The KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) is a scholarship programme in basic sciences.  It encourages students to pursue a research career in science and basic science education within India itself. It assesses the conceptual knowledge, and logical and analytical skills of the students. The scholarship is offered up to the pre-Ph.D level.

Organizing Body

The KVPY is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, GoI, and conducted by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Difficulty Level

This exam is at par with IIT, when it comes to difficulty level

Viable Participants for KVPY

• He/she should be an Indian national

• Students of standard XI for Stream SA
• Students of standard XII for Stream SX
•  Under Graduate Level Students-for Stream SB
  First year- B.Sc./ Bachelor of Mathematics (B.Math)/ Bachelor of Science (B.S.)/Bachelor of Statistics (B.Stat)/Integrated Master of Science (Int. M.Sc.) or Master of Science (M.S.)

Eligibility Criteria

The more details about three levels are mentioned below:

Stream SA

The school students from grade XI enrolled in Class XI (Science stream) and have scored at least 80% aggregate marks in Mathematics and Science subject in class X board exam. Students from the SC/ST/PWD category who have secured at least 70% aggregate in the Class X board exam are eligible.

Students who fulfill this eligibility criterion are observed and their progress is monitored until Class XII. Once the student gets a score of at least 60% marks in the science stream and 50% marks for SC/ST/PWD in standard XII board examination, and then enroll himself/herself in an undergraduate course in the Basic Sciences field (B.Sc, B.Stat, M.S., B.S, Integrated M.Sc, B.Math), the scholarship/fellowship gets started. 

Stream SX

Students enrolled in standard XII-science stream, who have scored at least 60% marks in Mathematics and Science and 50% marks for SC/ST/PWD category students in class XII board examination; and a score of minimum of 80% marks in mathematics and science and 70% marks for SC/ST/PWD category students in standard X board examinations are eligible.

Students in the 2nd year of studies in Cambridge International Examination Board

Aspirants of Basic Sciences undergraduate courses (B.Sc, B.Stat, M.S., B.S, integrated M.Sc, B.Math) should take up this scholarship exam.

The scholarship gets started only after the student take admission in the Basic Sciences undergraduate courses (B.Sc, B.Stat, M.S., B.S, Integrated M.Sc, B.Math).

Stream SB

Students enrolled in the first year of undergraduate course in the Basic Sciences field (B.Sc, B.Stat, M.S., B.S, Integrated M.Sc, B.Math) are eligible for the KVPY. Pupils must have secured least 60% marks and for SC/ST/PWD- 50% marks in class XII (Science stream) board examination.

Alongside this, students in the category of disabled are also granted a scholarship.

** In streams SX and SB, students who have studied any 3 of the four subjects- Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry are also eligible to apply for KVPY.

Exam Structure

The KVPY is a paper-pen as well as, computer-based format exam. 

Aptitude Test: This test is held in two languages- Hindi and English. Students can choose any medium of examination. This test is same for all the streams (SA, SX and SB), that is, based on Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.

For SA stream

Each subject, that is- Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, carries 15 questions each of 1 mark and 5 questions in each subject of 2 marks.

• Total no. of questions: 80 (60+20)
• Total marks: 100 (60*1=60 + 20*2=40)
• Duration: 3 hours

For SB and SX stream

Each subject- Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology carries 20 questions each of 1 mark and 10 questions in each of 2 marks.

• Total no. of questions: 120 (80 +40)
• Total marks:  160 (80*1=80 marks + 40*2=80 marks)
• Duration: 3 hours

Interview: This stage focuses on your understanding of the subjects- Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. It  also assesses your logical skills, presence of mind, viewpoints on non-academic matters, and specific subject-related topic and concept understanding.

Syllabus

Syllabus for aptitude test: Curriculum of Class X, XI, XII and B.Sc, B.Stat, M.S., B.S, Integrated M.Sc, B.Math first year. Students are tested on logical and analytical ability.

Selection Ways and Means

The selection of KVPY is based on two stages- Aptitude test (written) and Interview. There is a set cut-off for the aptitude test stage issued by the KVPY, students who score beyond that cut-off score move to the second and the final stage, that is, Interview. Students who clear both the stages are awarded the scholarship.

Exam Date

The KVPY exam is usually held in the month of November every year.

Applying Ways and Means

The KVPY notification is out on the second Sunday of July every year.

 Candidates are required to fill up an online application form that is available on the official website.

Register yourself on the KVPY website. After registering, candidates will get a unique User ID and password. Log in to your account with the user id and password received, fill up the application form completely and submit it along with the required fee. After submission, take a print of the application form for further reference.

** Candidates have to upload a few documents, including signature, scanned photo, and disability or caste certificate, if applicable.

Application fee: For general category and OBC, the fee is Rs. 1000, and for SC/ST/PWD candidates, the fee is Rs 500.  Fees can be paid using internet banking, credit card, ATM-Debit card or by downloading the challan from the portal.

Result Date

The result for stage- I (Aptitude test) is usually announced 1 month after the exam. Students who qualify Aptitude test stage are informed about the same and called for the final stage-Interview.  The final result is declared after both the stages of selection are completed.

Awards

Students under this scholarship programme are offered scholarship throughout their course of study.

• A monthly scholarship of Rs. 5000/- is given for 3-year undergraduate courses for - B.S, B.Sc, B.Math or B.Stat, alongside an annual contingency grant of Rs.20000.
• A monthly scholarship of Rs.7000/- is given for post-graduate courses of study for - M.Sc, Integrated M.Sc 4th to 5th year, M.Math, M.S., M.Stat, alongside an annual contingency grant of Rs.28000.

Tips for Exam Prep

Follow 3 subject rule: Prepare only three subjects of your choice and make combinations like, PCB, PMC, MCB, PMB etc. they will help to score marks more easily.

Focus on very basic concepts so try to get familiar with the entire portion and train your mind to think deep. Solve previous year papers and identify your strong and weak areas. Work on your weak areas and revise your strong points.

Take mock tests as much as possible.

Divide time among all the subjects. Develop a power-pack plan and strategy for preparation and strengthening of each subject and topic.

Books for reference

• For Physics: D.C. Pandey, H.C. Verma and NCERT material
• For Chemistry: O.P. Tandon and NCERT
• For Biology: AIPMT Guide and NCERT
• For Mathematics: R.D. Sharma and NCERT

Take KVPY for Degree courses in Basic Science

Students who want to study in an undergraduate course in Basic Sciences, namely- B.Sc./ Bachelor of Mathematics (B.Math)/ Bachelor of Science (B.S.)/Bachelor of Statistics (B.Stat)/Integrated Master of Science (Int. M.Sc.)/Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Cell Biology, Ecology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Neurosciences, Chemistry, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Material Sciences, Applied Physics, Geology, Marine Biology, Physiology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Science, Geophysics, Environment Sciences, Human Biology, Physiology or Genetics.

KVPY scores are the Key to Admission in IISc and IISER

Dreaming to be a Physicists then go for KVPY, try scoring 65 in total for written and interview for a seat at IISC and try to keep your general score above 56 for a possibly confirmed seat at IISER .

Going to IISc has other benefits too:

Small batch size

Excellent faculty

Excellent lab equipment

A 4 year program that is only available in IIT Kanpur and IISc

Apply to IIIT Hyderabad for BSc(CSE) through KYPY and NTSE- with qualifying written cutoffs  you can apply for a seat in the institute.

Career Path after taking KVPY

KVPY is the best exam to take if you would like to build your career in research-based avenues. It opens a window to some of the premier Science institute in the country.

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