1. Nature & Objective of NCSC

• NCSC is a nationwide science programme started in 1993 to promote scientific temper among children
• It provides a platform for children to:
• Conduct small research projects at the local level
• Apply the scientific method to solve societal problems
• Focus: Learning through doing and inquiry-based science

2. Eligibility Criteria

• Age group: 10 to 17 years
• 10–14 years → Junior group
• 14–17 years → Senior group
• Open to:
• School students
• Non-school-going children
• Children participate in groups (usually 2 members) under a guide

3. Role of Guide (Mentor)

• A guide:
• Can be any knowledgeable person (not necessarily a teacher)
• Should not be a close relative of participants
• Guides help in:
• Planning the study
• Ensuring scientific methodology
• Supervising field work

4. Theme-Based Project Work

• Every year, NCSC announces a focal theme and sub-themes
• Project must:
• Be related to the theme
• Address a local societal problem
• Be conducted within the child’s locality

5. Scientific Approach (Core Requirement)

Projects must follow proper scientific methodology, including:

• Observation of local issues
• Asking questions (What, Why, How, etc.)
• Hypothesis formation
• Data collection (survey/experiments)
• Analysis and interpretation
• Drawing conclusions
• Suggesting solutions

6. Project Characteristics

A good NCSC project should be:

• Original and innovative
• Based on field study or experimentation
• Problem-solving oriented
• Relevant to local environment/society
• Supported by data and evidence

7. Skills Developed in Participants

NCSC emphasizes development of:

• Observation and measurement skills
• Critical and creative thinking
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Scientific reasoning and communication

8. Presentation & Language

• Projects can be presented in:
• Any Indian language or medium of instruction
• Participants must:
• Present findings clearly
• Use charts, models, or reports

9. Structure of the Programme

NCSC is conducted in stages:

1. School / Local level
2. District level
3. State level
4. National level

Only selected projects progress to higher levels

10. Judgement Criteria

Projects are evaluated on:

• Understanding of the problem
• Scientific method used
• Data collection and analysis
• Innovation and creativity
• Practical relevance and solutions
• Presentation skills

11. Key Rules & Ethics

• Project must be child-driven, not guide-driven
• Original work only (no copied projects)
• Parents/organizers should not influence evaluation
• Work should be safe, ethical, and feasible