I.

Diversity of Living Organisms

The Living World:

What is living? Biodiversity; Need for classification; three domains of life; taxonomy and systematics; concept of species
and taxonomical hierarchy; binomial nomenclature and tools for study of taxonomy.

Biological Classification:

Five kingdom classification; Salient features and classification of Monera, Protista and Fungi into major groups: Lichens,
Viruses and Viroids.

Plant Kingdom:

Salient features and classification of plants into major groups – Algae, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and
Angiospermae.

Animal Kingdom:

Salient features and classification of animals, non-chordates up to phyla level and chordates up to class level.

II: Structural Organization in Animals and Plants

Morphology and anatomy of Flowering Plants:

Morphology and modifications: Morphology of different parts of flowering plants: root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower,
fruit and seed. Anatomy and functions of different tissues and tissue systems.

Structural Organisation in Animals:

Animal tissues; Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and
reproductive) of animals.

III. Cell: Structure and Function

Cell-The Unit of Life: Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life:

Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Plant cell and animal cell; cell envelope; cell membrane, cell wall; structure
and function of all cell organelles. Cellular respiration – glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron
transport system (aerobic); energy relations – number of ATP molecules generated; amphibolic pathways; respiratory
quotient.

Biomolecules:

Chemical constituents of living cells: biomolecules, structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids;
Enzymes- types, properties, enzyme action.

Cell Cycle and Cell Division:

Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance.

IV. Plant Physiology

Transport in Plants:

Movement of water, gases and nutrients; cell to cell transport, diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport; plant-water
relations, imbibition, water potential, osmosis, plasmolysis; long distance transport of water – Absorption, apoplast,
symplast, transpiration pull, root pressure and guttation; transpiration, opening and closing of stomata; Uptake and
translocation of mineral nutrients – Transport of food, phloem transport, mass flow hypothesis.

Mineral Nutrition:

Essential minerals, macro- and micronutrients and their role; deficiency symptoms; mineral toxicity; elementary idea of
hydroponics as a method to study mineral nutrition; nitrogen metabolism, nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation.
Photosynthesis and Respiration in Higher Plants:

Photosynthesis as a means of autotrophic nutrition; site of photosynthesis, pigments involved in photosynthesis (elementary
idea); photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation; chemiosmotic
hypothesis; photorespiration; C3 and C4 pathways; factors affecting photosynthesis; exchange of gases.

Plant – Growth and Development:

Seed germination; phases of plant growth and plant growth rate; conditions of growth; differentiation, dedifferentiation and
redifferentiation; sequence of developmental processes in a plant cell; growth regulators; seed dormancy; vernalisation;
photoperiodism.

V. Human Physiology
Digestion and Absorption:

Alimentary canal and digestive glands, role of digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones; Peristalsis, digestion,
absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; calorific values of proteins, carbohydrates and fats;
egestion; nutritional and digestive disorders.

Breathing and Exchange of Gases:

Respiratory system in humans; mechanism of breathing and its regulation in humans – exchange of gases, transport of gases
and regulation of respiration, respiratory volume; disorders related to respiration.

Body Fluids and Circulation:

Composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood; composition of lymph and its function; human circulatory
system – Structure of human heart and blood vessels; cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG; double circulation; regulation of
cardiac activity; disorders of circulatory system.

Excretory Products and Their Elimination:

Modes of excretion – ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; human excretory system – structure and function; urine
formation, osmoregulation; regulation of kidney function – renin – angiotensin, atrial natriuretic factor, ADH and diabetes
insipidus; role of other organs in excretion; disorders of excretory system; dialysis and artificial kidney, kidney transplant.

Locomotion and Movement:

Types of movement – ciliary, flagellar, muscular; skeletal muscle- contractile proteins and muscle contraction; skeletal
system and its functions; joints; disorders of muscular and skeletal system.

Neural Control and Coordination:

Neuron and nerves; Nervous system in humans – central nervous system; peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous
system; generation and conduction of nerve impulse; reflex action; sensory perception; structure and functions of sense
organs.

