INMO Eligibility Criteria 2026, Check Educational Qualification & Age Limit
Priyanka Dahima12 Jan, 2026
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INMO Eligibility Criteria 2026: The Mathematics Teachers’ Association (India) (MTAI), along with the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) organizes the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) for students who qualify for the RMO Examination.
The INMO is the 3rd Stage of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held to nurture and identify the mathematical talent of school students. In our blog you will find the detailed INMO Eligibility Criteria 2026, ensuring that participants understand the requirements and are well-prepared for the INMO Examination.INMO Eligibility Criteria 2026
The following candidates are eligible to appear for INMO 2026, scheduled to be held on 18 January 2026. Students who qualify through RMO 2025, conducted on November 16, 2025, will be eligible to write the INMO 2026. Only candidates whose names appear on the officially published list will be permitted to appear for the examination. It is the sole responsibility of each student to ensure that they meet all the prescribed eligibility criteria. If, at any stage of the programme, a candidate is found to be ineligible, they may be disqualified from further participation.
From each region, a maximum of 28 students from Classes 8, 9, 10, and 11 and up to 6 students from Class 12 are selected to appear for the HBCSE INMO. In case of a tie in INMO scores, the Pre-RMO score is used as the tie-breaking criterion. If the tie still remains unresolved, all tied candidates are included in the final list submitted to HBCSE.
In addition, five extra girl students from Classes 8 to 11 are selected from each region, excluding those already chosen under the general category. Furthermore, up to five students each from non-Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) CBSE schools abroad and KV schools outside India may be directly selected to appear for INMO 2026, based on recommendations from CBSE and KVS authorities.
Typically, around 28 candidates per region are allowed to take the INMO. From approximately 500 participants, 30 students are shortlisted for a month-long training camp at HBCSE in preparation for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). After the training, the top six candidates are selected to represent India at the IMO.
INMO Previous Year Question Paper
INMO Selection Criteria 2026
Here we have mentioned the INMO Selection Criteria 2026 details--
To be eligible for INMO 2026, a student appearing in the RMO must secure a nonzero score in RMO 2026. However, this alone does not guarantee qualification.
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RMO participants from classes 8, 9, 10, and 11 are classified as Category A students.
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RMO participants from class 12 are classified as Category B students.
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From each region (refer to the list of regions: RMO Region Codes):
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(a) The top 30 students from Category A will qualify for INMO 2026. In case of a tie for the 30th position, IOQM 2025 scores will be used as a tiebreaker.
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(b) The top 6 students from Category B will qualify for INMO 2026. Ties for the 6th position will be resolved using IOQM 2025 scores.
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(c) An additional 5 girls from Category A, irrespective of how many girls are already in the top 30, will qualify under the Girls’ quota.
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(d) There is no separate Girls’ quota for Category B. A girl in Category B can only qualify if she ranks among the top 6 students in Category B, as per point 4(b).
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INMO Eligibility Criteria
The following Eligible Criteria are necessary to be fulfilled for the candidates to be eligible to write INMO exam. It will be the responsibility of the student to ensure that the above eligibility criteria are satisfied.
INMO Educational Qualification
The INMO educational qualification criteria ensure that students who are taking part in the examination are in the right academic phase for the competition:- Students should be enrolled for Class 9 to Class 12 during the academic year of the Olympiad. This educational criterion ensures that the competition is specifically designed for students who are currently enrolled in the pertinent mathematical coursework.
- Students who are not in Class 9 or who have already completed Class 12 are not eligible. This restriction helps maintain the INMO Examination's focus on current high school students.
INMO Age Limit
The prescribed age limit for the INMO Examination as per the official notification has been discussed below-- Students must be born on or after 1st July 2004 - This INMO Age Limit ensures that the competition remains relevant for current high school students.
- Students must not have completed Class 12 or an equivalent examination before the year of the Olympiad
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INMO Geographical Criteria
All students from every state and Union Territory of India are welcome to take part. This inclusivity ensures that students from diverse geographical locations have the opportunity to compete. There are no restrictions based on the student’s place of residence or educational institution. This criterion enhances equal opportunities for all students, irrespective of their location or school affiliation.Participated in Previous Olympiad
Students who have taken part in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) or have been chosen for the IMO Team previously are ineligible for INMO. This rule ensures that INMO functions as a platform for emerging talent, preventing former participants from re-entering the competition. Students who have successfully qualified for the Indian National Science Olympiad (INSO) may participate in the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) as long as they fulfill all other requirements. This provides an opportunity for gifted students from various science Olympiads to take part in INMO.
Read Olympiad Related Articles:
Perks of Qualifying INMO 2026
Benefits of Qualifying INMO for College Admissions: In India :- IISc Bangalore: INMO qualifiers get special admission for the Bachelor of Science (Research) program, often bypassing other exams.
- IIT Kanpur : INMO qualifiers are eligible for special admission to the B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) program, with only 6 seats available, making it a highly competitive opportunity for exceptional math talent.
- Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI): Direct admission to mathematics and computer science programs.
- IISERS: Direct entry to BS-MS dual degree programs for interdisciplinary science and advanced math training.
- IMSc, Chennai: INMO qualifiers can secure internships and research positions in mathematical sciences.
- TIFR: Provides internships, workshops, and training camps for INMO achievers.
- St. Stephen’s College: Considered favorably for admissions due to INMO achievements.
- Ashoka University: Known for supporting Olympiad achievers with admissions or scholarships.
- MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, Princeton (USA): Highly value Olympiad achievements like INMO, especially in math/STEM admissions.
- University of Cambridge & Oxford (UK): Favor INMO achievements for math-intensive programs.
- ETH Zurich (Switzerland): Recognizes INMO for math and engineering programs.
- National University of Singapore (NUS): Values Olympiad achievements for math, engineering, and computer science.
- University of Waterloo (Canada): Looks favorably on INMO for admissions and scholarships, particularly in math and computer science.