Overview
Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) is a national science talent search exam for school students, run by Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) in collaboration with NCERT and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). It is an app-based online exam that students can take from a phone, laptop or desktop at home, followed by in-person camps for top performers.
Who can take part
Students in Classes VI to XI, studying under CBSE, ICSE or various state boards, are eligible to register for VVM.
Stages and pathway
| Level | Format | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 & 2 | Online, app-based MCQ exams | All registered students attempt these; top scorers by class advance |
| Level 3 — State Level Camp (SLC) | One- or two-day in-person camp in the student's state/UT | Combines written, video-based, puzzle and hands-on components; top scorers move to the National Camp |
| National Camp | In-person, at a national venue | Final recognition, mentorship and awards |
Exam pattern
Level 1/2 (online): 90 minutes, 100 multiple-choice questions worth 4 marks each (400 total), split into two sections — Section A (40 questions on Indian Contributions to Science and on the lives of scientists Anna Mani, Asima Chatterjee and Rohini Godbole, no negative marking) and Section B (60 questions on the VVM syllabus, based on NCERT and state-board curricula, plus logic and reasoning, with −1 mark for each wrong answer). A student must score at least 50% in Section A for their Section B answers to be evaluated.
Level 3 (State Level Camp), 2025-26:
| Component | Duration | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Application Oriented Scholastic Aptitude Test (AOSAT) — Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths | 40 minutes | 20 marks |
| Indian Contribution and Advancement in Science and Technology (ICAST) — MCQs and a crossword on an assigned topic | included above | 20 marks |
| Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) video and questions | 40 minutes | 10 marks |
| Out-of-Box Activity (Sudoku/crossword/Kakuro puzzle) | 20 minutes | 10 marks |
| Experimental Skill Test (EST) in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths | 120 minutes | 40 marks |
The SLC runs to a maximum of 100 marks, and results, along with the list of students selected for the National Camp, are declared the same day.
Syllabus
The online rounds and the AOSAT/EST components at the SLC are based on the VVM syllabus, which follows NCERT and the relevant state board curricula for the student's class. The SLC's ICAST component additionally sets a special, class-group-specific topic each year — for 2025-26, Hydrology for Classes VI–VII, Ethnobotany for Classes VIII–IX, and Astrophysics in the Indian context for Classes X–XI — which students must research on their own.
Results and awards
Top-ranking students (by class) in the online rounds are selected for the State Level Camp. Top performers at the SLC are selected for the National Camp, where the highest achievers receive further recognition and mentorship. For the 2025-26 cycle, the National Camp was held at IIT Kanpur on May 24–25, 2026.
Important dates
For the 2025-26 cycle, registration ran from July 1 to September 30, 2025, and the online exam was held from October 28 to November 2, 2025.
Fees
For the 2025-26 cycle, the registration fee was Rs. 200 per student; individual candidates registering directly on the VVM website paid this amount, while school-group registrations paid an additional handling amount on top.
How to register
Registration is done online on the VVM website, either individually by a student or in a group through the student's school.
Preparation tips
Because Section A of the online exam has no negative marking and must be cleared at 50%+ for Section B to even be evaluated, prioritising accuracy on the Indian-science-history section is essential before spending time on the syllabus-based Section B. Students shortlisted for the SLC should also start early on that year's ICAST topic, since VVM does not provide study material for it and expects independent research.
Can a Class 12 student take part in VVM?
No. VVM is open to students in Classes VI to XI only.
Is there negative marking in the VVM online exam?
Section A (Indian Contributions to Science) has no negative marking, but Section B (syllabus-based questions and reasoning) deducts 1 mark for each wrong answer.
What happens if I don't clear 50% in Section A?
Section B is only evaluated for students who score at least 50% in Section A, so falling short there affects the overall result even if Section B is attempted.
What is the State Level Camp (SLC)?
It is Level 3 of VVM — a one- or two-day, in-person camp in the student's own state or union territory, combining a written aptitude test, a topic-based test, a video-based assessment, a puzzle activity and a hands-on experimental skill test.