Chemical Coordination and Integration:

Endocrine glands and hormones; human endocrine system; mechanism of hormone action; role of hormones as messengers
and regulators, hypo – and hyperactivity and related disorders.

VI. Reproduction
Reproduction in Organisms:

Reproduction, a characteristic feature of all organisms for continuation of species; modes of reproduction – asexual and
sexual reproduction; asexual reproduction – binary fission, sporulation, budding, gemmule formation, fragmentation;
vegetative propagation in plants.

Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants:

Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes; pollination – types, agencies and examples; outbreeding
devices; pollen-pistil interaction; double fertilization; post fertilization events – development of endosperm and embryo,
development of seed and formation of fruit; special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; Significance of seed
dispersal and fruit formation.

Human Reproduction:

Male and female reproductive systems; microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; gametogenesis – spermatogenesis and
oogenesis; menstrual cycle; fertilisation, embryo development upto blastocyst formation, implantation; pregnancy and
placenta formation; parturition; lactation.

Reproductive Health:

Need for reproductive health and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs); birth control – need and methods,
contraception and medical termination of pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive
technologies – IVF, ZIFT, GIFT.

VII. Genetics and Evolution

Heredity and variation:

Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism – incomplete dominance, co- dominance, multiple alleles and
inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy; elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory of inheritance;
chromosomes and genes; Sex determination – in humans, birds and honey bee; linkage and crossing over; sex linked
inheritances; Mendelian disorders in humans.

Molecular Basis of Inheritance:

DNA as genetic material; Structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; Central dogma; transcription,
genetic code, translation; gene expression and regulation – lac operon; Genome; DNA fingerprinting.

Evolution:

Origin of life; biological evolution and evidences for biological evolution (paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology
and molecular evidences); Darwin’s contribution, modern synthetic theory of evolution; mechanism of evolution – variation
(mutation and recombination) and natural selection with examples, types of natural selection; Gene flow and genetic drift;
Hardy – Weinberg’s principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution.

VIII. Biology and Human Welfare

Human Health and Diseases:

Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia,
common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm) and their control; Basic concepts of immunology – vaccines; cancer, HIV and AIDS;
Adolescence – drug and alcohol abuse.

Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production:

Improvement in food production: Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein, Biofortification, Apiculture and Animal
husbandry.

Microbes in Human Welfare:

In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and microbes as bio-control
agents and bio-fertilizers. Antibiotics; production and judicious use.

Biotechnology – Principles, processes and applications:

Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology); Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human
insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy; genetically modified organisms – Bt crops; transgenic
animals; biosafety issues, bio piracy and patents.
IX. Ecology and Environment
Organisms and Populations:

Organisms and environment: Habitat and niche, population and ecological adaptations; population interactions – mutualism,
competition, predation, parasitism; population attributes – growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution.

Ecosystems:

Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy; nutrient cycles;
ecological succession; carbon fixation, pollination, seed dispersal.

Biodiversity and its Conservation:

Biodiversity-Concept, patterns, importance; loss of biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; hotspots, endangered organisms
and extinction.

Environmental Issues:

Air pollution and its control; water pollution and its control; agrochemicals and their effects; solid waste management;
radioactive waste management; greenhouse effect and climate change impact and mitigation; ozone layer depletion;
deforestation.

Chemistry
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.

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

XXV. Polymers

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

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.
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.

Physics
I. Units and Measurements

Units of measurement; systems of units; SI units,

fundamental and derived units. Length, mass and time measurements;

accuracy and precision of measuring instruments; errors in measurement;

significant figures.
Dimensions of physical quantities, dimensional analysis and its applications.

II. Motion in a Straight Line

Frame of reference, Motion in a straight line: Position-time graph, speed and

velocity.

Elementary concepts of differentiation and integration for describing motion,

uniform and non- uniform motion, average speed and instantaneous velocity,

uniformly accelerated motion, velocity – time and position-time graphs.

Relations for uniformly accelerated motion (graphical treatment).

III. Motion in a Plane

Scalar and vector quantities; position and displacement vectors, general

vectors and their notations; equality of vectors, multiplication of vectors by a

real number; addition and subtraction of vectors, relative velocity, Unit vector;

resolution of a vector in a plane, rectangular components, Scalar and Vector

product of vectors.

