PANINI LINGUISTICS OLYMPIAD

PLO is a fun, exciting, educational, challenging, puzzling, linguistic competition for students studying in grades 6th to 8th (Juniors) and 9th to 12th (Seniors).

This competition helps foster problem solving, computational thinking and appreciation for the linguistic diversity and linguistics in general.

PLO 2025 Timeline

PLO 2025 will have 2 major selection rounds. We also have a special Puzzle Lab for people hoping to get started with their Linguistic Olympiad journey. Dates in the timeline are tentative and subject to change.

Round 1 Registration Opens

13 November, 2024

This is the first selectional round for PLO. Top participants from this round will be eligible for Round 2. So don't wait and register!

Round 1 Registration Closes

28 January, 2025

Last date to register for the contest.

Round 1 Contest

02 February, 2025

Time to put on your thinking caps and solve some fun linguistics puzzles!

Round 1 Results

14 March, 2025

Round 1 results are announced!

APLO 2025

20 April, 2025

Top participants from Round 1 are eligible to particpate in APLO 2025 to compete against people from all over the world. This is not the final selection round for the Indian Team.

Round 2 and Camp

May 2025

Top participants from Round 1 get to take part in an Invidational Camp in Hyderabad where they learn linguistics and key tips and tricks. Particpants then will get a chance to take part in Round 2 which would help select the top 8 students to represent the Indian team at IOL 2025.

IOL 2025

July 2025

Top 8 participants from Round 2 are selected to reprsent India at IOL 2025.

Centres

The centres which help us in conducting the exams are:

State	City	Centre	Location
Bihar	Patna	IIT Patna	TBA
Chhattisgarh	Raipur	Krishna Public School (KPS), Dunda	Room no D3, Krishna Public School, Dunda
Gujarat	Ahmedabad	DDU Nadiad	Room 6, Computer Engineering Department, Faculty of Technology
Karnataka	Bengaluru	IISc Bengaluru	Room: EE B 308, Department of Electrical Engineering
Kerala	Kochi	Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technology	Lecture Hall 1, First Floor, Main Block
Maharashtra	Mumbai	IIT Bombay	CC-103, New CC-CSE building, Academic Section, IIT Area
Maharashtra	Pune	Deccan College, Pune	Department of Linguistics, Deccan College, Post Graduate and Research Institute
New Delhi	Delhi	IIT Delhi	VI LT 1 (Block 6, Lecture Theatre 1)
Tamil Nadu	Chennai	IIT Madras	6th Floor, Room Numbers 631 and 632, New Academic Complex 2 (NAC2) Block, X6RG+CXC, Alumni Ave Note: You can use the IIT Main Gate (Vehicles will be allowed inside) or the Velachery Gate (Vehicles won't be allowed). They can get a bus from either of the gates to the venue building (New Academic Complex 2). It can take upto 30 mins from the gates to the venue, so they should plan accordingly.
Telangana	Hyderabad	IIIT Hyderabad	H-105, Himalaya Building, Next to T-Hub Building
West Bengal	Kolkata	Jadavpur University	Room No. T-5A-8, 4th floor, Prayukti Bhavan (entry from Civil Engineering Gate of the building). Note: since it is a holiday, only Gate No. 4 (landmark: Bengal Lamp busstand) of Jadavpur University will remain open.

Let's try one problem.

To get a feel, try this sample problem.

K = outermost green layer
C = next whorl
A = next – the yellow dots, and
G the innermost = orange.

The number of elements in the whorl is subscripted.
To view the full solution, find this problem on the Resources Page

Did you enjoy the problem?
Try out more and don't forget to participate in the olympiad.