, colloids and suspension; lyophilic, lyophobic multi-molecular and macromolecular colloids; properties of colloids; Tyndall effect, Brownian movement, electrophoresis, coagulation, emulsion - types of emulsions

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XII
XIII. s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals)

Position of hydrogen in periodic table, occurrence, isotopes, preparation, properties and uses of hydrogen, hydrides-ionic covalent and interstitial; physical and chemical properties of water, heavy water, hydrogen peroxide - preparation, reactions and structure and use; hydrogen as a fuel; Group 1 and Group 2 Elements General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, anomalous properties of the first element of each group, diagonal relationship, trends in the variation of properties (such as ionization enthalpy, atomic and ionic radii), trends in chemical reactivity with oxygen, water, hydrogen and halogens, uses; Preparation and properties of some important compounds: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydrogencarbonate, Biological importance of Sodium and Potassium; Calcium Oxide and Calcium Carbonate and their industrial uses, biological importance of Magnesium and Calcium

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XIII
XIV. p -Block Elements

General Introduction to p -Block Elements: Group 13 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, variation of properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, anomalous properties of first element of the group, Boron - physical and chemical properties, some important compounds, Borax, Boric acid, Boron Hydrides, Aluminium: Reactions with acids and alkalies, uses; Group 14 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, variation of properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, anomalous behaviour of first elements. Carbon-catenation, allotropic forms, physical and chemical properties; uses of some important compounds: oxides; Important compounds of Silicon and a few uses: Silicon Tetrachloride, Silicones, Silicates and Zeolites, their uses; Group -15 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, oxidation states, trends in physical and chemical properties; Nitrogen preparation properties and uses; compounds of Nitrogen: preparation and properties of Ammonia and Nitric Acid; Group 16 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states, occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties, dioxygen: Preparation, Properties and uses, classification of Oxides, Ozone, Sulphur -allotropic forms; compounds of Sulphur: Preparation Properties and uses of Sulphur-dioxide, Sulphuric Acid: industrial process of manufacture, properties and uses; Oxoacids of Sulphur (Structures only); Group 17 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states, occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties; compounds of halogens, Preparation, properties and uses of Chlorine and Hydrochloric acid, interhalogen compounds, Oxoacids of halogens (structures only); Group 18 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties, uses

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XIV
XV. ‘d’ and ‘f’ Block Elements

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristics of transition metals, general trends in properties of the first row transition metals - metallic character, ionization enthalpy, oxidation states, ionic radii, colour, catalytic property, magnetic properties, interstitial compounds, alloy formation, preparation and properties of K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4; Lanthanoids - Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity and lanthanoid contraction and its consequences; Actinoids - Electronic configuration, oxidation states and comparison with lanthanoids

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XV
XVI. General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements

Principles and methods of extraction - concentration, oxidation, reduction -electrolytic method and refining; occurrence and principles of extraction of aluminium, copper, zinc and iron

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XVI
XVII. Coordination Compounds

Coordination compounds - Introduction, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic properties and shapes, IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds; Bonding, Werner's theory, VBT, and CFT; structure and stereoisomerism, importance of coordination compounds (in qualitative inclusion, extraction of metals and biological system)

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XVII
XVIII. Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques

General introduction, methods of purification, qualitative and quantitative analysis, classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds; Electronic displacements in a covalent bond: inductive effect, electromeric effect, resonance and hyperconjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals, carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XVIII
XIX. Hydrocarbons

Classification of Hydrocarbons: Aliphatic Hydrocarbons: Alkanes - Nomenclature, isomerism, conformation (ethane only), physical properties, chemical reactions including free radical mechanism of halogenation, combustion and pyrolysis; Alkenes - Nomenclature, structure of double bond (ethene), geometrical isomerism, physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: addition of hydrogen, halogen, water, hydrogen halides (Markownikov's addition and peroxide effect), ozonolysis, oxidation, mechanism of electrophilic addition; Alkynes - Nomenclature, structure of triple bond (ethyne), physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: acidic character of alkynes, addition reaction of - hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides and water; Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Introduction, IUPAC nomenclature, benzene: resonance, aromaticity, chemical properties: mechanism of electrophilic substitution. Nitration, sulphonation, halogenation, Friedel Craft's alkylation and acylation, directive influence of functional group in monosubstituted benzene. Carcinogenicity and toxicity

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XIX
XX. Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Haloalkanes: Nomenclature, nature of C-X bond, physical and chemical properties, mechanism of substitution reactions, optical rotation; Haloarenes: Nature of C-X bond, substitution reactions (Directive influence of halogen in monosubstituted compounds only); Uses and environmental effects of - dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, iodoform, freons, DDT