Motion in a plane, cases of uniform velocity and uniform acceleration-

projectile motion, uniform circular motion.

IV. Laws of Motion

Intuitive concept of force, Inertia, Newton’s first law of motion; momentum

and Newton’s second law of motion; impulse; Newton’s third law of motion.

Law of conservation of linear momentum and its applications.

Equilibrium of concurrent forces, Static and kinetic friction, laws of friction, lubrication.

Dynamics of uniform circular motion: Centripetal force, examples of circular

motion (vehicle on a level circular road, vehicle on a banked road).

V. Work, Energy and Power

Work done by a constant force and a variable force; kinetic energy, work-energy theorem, power.

Notion of potential energy, potential energy of a spring, conservative forces: conservation of mechanical energy
(kinetic and potential energies); non-conservative forces: motion in a vertical circle; elastic and inelastic
collisions in one and two dimensions.

VI. System of Particles and Rotational Motion

Centre of mass of a two-particle system, momentum conservation and centre of mass motion. Centre of mass of
a rigid body; centre of mass of a uniform rod.
Moment of a force, torque, angular momentum, law of conservation of angular momentum and its applications.

Equilibrium of rigid bodies, rigid body rotation and equations of rotational motion, comparison of linear and
rotational motions.

Moment of inertia, radius of gyration, values of moments of inertia for simple geometrical objects (no derivation).
Statement of parallel and perpendicular axes theorems and their applications.

VII. Gravitation

Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, universal law of gravitation. Acceleration due to gravity and its variation with
altitude and depth.

Gravitational potential energy and gravitational potential, escape velocity, orbital velocity of a satellite, Geo-
stationary satellites.

VIII. Mechanical Properties of Solids

Elastic behaviour, Stress-strain relationship, Hooke’s law, Young’s modulus,

bulk modulus, shear modulus of rigidity, Poisson’s ratio; elastic energy.

IX. Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Pressure due to a fluid column; Pascal’s law and its applications (hydraulic lift and hydraulic brakes), effect of
gravity on fluid pressure.

Viscosity, Stokes’ law, terminal velocity, streamline and turbulent flow, critical velocity, Bernoulli’s theorem and
its applications.

Surface energy and surface tension, angle of contact, excess of pressure across a curved surface, application of
surface tension ideas to drops, bubbles and capillary rise.

X. Thermal Properties of Matter

Heat, temperature, thermal expansion; thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases, anomalous expansion of
water; specific heat capacity; Cp, Cv – calorimetry; change of state – latent heat capacity.

Heat transfer-conduction, convection and radiation, thermal conductivity, qualitative ideas of Blackbody
radiation, Wien’s displacement Law, Stefan’s law, Greenhouse effect.

XI. Thermodynamics

Thermal equilibrium and definition of temperature (zeroth law of thermodynamics), heat, work and internal
energy. Thermodynamic state variables and equation of state, First law of thermodynamics, isothermal and
adiabatic processes.

Second law of thermodynamics: reversible and irreversible processes, Heat engine and refrigerator.

XII. Behaviour of Perfect Gases and Kinetic Theory of Gases

Equation of state of a perfect gas, work done in compressing a gas.

Kinetic theory of gases – assumptions, concept of pressure. Kinetic interpretation of temperature; rms speed of
gas molecules; degrees of freedom, law of equi-partition of energy (statement only) and application to specific
heat capacities of gases; concept of mean free path, Avogadro’s number.

XIII. Oscillations and Waves

Oscillations
Periodic motion – time period, frequency, displacement as a function of time, periodic functions.

Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M) and its equation; phase; oscillations of a loaded spring- restoring force and
force constant; energy in S.H.M. Kinetic and potential energies; simple pendulum derivation of expression for its
time period. Free, forced and damped oscillations (qualitative ideas only), Resonance.

Waves

Wave motion: Transverse and longitudinal waves, speed of travelling wave,

displacement relation for a progressive wave, principle of superposition of

waves, reflection of waves, standing waves in strings and organ pipes,

fundamental mode and harmonics, Beats, Doppler effect.

