GREEN OLYMPIAD-INFORMATION

GREEN Olympiad

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives. 

Clay P Bedford

The GREEN Olympiad is designed in an innovative manner to test the knowledge of students in the field of environment and in turn create awareness about issues touching their daily lives. This annual initiative reaches out to regions across India having limited access to such educational programmes. The purpose is to improve and expand environment education both at the national and international level. It aspires to develop human resources, institutional infrastructure and a diverse mixture of locale-specific, regional and national action plans to sensitize schools on the need for environmental protection.

Project objectives

• To raise awareness amongst school students on environmental issues
• To instil a sense of responsibility amongst students, teachers, and the larger school community towards the planet
• To educate students about interdependence between man and the environment
• To encourage students to actively participate in efforts to conserve the environment and help mitigate climate change
• Realize potential of ‘students’ for national and international leadership as knowledge-based agents of change in the field of energy, environment, other natural resources and sustainable development
• Inspire and reach out to diverse stakeholders for realizing a shared vision of global sustainable development
• Enhance networking for sustainable interventions

The following are certain indicators that point towards the growing popularity and acceptance of this programme in the academic circle.

• Constant support from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, since 1999
• Repeat participation of schools
• Regular support from corporates, such as Hero Moto Corp Limited
• Interest shown by other organizations to start similar programmes, for example by Department of Biotechnology, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and so on

Target group and outreach

The GREEN Olympiad is open to students from classes 8, 9, and 10 from recognized education boards and educational trusts from across India and some schools abroad. Over the years, besides India, the programme has reached out to schools in the Middle East, Nepal, Singapore, Russia and Kenya. With a modest beginning of 10 cities in 1999, this programme had reached out to 375 cities in 2007. Today, students from more than 600 cities in India and abroad participate in the Olympiad. In 2011, more than 2 35000 students had taken this examination. 

The GREEN Olympiad addresses the need for networking amongst the schools to establish a ‘Platform’ and helps the students to connect and understand what is happening in the world around them. Schools in the semi-urban and rural areas often have limited access to information on environment. To address this problem, TERI partners with regional education boards and trusts which have schools in remote areas

More on the examination

The GREEN Olympiad examination is conducted both in English and Hindi with the objective of reaching out to a large number of schools. The paper comprises of 100 multiple choice questions. Upon receiving completed registration forms from schools, each student is assigned a roll number, details of which are uploaded on the project website. Question papers are dispatched in sealed boxes to all the participating schools. As in the past, the school serves as the examination centres for its respective participating students. The GREEN Olympiad question paper consists of questions on the identified themes each year.

What is the GREEN Olympiad?

A. The GREEN Olympiad is India's first annual examination on environmental issues for middle and senior school students. The examination is designed innovatively to test the knowledge of students and also educate and sensitize them in the process. One of its kind in India, the GREEN Olympiad asks questions on air and water pollution, environment-friendly initiatives and practices, land and water resources, forests, wildlife, oceans, socio-economic aspects of natural resources, global climate change, and the roles of society to improve our environment.

Am I eligible to participate in the GREEN Olympiad?

A. The exam is open to students from Standard 8, 9, 10 . The schools should be affiliated to recognized educational Boards and trusts. PRIVATE COACHING INSTITUTE AND SIMILAT ENTITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE. Individual registration from students is not accepted.

I am from a Hindi medium school; can I appear in GREEN Olympiad?

A. Yes, of course. The examination is conducted both in English and Hindi. You can opt for either language.

If I already have appeared in the GREEN Olympiad in the past, can I enter again?

A. As long as you are a student in class 8, 9, 10, you may enter the contest each year.

I am not an Indian citizen nor do I reside in India, am I eligible for GREEN Olympiad?

A. Yes, you are eligible for the GREEN Olympiad, as it is open to foreign national as well. Since 2001, we have been getting entries from countries including Bhutan, Russia, Nepal, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

Is there a lower/upper limit to the number of nominations from a school?

A. A school can nominate as many students as it wishes. There is no upper limit to the number of nominations from a school. However, a minimum of 20 students per school is required for registration to the examination.

When will the examination be held this year?

A. The examination date for national and international participants is 27 August 2011 and 24 September 2011

What is the procedure for registration?

A. Schools can register for this project through the registration form. You can write to us for the form/or download it from the GREEN Olympiad website. We do not accept individual registrations from students.

What is the deadline for registration?

A. To register for the Green Olympiad 2011, send in your applications along with the registration form and draft (details in the registration form) so that it reaches TERI by 23 July 2011

Where the registrations should be sent?

A. Completed registration forms with the bank draft should be sent to 
Educating Youth for Sustainable Development
TERI
Darbari Seth Block
IHC Complex, Lodhi Road
New Delhi 110 003

How do I prepare for the examination?

A. There are various ways to brush up your knowledge. Read as many articles as you can on environmental issues in magazines, newspapers, books, journals, encyclopedias. You can watch channels such as Discovery, Animal Planet, and National Geographic. Besides this, you could order a copy of the six volumes of the GREEN Olympiad and TERRAQUIZ: knowledge books on environment. These books have well-researched, unique question banks that will help educate and sensitize students on environmental issues.

How will I know if I have cleared the GREEN Olympiad?

A. The results will be posted on our website sometime in October 2011. Also, certificates along with complete mark list will be sent to all participating schools.

Are there any prizes for students writing the GREEN Olympiad?

A. Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) awards 'certificates of participation' to all students who participate in the GREEN Olympiad. Merit and distinction certificates are also given to top performers. There is also a cash award for the state toppers. Also, the top 32 performing schools of the GREEN Olympiad are selected to participate in the TERRAQUIZ.

What is TERRAQUIZ all about?

A. The GREEN Olympiad finally culminates into TERRAQUIZ, the first environmental quiz programme for school students. TERRAQUIZ is a 13-episode quiz programme based on topics of daily concern, local as well as global. Each year, seven teams from each of the four zones and four teams from outside India are selected to participate in TERRAQUIZ. It is an interactive quiz and the rounds are designed on the lines of a game show. Attractive audio-visuals impart a unique flavour.

How does one qualify for TERRAQUIZ?

A. When the GREEN Olympiad examination is over, the results are collated and 64 students from the top performing 32 schools are invited to participate in TERRAQUIZ.

What is the visibility of TERRAQUIZ?

A. TERRAQUIZ has been telecasted on a popular television channel, every year. All 32 teams who participate in TERRAQUIZ receive attractive prizes. Schools are also recognized and awarded for their performance.