The "Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana" (KVPY) is an ongoing program started in 1999 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

It encourage students of Basic Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to take up research careers in these areas.

It involves the selection of students from those studying in +1, +2, any U.G. Program in Science / Medicine and also Engineering students having aptitude for scientific research.

Difference between KVPY and IIT JEE Exam:

IIT JEE:

Over twisted questions.
Selection by rejection.
You should be able to SOLVE, whether you know or not doesn't matter. You can take chances and you may get some bubbles right.
Knowledge of all subjects viz., Phy, Chem and Maths required, hence candidate ends up knowing everything, though superficially.

KVPY:

Simple, thought provoking questions
Question seem tough because exam happens in class 12 (even in class 11) and students are yet to complete the syllabus
Selection by exam + interview. You actually know something, because you need to THINK and answer in interview.
You are allowed to chose ONE subject for interview, that makes you specialist of what you like.

Eligibility for KVPY:

Stream SA: Students enrolled in XI Standard (Science Subjects) during the academic year 2012-2013 and have secured a minimum of 80% (70% for SC/ST) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects in the X Standard Board Examination.

Stream SX: Students enrolled in Class XII (+2) of the academic year 2012 - 2013 and aspiring to join undergraduate program in Basic Sciences (B.Sc/B.S./Int. M.Sc) for the session 2013 - 2014 provided they secured a minimum of 80% (70% for SC/ST) marks in aggregate in MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE subjects in the X Standard Board Examination.

Stream SB: Students enrolled in 1st year B.Sc. /B.S. /Int. M.Sc. during the academic year 2012-2013 and have secured a minimum of 60% (50% for SC/ST) marks in aggregate in SCIENCE subjects in the XII Standard Board Examination.

Selection Procedure

Stage1 - Aptitude Test: The written test (multiple choice) is normally conducted in the first week of November at different centers across the country .The venue details of the test are uploaded on the KVPY website in the month of October.

The test is of maximum marks 100 with 80 to 90 questions with no negative marking and the weight age of the test is 50%.