XIV. Electrostatics
Electric Charges and Fields

Electric Charges; Conservation of charge, Coulomb’s law-force between two point charges, forces between
multiple charges; superposition principle and continuous charge distribution.

Electric field, electric field due to a point charge, electric field lines, electric dipole, electric field due to a dipole,
torque on a dipole in uniform electric field.

Electric flux, statement of Gauss’s theorem and its applications to find field due to infinitely long straight wire,
uniformly charged infinite plane sheet and uniformly charged thin spherical shell (field inside and outside).

Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Electric potential, potential difference, electric potential due to a point charge, a dipole and system of charges;
equipotential surfaces, electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges and of electric dipole in an
electrostatic field.

Conductors and insulators, free charges and bound charges inside a conductor. Dielectrics and electric
polarisation, capacitors and capacitance, combination of capacitors in series and in parallel, capacitance of a
parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between the plates, energy stored in a capacitor.

Current Electricity

Electric current, flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, drift velocity, mobility and their relation with
electric current; Ohm’s law, electrical resistance, V-I characteristics (linear and non-linear), electrical energy and
power, electrical resistivity and conductivity, Carbon resistors, colour code for carbon resistors; series and
parallel combinations of resistors; temperature dependence of resistance. Internal resistance of a cell, potential
difference and emf of a cell, combination of cells in series and in parallel, Kirchhoff’s laws and simple
applications, Wheatstone bridge, metre bridge.

Potentiometer – principle and its applications to measure potential difference and for comparing EMF of two
cells; measurement of internal resistance of a cell.

XV. Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Moving Charges and Magnetism

Concept of magnetic field, Oersted’s experiment.

Biot – Savart law and its application to current carrying circular loop.

Ampere’s law and its applications to infinitely long straight wire. Straight and toroidal solenoids (only qualitative
treatment), force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields, Cyclotron.
Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field, force between two parallel current-carrying
conductors-definition of ampere, torque experienced by a current loop in uniform magnetic field; moving coil
galvanometer-its current sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.

Magnetism and Matter

Current loop as a magnetic dipole and its magnetic dipole moment, magnetic dipole moment of a revolving
electron, magnetic field intensity due to a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) along its axis and perpendicular to its
axis, torque on a magnetic dipole (bar magnet) in a uniform magnetic field; bar magnet as an equivalent
solenoid, magnetic field lines; earth’s magnetic field and magnetic elements.

Para-, dia- and ferro – magnetic substances, with examples. Electromagnets and factors affecting their
strengths, permanent magnets.

Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic induction; Faraday’s laws, induced EMF and current; Lenz’s Law, Eddy currents. Self and
mutual induction.

Alternating Current

Alternating currents, peak and RMS value of alternating current/voltage; reactance and impedance; LC
oscillations (qualitative treatment only), LCR series circuit, resonance; power in AC circuits, power factor,
wattless current. AC generator and transformer.

Electromagnetic Waves

Basic idea of displacement current, Electromagnetic waves, their characteristics, their Transverse nature
(qualitative ideas only). Electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays,
gamma rays) including elementary facts about their uses.

XVI. Optics
Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Reflection of light, spherical mirrors, mirror formula, refraction of light, total internal reflection and its applications,
optical fibers, refraction at spherical surfaces, lenses, thin lens formula, lensmaker’s formula, magnification,
power of a lens, combination of thin lenses in contact, refraction of light through a prism.

Scattering of light – blue colour of sky and reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise and sunset.

Optical instruments: Microscopes and astronomical telescopes (reflecting and refracting) and their magnifying
powers.

Wave optics

Wavefront and Huygens’ principle, reflection and refraction of plane wave at a plane surface using wave fronts.
Proof of laws of reflection and refraction using Huygens’ principle. Interference, Young’s double slit experiment
and expression for fringe width, coherent sources and sustained interference of light, diffraction due to a single
slit, width of central maximum, resolving power of microscope and astronomical telescope, polarisation, plane
polarised light, Brewster’s law, uses of plane polarised light and Polaroids.

XVII. Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Dual nature of radiation, Photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard’s observations;

Einstein’s photoelectric equation-particle nature of light. Experimental study of the photoelectric effect.

