Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik Spardha

The Dr. Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik Competition (HBBVS, also written DHBBVC) is a four-stage science talent search for Std 6 and Std 9 students, conducted by the Greater Bombay Science Teachers' Association (GBSTA), also known as the Mumbai Science Teachers' Association, since 1981. Students take a written MCQ test, a practical test, a general interview and an interview on their own action research project, all in offline mode.

This page covers HBBVS 2026-27 for Class 9 students. Registration for this cycle closed on 18 August 2026, and the written MCQ round is scheduled for 28 November 2026. Below you will find the official dates, eligibility, fees, the stage-wise pattern, the syllabus weightage, last year's cut-offs, how medals are decided and a practical preparation plan for the weeks left.

Table of Contents

HBBVS 2026-27

About the Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik Competition

GBSTA started the competition in 1981 to build interest in science among school students and to identify young science talent. It began in Marathi medium and is now held in English and Marathi, with a separate region for students from other states and abroad. According to GBSTA's 2026-27 circular, the competition has reached over 10 lakh students through more than 4,000 schools over four decades.

What makes HBBVS different from a typical science olympiad is its structure. A written test alone does not decide the winners. Finalists also perform experiments, face a science interview and present a small piece of research they carried out themselves. The aim is to test curiosity, observation, precision in practical work and the ability to explain scientific thinking, not just recall.

Students compete for the Balvaidnyanik (young scientist) title, and every finalist who completes all four stages receives a medal. Because only Std 6 and Std 9 students are eligible, Class 9 is the last chance a student gets to compete.

What Is New in HBBVS 2026-27

• Revised fees: The fee is now Rs. 520 for English medium and Rs. 420 for Marathi medium through school, and Rs. 700 for individual registration. The fee includes the official handbook.

• Higher scholarships: Medal scholarships are now Rs. 5,000 (Gold), Rs. 3,000 (Silver) and Rs. 2,000 (Bronze), up from Rs. 3,000, Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 1,000 still shown on the older competition page of the official website.

• Centres outside Maharashtra: A centre is given in the home state if more than 100 students are registered from it. Otherwise, students choose a centre city in Maharashtra.

• Later written round: The MCQ round moves to 28 November 2026, compared with 8 November in 2025-26.

• Extended regular-fee window: GBSTA extended registration without late fee for schools to 10 August 2026 because of weather conditions in several areas.

Older pages may still show a Rs. 300 fee, a 50-student centre rule or last year's dates. Follow the 2026-27 circular on the official website.

HBBVS 2026-27 Important Dates

These dates come from GBSTA's official 2026-27 schedule, which notes that organisers may change the schedule and the mode of the competition at any stage. Track the official website and the details registered with your school or individual login.

Eligibility in Brief

The eligibility rules are simple, but a few details affect where and against whom a student competes.

• Standard: Only students studying in Std 6 or Std 9 in the current academic year. No age limit is prescribed.

• Boards: All boards are eligible, including Maharashtra State Board, CBSE, ICSE, IB and other state boards.

• Medium: English or Marathi. Semi-English students pick one at registration, and it cannot be changed later.

• Region: Eight regions in Maharashtra, plus an "Other than Maharashtra" region for other states and students abroad.

Selection at every stage is merit-wise within each region, standard and medium, with State Board and other boards as separate categories. For region lists, scenarios and documents.

Registration and Fees

Registration is online only, through the school or individually on the GBSTA portal. Registration through coaching classes or private academies is not allowed, and on-the-spot entries are not accepted at centres.

Schools register once, choose three preferred centres, pay online and then add students one by one. Individual applicants verify a mobile number by OTP, fill in student details and upload a passport-size photo and a school bonafide certificate. Fees are non-refundable, and a registered student cannot be replaced by another.

HBBVS Exam Pattern: Four Stages

The circular gives the written test as 90 minutes, while the 2026-27 schedule lists a 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM slot. Follow the reporting time GBSTA communicates through your school or login. The official circular does not mention negative marking, so read the instructions printed on the question paper on the day.

Stage 2 practical test for Class 9

Std 6 students instead do five general science experiments of 6 marks each. GBSTA publishes practical sample questions on its website, which show the type of measurement and observation tasks to expect.