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XX
XXI. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Alcohols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties (of primary alcohols only), identification of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, mechanism of dehydration, uses with special reference to methanol and ethanol; Phenols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, acidic nature of phenol, electrophilic substitution reactions, uses of phenols; Ethers: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XXI
XXII. Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Aldehydes and Ketones: Nomenclature, nature of carbonyl group, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, mechanism of nucleophilic addition, reactivity of alpha hydrogen in aldehydes, uses; Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties; uses

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XXII
XXIII. Organic compounds containing Nitrogen

Amines: Nomenclature, classification, structure, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses, identification of primary, secondary and tertiary amines; Cyanides and Isocyanides - preparation and reactions; Diazonium salts: Preparation, chemical reactions and importance in synthetic organic chemistry

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XXIII
XXIV. Biomolecules

Carbohydrates - Classification (aldoses and ketoses), monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), D-L configuration oligosaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose), polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, glycogen); Importance of carbohydrates; Proteins -Elementary idea of - amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides, proteins, structure of proteins - primary, secondary, tertiary structure and quaternary structures (qualitative idea only), denaturation of proteins; enzymes. Hormones - Elementary idea excluding structure; Vitamins - Classification and functions; Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XXIV
XXV. Polymers

Copolymerization, some important polymers: natural and synthetic like polythene, nylon, polyesters, bakelite, rubber. Biodegradable and non- biodegradable polymers

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XXV
XXVI. Environmental Chemistry

Environmental pollution - air, water and soil pollution, chemical reactions in atmosphere, smog, major atmospheric pollutants, acid rain, ozone and its reactions, effects of depletion of ozone layer, greenhouse effect and global warming- pollution due to industrial wastes, green chemistry as an alternative tool for reducing pollution, strategies for control of environmental pollution

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XXVI
XXVII. Chemistry in Everyday life

Chemicals in medicines - analgesics, tranquilizers antiseptics, disinfectants, antimicrobials, antifertility drugs, antibiotics, antacids, antihistamines; Chemicals in food - preservatives, artificial sweetening agents, elementary idea of antioxidants.Cleansing agents- soaps and detergents, cleansing action

Read from: Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE), 'Chemistry' tab, unit XXVII

Official links and how they were checked

  • Olympiads - Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education Verified against the document
    Official website · Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research · 2026 · checked 5 Oct 2026
    Opened https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/ on 2026-10-05; it is the Olympiads site of HBCSE (TIFR) and links the Syllabus, Olympiad Books, Information Brochures, Stages and Past papers pages and the 2026-2027 Mathematical and Science Olympiad pages.
  • Syllabus - Olympiads (HBCSE) Verified against the document
    Syllabus · Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research · 2026 · checked 5 Oct 2026
    Opened https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/how-to-prepare/syllabus/ on 2026-10-05 and read its text. The page carries the 'Syllabus for National Standard Examination and Indian National Olympiad in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy and Junior Science' (tabs Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Junior Science) and a 'Mathematical Olympiad' tab. Every topic list in this file was cut from that page text and compared back with it (lower-case letters and digits only, ignoring spacing): every unit title and every topic phrase occurs in the page text. Not compared: the page as rendered (images); the lists of recommended books on the Mathematical tab are not syllabus and are not copied.
  • Science Olympiad Brochure 2026-27 (English) Verified against the document
    Exam scheme / pattern · Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research · 2026 · checked 5 Oct 2026
    Downloaded the 32-page PDF linked from https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/science-olympiad-2026-2027/ on 2026-10-05 and read its text layer. It describes Stage I (National Standard Examination), Stage II (Indian National Olympiads, p. 15), Stage III (Orientation-Cum-Selection Camps, p. 16), Stage IV (training at HBCSE, p. 20) and Stage V (international Olympiads, p. 20). The statements recorded in this file (stage names, what a camp does, the INO duration and the syllabus level) were each checked against those pages. Dates, venues, quotas and fees on those pages are not copied.
  • Olympiad Books - Olympiads (HBCSE) Verified against the document
    Prescribed / recommended reading (published by the body) · Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research · 2026 · checked 5 Oct 2026
    Opened https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/how-to-prepare/olympiad-books/ on 2026-10-05; it lists the books HBCSE sells or recommends for the Science and Mathematical Olympiads (INPhO, INChO, INBO, INAO problem books, experimental problem books, and the Mathematical Olympiad books). It is a book list, not a syllabus, and no chapter cites it.
NSEC →INChO

Official website ↗

Details checked against official sources on 5 Oct 2026. Always confirm against the current official notification before applying. [1] [2] [3] [4]

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