Matter waves-wave nature of particles, de-Broglie relation, Davisson-Germer experiment (experimental details
should be omitted; only conclusion should be explained).
XVIII. Atoms and Nuclei
Atoms

Alpha-particle scattering experiment; Rutherford’s model of atom; Bohr model, energy levels, hydrogen
spectrum.

Nuclei

Composition and size of nucleus, Radioactivity, alpha, beta and gamma particles/rays and their properties;
radioactive decay law, half life and mean life.

Mass-energy relation, mass defect; binding energy per nucleon and its variation with mass number; nuclear
fission, nuclear fusion.

XIX. Electronic Devices

Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits

Energy bands in conductors, semiconductors and insulators (qualitative ideas only)

Semiconductor diode – I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, diode as a rectifier;

Special purpose p-n junction diodes: LED, photodiode, solar cell and Zener diode and their characteristics, zener
diode as a voltage regulator.

Math

Any aspirant for the International Mathematical Olympiads such as IMO, EGMO, APMO and the domestic
selection rounds (i.e RMO, INMO)

1. must be familiar with all the topics covered in NCERT

Mathematics books of Class VIII, IX and X;
2. must note that in addition to the topics covered in point no. 1 above
the following topics are to be given importance while preparing for
the olympiad examinations;
3. must know that the major areas from which problems are posed are
algebra, combinatorics, geometry and number theory and that the
difficulty level increases from RMO to INMO to IMO.
Algebra
Inequalities, Progressions (A.P, G.P, H.P), Theory of indices, System of
linear equations, Theory of equations, Binomial theorem and properties of
binomial coefficients, Complex Numbers, Polynomials in one and two
variables, Functional equations, Sequences.
Recommended Books:

1. Higher Algebra; H.S.Hall & S.R.Knight

2. Higher Algebra; Barnard & Child
3. Polynomials; Ed Barbeau
4. Functional Equations: A Problem Solving Approach;
B.J.Venkatachala (Prism Books Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore)
5. Inequalities: An Approach Through Problems (texts & readings in
mathematics); B.J.Venkatachala, (Hindustan Book Agency)

Plane Geometry
Triangles, quadrilaterals, circles and their properties; standard Euclidean constructions; concurrency and
collinearity (Theorems of Ceva and Menelaus); basic trigonometric identities, compound angles, multiple and
submultiple angles, general solutions, sine rule, cosine rule, properties of triangles and polygons, Coordinate
Geometry (straight line, circle, conics,3-D geometry), vectors.
Recommended Books:

1. Geometry Revisited; H.S.M Coxeter & S.L.Greitzer

2. Problems in Plane Geometry; I.F.Sharygin
3. Plane Trigonometry; S.L.Loney
4. The Elements of Coordinate Geometry; S.L.Loney

Combinatorics
Basic enumeration, pigeonhole principle and its applications, recursion, elementary graph theory.
Recommended Books:

1. Introductory Combinatorics; Richard A. Brualdi

2. Discrete Mathematics: Elementary and Beyond;
László Lovász, József Pelikán, Katalin Vesztergombi
3. Combinatorial Techniques; S. S. Sane
4. Combinatorics For Mathematical Olympiad; S. Muralidharan

Number Theory
Divisibility theory in the Integers (The Division Algorithm, the Greatest
Common Divisor, The Euclidean Algorithm, The Diophantine Equation
ax + by = c) , Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, Basic properties of
congruence, Linear congruences, Chinese Remainder Theorem, Fermat’s Little Theorem, Wilson’s Theorem,
Euler’s Phi function and Euler’s generalisation of Fermat’s Theorem, Pythagorean triples (definition and
properties), Diophantine equations.
Recommended Books:

1. Elementary Number Theory; David M. Burton

2. An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers;
Niven, Zuckerman, Montgomery

In addition to the books listed above the the question papers of earlier years (which are available at
https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/subjects/mathematics/previous-question-papers-and-solutions ) and the
following books may also be found helpful while preparing for the mathematical olympiad:

1. Problem Primer for Olympiads

C. R. Pranesachar, B. J. Venkatachala and C. S. Yogananda (Prism
Books Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore).
2. Challenge and Thrill of Pre-College Mathematics
V. Krishnamurthy, C. R. Pranesachar, K. N. Ranganathan and B. J.
Venkatachala (New Age International Publishers, New Delhi).
 3. An Excursion in Mathematics
Editors: M. R. Modak, S. A. Katre and V. V. Acharya and V. M.
Sholapurkar (Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana, Pune).
4. Problem Solving Strategies
A Engel (Springer-Verlag, Germany).
5. Mathematical Circles
Fomin and others (University Press, Hyderabad).