What this means for you

• Stage 1 is the main filter: Only the top 7.5 percent in each category move to the practical round, so the written test needs the most preparation time now.

• Speed matters: With 100 questions in 90 minutes, you have under a minute per question. Timed practice is essential.

• Practical marks carry real weight: Stage 1 counts for only 30 of the final 120 marks, so a strong practical and two good interviews can change the medal outcome.

• Ten minutes per subject is tight: In the Class 9 practical, a student unfamiliar with basic apparatus can easily run out of time.

HBBVS Syllabus for Class 9

GBSTA does not publish a chapter-wise syllabus. It states that most questions come from Maharashtra State Board science textbooks, along with related content from CBSE, ICSE and IB books. The official weightage for Class 9 is given below.

The circular also says there will be less emphasis on knowledge-based questions and more on understanding, reasoning, correlation and application, including science in day-to-day life. In practice, this means learning why something happens, not just definitions. Previous theory papers and answer keys on the official website are the best guide to the question style.

Selection Process, Medals and Prizes

1. After Stage 1: The top 7.5 percent per region, standard, medium and board category qualify for the practical round and receive a merit certificate. Other students scoring above 35 marks receive a passing certificate.

2. After Stage 2: 30 percent of the Stage 1 marks are added to the practical marks. The top 10 percent on this combined score qualify for Stages 3 and 4.

3. Final score: Stage 1 converted to 30 marks, plus Stages 2, 3 and 4 (30 marks each), for a total of 120.

A finalist who completes Stages 3 and 4 is assured of a medal. GBSTA also awards two region-wise trophies to schools: the Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Lakshavedhi Gunavatta Trophy for the school winning the most medals, and the Vidnyan Jattha Trophy for the school with the most participants.

HBBVS Cut-off Reference

GBSTA publishes cut-off marks for the written round by region, standard, medium and board. The table below shows the 2025-26 Std 9 written-round cut-offs (out of 100) for selected regions.

Two patterns stand out. Cut-offs for other-board English-medium students were usually higher than for State Board English-medium students, and the same category varied noticeably from one region to another. Cut-offs change every year with paper difficulty and the number of students, so treat these as a benchmark only and aim for a clear margin above them.

Results and Certificates

• Where to check: Results for each stage are published on the GBSTA registration portal, linked from msta.in. Individual students log in with their registered mobile number and OTP.

• Answer sheet: A scanned copy of the MCQ answer sheet is made available.

• No rechecking: Marks are not rechecked at any stage of the competition.

• Certificates: Merit certificates go to students selected for Stage 2, and passing certificates to others scoring above 35 in Stage 1. The photo uploaded at registration appears on the certificate.

How to Prepare for HBBVS Class 9

With the written round on 28 November 2026, registered students have about seven weeks. Split the time so that the textbook base comes first and timed practice comes last.

1. Weeks 1 to 3, build the base: Revise the Std 9 Maharashtra State Board science textbook chapter by chapter, since it carries about 60 percent of the questions. Students from other boards should read the State Board chapters that their own books do not cover.

2. Weeks 3 to 5, close the gaps: Revise Std 7 and Std 8 science, focusing on concepts that Std 9 builds on, such as force, light, cells, acids and bases. Spend 15 to 20 minutes a day on science general knowledge and everyday science.

3. Weeks 5 to 7, practise under time: Solve previous theory papers in 90 minutes and check them against the official answer keys. Keep an error log of every wrong or slow question and revise it every few days.

Preparing for the later stages

• Practical round: Practise basic measurements, simple chemistry tests and specimen identification with your school's science teacher. Use the official practical sample questions to rehearse working within 10 minutes per subject.

• Action research project: GBSTA publishes standard-wise topics on its website. In 2025-26, the topic lists appeared in January. The report is due on 8 March 2027, only about three weeks after the practical result, so start as soon as the topics are out, keep a dated record of observations and write the report in your own words.

• Interviews: Be ready to explain what you did in your project, why and what you found. For the general interview, read about science in daily life and recent developments, and practise explaining ideas aloud.