The IAPT (Indian Association of Physics Teachers) conducts the National Standard Examination (NSE) in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, and Junior Science. The NSE is the first stage for the international Olympiad, and it is a voluntary examination that offers an opportunity to measure ones standing against a national standard. The NSE examinations are held at two levels, X (Junior Science) and XII, and the examinations are independent, with the Junior Science examination not being a pre-requisite for the XII examination. The NSEP (National Standard Examination in Physics) is conducted every year since 1987 and has become the most visible activity of IAPT. The NSEP is not linked to any entrance or scholarship award, and students are allowed to take away the question paper, with solutions provided to them after a week. The International Olympiad (IO) program follows a five-stage process, with the NSE being the first stage.