Many other interesting references may also be found in the book An Excursion in Mathematics mentioned
above.

It must be noted that the topics listed above do not constitute an exhaustive list. Problems asked in the RMO
and INMO may include topics not explicitly stated above.

Junior science
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Olympiads
HOMI BHABHA CENTRE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION
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Syllabus
 Science Olympiad
 Biology
 Chemistry
 Physics
 Astronomy
 Junior Science
 Mathematical Olympiad

Basic facility with mathematical ideas and operations taught till Class 10 under the following topics is
expected:

Polynomials; Linear equations; Quadratic equations; Number systems; Triangles; Trigonometry; Circles; Surface
areas and volumes; Statistics

In addition, general understanding of Science and Mathematics topics studied till Class 8 is expected.

I. Matter-Nature and Behaviour

Definition of matter; solid, liquid and gas; characteristics – shape, volume, density; change of state-melting
(absorption of heat), freezing, evaporation (cooling by evaporation), condensation, sublimation.

Nature of matter: Elements, compounds and mixtures; heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures, colloids
and suspensions; solutions, concentration of solutions; separation of components of a mixture.

Particle nature, basic units: Atoms and molecules, law of constant proportions, atomic and molecular masses;
mole concept: relationship of mole to mass of the particles and numbers.
Structure of atoms: Electrons, protons and neutrons; valency, chemical formula of common compounds;
isotopes and Isobars.

II. Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour

Chemical reactions: Chemical equation, balanced chemical equation, implications of a balanced chemical
equation; types of chemical reactions: combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement,
precipitation, neutralization, oxidation and reduction.

Acids, bases and salts: Their definitions in terms of furnishing of H+ and OH– ions; general properties, examples
and uses, concept of pH scale, importance of pH in everyday life; preparation and uses of sodium hydroxide,
bleaching powder, baking soda, washing soda and Plaster of Paris.

Metals and nonmetals: Properties of metals and non-metals; reactivity series; formation and properties of ionic
compounds; basic metallurgical processes; corrosion and its prevention.

Carbon compounds: Covalent bonding in carbon compounds; versatile nature of carbon; homologous series;
nomenclature of carbon compounds containing functional groups (halogens, alcohol, ketones, aldehydes,
alkanes and alkynes), difference between saturated hydrocarbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons; chemical
properties of carbon compounds (combustion, oxidation, addition and substitution reaction), ethanol and
ethanoic acid (only properties and uses), soaps and detergents.

Periodic classification of elements: Need for classification, early attempts at classification of elements
(Dobereiner’s Triads, Newland’s Law of Octaves, Mendeleev’s Periodic Table), modern periodic table, gradation
in properties, valency, atomic number, metallic and non-metallic properties.

III. Organization in the Living World

Cell – Basic Unit of life: Cell as a basic unit of life; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, multicellular organisms; cell
membrane and cell wall, cell organelles and cell inclusions; chloroplast, mitochondria, vacuoles, endoplasmic
reticulum, Golgi apparatus; nucleus,

chromosomes – basic structure, number.

Tissues, Organs, Organ System, Organism: Structure and functions of animal and plant tissues.

Biological Diversity: Diversity of plants and animals-basic issues in scientific naming, basis of classification.
Hierarchy of categories / groups, Major groups of plants (salient features) (Bacteria, Thallophyta, Bryophyta,
Pteridophyta, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms). Major groups of animals (salient features) (Non-chordates upto
phyla and chordates upto classes).

