Indian National Mathematical Olympiad

Eligibility and participant selection process

In order to be eligible to take the INMO, a participant must be either an Indian citizen or an Overseas Citizen of India. Only Indian citizens may join the Indian IMO team. In addition, all participants, regardless, must meet qualification indices determined by previous rounds.

IOQM

The Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) is a national exam for students in grades 8-12. It's used to shortlist students for HBCSE's Mathematical Olympiad program. Students must be under 20 years old by June 30 of the IMO year and cannot have passed Class 12.

Structure & Pattern of the RMO

It is conducted in two categories Category A (Class 8 to 11) and Category B (Class 12). It is a 6-question subjective examination of 3 hours duration. It is usually held on the first Sunday of November. It is equivalent of the BMO1 for in the United Kingdom. Top 30 (Category A) and 6 (Category B) performers of RMO advance to represent their region at the INMO.

Structure & Pattern of the INMO

It is a 6-question subjective examination of 4.5 hours duration. It is usually held on the third Sunday of January. It is similar to the BMO2 conducted in the United Kingdom. It is a national level examination. Top 48 (Category A) and 12 (Category B) performers of INMO are declared INMO Awardees every year.

Further stages

International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC)

INMO Awardees attend a four-week IMOTC in May. First-timers start in early May, while returning participants join a week later. Four selection tests and two practice tests are held, and the top six qualify for the IMO team.

International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

The selected six-member team attends a two-week Pre-departure Camp (PDC) before the IMO in July. Accompanied by a leader, deputy leader, and observer, the team represents India. Ministry of Education funds travel, and NBHM covers other expenses.

Premier undergrad programs for INMO Awardees

• Exempted from IIT-JEE, via exclusive tests and/or interviews, for admission to:
  • BTech in Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur and IIT Gandhinagar.
  • BS in Mathematics at IIT Bombay.
• Exempted from admission test for B.Sc. Mathematics at CMI and ISI Bangalore.

India at the International Mathematical Olympiad

1. Team India had its best performance (World #4) at the IMO in 2024.
2. Pranjal Srivastava is the most decorated Indian (World #13) at the IMO Hall of Fame.

References

References

1. "Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR".
2. "Webpage of the Indian MO Process".
3. "Olympiads HOMI BHABHA CENTRE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION".
4. "Mathematical Olympiad 2023-2024".
5. "MSN".
6. (2025-09-14). "IIT Kanpur Admissions through Olympiad: All 5 students admitted through Olympiad chose CSE".
7. Desk, India Today Education. (2025-03-11). "Olympiad achievers can get admission to IIT Madras without appearing for JEE".
8. Chauhan, Rishabh. (2025-09-10). "Is the Olympiad route to IITs creating a new meritocracy beyond the JEE?".
9. "Chennai Mathematical Institute Admissions".
10. (2024-07-22). "Maths champs bag 4 Olympiad golds". The Times of India.
11. (2023-01-15). "Pranjal Srivastava is the first Indian to win 3 gold medals at International Mathematical Olympiad".