NSEP Syllabus 2026: Topics & Revision Checklist

Explore all NSEP syllabus areas and use the optional private revision tracker to plan what to study next.

2026–27 cycleChecked 20 October 2026

NSEP and INPhO cover Physics through Class XII, with mathematics through Class XII expected. Both selection groups use the same syllabus. This checklist is a study map; use the official detailed syllabus for the complete scope.

0 of 24 topics marked revised

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Mechanics & measurement6 topics

Units, dimensions and errorsSI units, significant figures, accuracy, precision, dimensions and measurement uncertainty.Kinematics and vectorsMotion in one and two dimensions, graphs, vectors, projectiles, relative velocity and basic calculus.Laws of motionNewton’s laws, equilibrium, friction, impulse, momentum and circular motion.Work, energy and powerWork–energy theorem, potential energy, conservation laws and collisions.Rotation and centre of massCentre of mass, torque, angular momentum, moment of inertia and rigid-body equilibrium.GravitationKepler’s laws, gravitational field and potential, satellites, escape and orbital speed.

Matter, heat & thermodynamics5 topics

Solids and elasticityStress, strain, elastic moduli, Hooke’s law and elastic energy.Fluid mechanicsPressure, buoyancy foundations, viscosity, flow, Bernoulli’s principle, surface tension and capillarity.Thermal propertiesThermal expansion, calorimetry, changes of state and heat transfer.ThermodynamicsZeroth, first and second laws; work and heat; gas processes; heat engines and refrigerators.Kinetic theoryIdeal gas equation, molecular speeds, degrees of freedom, equipartition and specific heats.

Oscillations & waves2 topics

Simple harmonic motionAmplitude, phase, energy, springs, pendulums, damping, forcing and resonance.Wave motion and soundTravelling waves, superposition, reflection, standing waves, strings, pipes, beats and Doppler effect.

Electricity & magnetism6 topics

ElectrostaticsCoulomb’s law, fields, dipoles, flux and Gauss’s law.Potential and capacitancePotential energy, equipotentials, capacitors, dielectrics and combinations.Current electricityCurrent, resistance, resistivity, circuit laws, cells, bridges and measurement.MagnetismFields of currents, forces on charges and conductors, torque, magnetic materials and galvanometers.Induction and alternating currentFlux, Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws, self/mutual induction, AC circuits and transformers.Electromagnetic wavesDisplacement-current ideas, electromagnetic waves and spectrum.

Optics2 topics

Ray opticsReflection, refraction, total internal reflection, mirrors, lenses, prisms and optical instruments.Wave opticsHuygens’ principle, interference, diffraction, resolving power and polarisation.

Modern physics & electronics3 topics

Dual naturePhotoelectric effect, photons, de Broglie wavelength and evidence for matter waves.Atoms and nucleiAtomic models, spectra, radioactivity, half-life, binding energy, fission and fusion.Semiconductor devicesEnergy bands, p–n junctions, rectifiers, LEDs, photodiodes, solar cells and Zener diodes.

Mathematics is a tool for physics.

Practise rearranging equations, powers and logarithms, trigonometry, vectors, graphs, differentiation and integration. These skills help turn a physical model into a solution.

Do not assume a topic is excluded because it was removed from a particular board or entrance-exam syllabus. Check the Olympiad syllabus itself.

Is there a fixed chapter-wise weightage?

The official syllabus specifies coverage, not a guaranteed number of questions from each chapter. A topic’s share can vary across papers. Use named official papers to review your preparation, but do not omit a syllabus topic solely because an unofficial chart gives it a small percentage.

Official sources and verificationVerified 20 October 2026. Official notices take precedence.
HBCSE detailed syllabus ↗HBCSE 2026–27 brochure ↗