Health and Diseases: Health and its failure; infectious and non-infectious diseases, their causes and
manifestation; diseases caused by microbes (virus, bacteria and protozoans) and their prevention; principles of
treatment and prevention; Pulse Polio programmes.

IV. Life Processes

Basic concept of nutrition, respiration, transport and excretion in plants and animals.

Control and coordination in animals and plants: Tropic movements in plants; introduction of plant hormones;
control and coordination in animals: nervous system; voluntary, involuntary and reflex action; chemical
coordination: animal hormones.

Reproduction: Reproduction in animals and plants (asexual and sexual) reproductive health-need and methods
of family planning; safe sex vs HIV/AIDS; child bearing and women’s health.

Heredity and Evolution: Heredity; Mendel’s contribution: Laws for inheritance of traits: sex determination: brief
introduction; basic concepts of evolution.

V. Motion, Force and Work

Motion: Distance and displacement, velocity; uniform and non-uniform motion along a straight line; acceleration,
distance-time and velocity-time graphs for uniform motion and uniformly accelerated motion, derivation of
equations of motion by graphical method; elementary idea of uniform circular motion.

Force and Newton’s laws : Force and motion, Newton’s laws of motion, action and reaction forces, inertia of a
body, inertia and mass, momentum, force and acceleration. elementary idea of conservation of momentum.

Gravitation: Gravitation; Universal law of gravitation, force of gravitation of the earth (gravity), acceleration due
to gGravity; mass and Weight; free fall.

Floatation: Thrust and pressure. Archimedes’ principle; buoyancy; elementary idea of relative density.

Work, energy and power: Work done by a force, energy, power; kinetic and potential energy; law of
conservation of energy.

Sound: Nature of sound and its propagation in various media, speed of sound, range of hearing in humans;
ultrasound; reflection of sound; echo and SONAR. Structure of the human ear (auditory aspect only).

VI. Effects of Current

Electric current, potential difference and electric current. Ohm’s law; resistance, resistivity, factors on which the
resistance of a conductor depends. Series combination of resistors, parallel combination of resistors and its
applications in daily life. Heating effect of electric current and its applications in daily life. Electric power,
interrelation between P, V, I and R.

Magnetic effects of current : Magnetic field, field lines, field due to a current carrying conductor, field due to
current carrying coil or solenoid; force on current carrying conductor, Fleming’s left hand rule, electric motor,
Electromagnetic induction. induced potential difference, induced current. Fleming’s right hand rule, electric
generator; direct current; alternating current: frequency of AC. Advantage of AC over DC. Domestic electric
circuits.

VII. Light

Reflection of light by curved surfaces; images formed by spherical mirrors, centre of curvature, principal axis,
principal focus, focal length, mirror formula (derivation not required), magnification.

Refraction; laws of refraction, refractive index;

Refraction of light by spherical lens; image formed by spherical lenses; lens formula (derivation not required);
magnification. power of a lens.

Functioning of a lens in the human eye, defects of vision and their corrections, applications of spherical mirrors
and lenses.

Refraction of light through a prism, dispersion of light, scattering of light, applications in daily life.

VIII. Our Environment

Physical resources: Air, water, soil. Air for respiration, for combustion, for moderating temperatures;
movements of air and its role in bringing rains across India. Air, water and soil pollution (brief introduction). Holes
in ozone layer and the probable damages.

Biogeochemical cycles in nature: Water, Oxygen, Carbon and Nitrogen.

IX. Natural Resources

Sources of energy: Different forms of energy, conventional and non-conventional sources of energy: fossil
fuels, solar energy; biogas; wind, water and tidal energy; nuclear energy. Renewable versus non-renewable
sources of Energy.
Our environment: Eco-system, environmental problems, ozone depletion, waste production and their solutions.
Biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances.

Management of natural resources: Conservation and judicious use of natural resources. Forest and wildlife;
Coal and Petroleum conservation. Examples of people’s participation for conservation of natural resources. Big
dams: advantages and limitations; alternatives, if any; water harvesting; sustainability of natural resources.

X. Food Production

Plant and animal breeding and selection for quality improvement and management; use of fertilizers and
manures; protection from pests and diseases; organic farming.