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INAO 2026 - Dates, Syllabus, Eligibility, Preparation

The Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO) is a national-level selection exam in astronomy and astrophysics for school students in India. It is part of the Olympiad programme that leads to training and selection of the Indian team for the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). INAO typically follows the Indian Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) stage and is used to shortlist students for subsequent selection camps and training. The exam focuses on conceptual understanding and prob

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Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO)

Conducted by: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), on behalf of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT)

AstronomyAstrophysics
Admissionbuddy Team
Admissionbuddy Team

Content Writer | Updated 8 hours ago

Key Summary

•INAO is HBCSE’s national astronomy olympiad selection exam that shortlists school students for higher-stage training towards IOAA.

INAO (Indian National Astronomy Olympiad) is a prestigious national-level astronomy entrance/selection exam conducted under the HBCSE Olympiad programme in India. It helps identify and train talented school students for advanced astronomy and astrophysics problem-solving and serves as a pathway towards IOAA selection stages.
The Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO) is a national-level selection exam in astronomy and astrophysics for school students in India. It is part of the Olympiad programme that leads to training and selection of the Indian team for the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). INAO typically follows the Indian Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) stage and is used to shortlist students for subsequent selection camps and training. The exam focuses on conceptual understanding and problem-solving using physics and mathematics relevant to astronomy.

INAO Paper Pattern

exam Mode

Offline Based Test

exam Duration

Varies by year (commonly a single-session written test); check the official year-specific notification for exact duration.

exam Level

Both

eligibility

School students in India meeting the current year’s Olympiad eligibility conditions and selected/shortlisted through the preceding stage (commonly Indian Astronomy Olympiad, IAO) as per HBCSE/IAPT rules. Eligibility requirements (class standard, citizenship/residency criteria, and school enrollment) are defined annually in the official Olympiad programme guidelines.

official Website

https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/

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