The National Science Olympiad (NSO) is a science competition for students from class 1 to class 12, conducted annually by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) . The aim of the exam is to identify and nurture future scientists, technologists, and IT talent at the school level. The NSO is a two-level exam, and upon qualifying level 1, students have to attempt level 2 to get merit rank and rewards. Students are ranked on the basis of marks obtained in level 1, and after taking the first level of the test, students can judge themselves academically at four different levels - within the school, at the city level, at the state level, and above all at the international level. The NSO syllabus includes the curriculum followed by the ICSE, CBSE, and other state boards.

To participate in the NSO, students must register for the exam through their school. The exam is conducted in English only, and there is a separate question paper for each class. The exam consists of objective-type questions based on various topics of science. Students who qualify for the second level exam include the top 5% of students class-wise who appear for the 1st level exam, state-wise top 25 rank holders class-wise, and class topper from each participating school where at least 10 students from a class appear in the exam and score 50% qualifying marks. Students from classes 1 and 2 are not required to appear for the 2nd level exam and are ranked based on their performance in the first level exam.

The NSO aims to cultivate scientific reasoning and logical ability among students. The results of the NSO are usually declared within 8 weeks of the examination, and the schools registered with the SOF directly receive the results. Students can also check the results on the website of SOF. The NSO offers various awards to students, including cash prizes, medals, and certificates.