NIOS (Open Board)
Freedom to Learn
The main aim of NIOS is to ‘reach the unreached’. The NIOS follows the principle of freedom to learn i.e., what to learn, when to learn, how to learn and when to appear for the examination are decided by the Learner. There is no restriction of time, place and pace of learning.
2. Flexibility
The NIOS provides flexibility with respect to :
Admission:
The learner has the option to take admission under various streams through Study Centre, Facilitation Centre, Regional Centre for the Secondary (10th) and the Senior Secondary (12th) Education As following:
Stream-1:
| Block for Admission | Admission Period/dates | Examination Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
Block – 1 |
March to September |
April / May |
|
Block – 2 |
September to March |
October / November |
Stream-2:
| Eligibility for admission | Admission Period/dates | Examination Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Students who have passed 10th/12th from any recognized board and wish to take part admission in 1 or upto 4 subjects for updating their qualification. OR 2. Students who had appeared but could not clear or could not appear in the Public Exams of 10th/12th from any recognised Examination Board |
open throughout the year |
October / November or April / May |
Stream – 3 & 4:
On Demand Examination System (ODES) of NIOS for the 10th / 12th
| Eligibility for admission | Admission Period/dates | Examination Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
1.Students who have passed 10th/12th from any recognized board and wish to take part admission in 1 or upto 4 subjects for updating their qualification. OR 2. Students who had appeared but could not clear or could not appear in the Public Exams of 10th/12th from any recognised Examination Board |
open throughout the year |
ON DEMAND |
Admission Eligibility
Students seeking admission into NIOS must meet the NIOS eligibility criteria specified by the officials.
Eligibility Criteria for Stream 1 Candidates
| Criteria | Secondary or Class 10th | Senior Secondary or Class 12th |
|---|---|---|
|
Age |
Min. 14 years |
Min. 15 years |
|
Previous qualification |
8th /9th Or Literacy affidavit |
10th Pass from any recognized board |
|
Valid Identity Proof |
Aadhaar, Passport or any other valid government Identity Card |
Aadhaar, Passport or any other valid government Identity Card |
|
Address Proof |
Valid proof of Residence (like Aadhaar Card, or certificate from Employer on Letter Head, or water/Telephone/Electricity Bill/, if living in rented accommodation, copy Rent Agreement. |
Valid proof of Residence (like Aadhaar Card, or certificate from Employer on Letter Head, or water/Telephone/Electricity Bill/, if living in rented accommodation, copy Rent Agreement. |
How Can I Apply For 12th/10th In NIOS?
Candidates who wish to take admission in NIOS course have to fill up the admission form in online mode only and register themselves OR
- Students can call on 05946-262127, call & whatsapp at 7409913131 (24 x 7) for assistance.
- Candidates can visit the nearest facilitation center to register.
- Students can also visit the nearest NIOS Regional Center to fill up the application form.
Choice of Subjects:
The learner has the option to choose subjects of his/her choice from the given list keeping in view the passing criteria.
| Course | Subject Offered | Scheme of Studies |
|---|---|---|
|
Secondary
|
Group-A Hindi(201), English(202), Bengali(203), Marathi(204), Telugu(205), Urdu(206), Gujarati(207), Kannada(208), Sanskrit(209), Punjabi(210), Assamese (228),Nepali(231), Malayalam(232), Odia(233), Arabic (235),Persian (236), Tamil (237),Sindhi (238) Group-B *Mathematics(211),*Science and Technology(212), Social Science(213), Economics(214), Business Studies(215), *Home Science(216), *Data Entry Operation(E)(229), Psychology (222), Indian Culture & Heritage (223), *Painting (225),*Data Entry Operations (229), Accountacy (224),*Hindustani Music (242),*Carnatic Sangeet(243) Indian Knowledge Tradition # #Veda Adhyan (245), #Sanskrit Vyakaran (246), #Bharatiya Darshan (247), #Sanskrit Sahitya (248 ) |
|
|
Senior Secondary |
Group-A Hindi(301), English(302), Bangla (303), Tamil (304), Odia (305), Urdu(306), Gujarati (307), Sanskrit (309), Punjabi (310) Group-B Mathematics(311), *Home Science(321), Psychology(328), *Geography(316), Economics(318), Business Studies(319), *Painting (332), *Data entry Operation(336) Indian Knowledge Tradition# Veda Adhyan#(345),Sanskrit Vyakaran#(346),Bharatiya Darshan#(347),Sanskrit Sahitya#(348) Group-C *Physics(312), History(315), *Library and Information Sc.(339), *Enviornmental Science(333) Group-D * Chemistry(313), Political Science(317),*Mass Communication (335),Military Studies(374) Group-E *Biology(314), Accountancy(320),*Introduction to Law (338),Military History(375) Group-F *Computer Science(330), Sociology(331), Tourism(337),*Physical Education and Yog(373) Learner can opt only one subject from each of Group C,D,E and F |
Subjects with * have theory as well as practical works.
Students must select 5 subjects with either one or two languages.
A minimum of five subjects and 2 additional subjects can also be taken.
The students are advised to select at least 1 additional subject as to have more chances of passing 5 subjects for certification.
Examination:
The Public Examinations are held twice in a year. Nine examination chances are offered to the learner in five years. A learner can appear in examination during this period as and when he/she is well prepared and can avail the facility of credit accumulation.
On Demand Examination:The learner has also the option to appear under the On Demand Examination System (ODES) after the first public examination.
No “FAIL” Policy / Transfer of Credits
The NIOS acknowledges previous knowledge by allowing transfer of credits upto two subjects passed from International, National and State Boards of Examination / State Open Schools. The learner has the option to appear in one or more subjects in any examination and accumulate the pass subjects till all five subjects required for certification within a period of 5 years of registration.
5. Recognization:
The Govt. of India has vested in NIOS the authority to conduct Public Examinations and provide the Secondary and the Senior Secondary level certificates, which are equivalent to the certificates provided by any other Board of School Education. This is because all the Boards, whether National or State, are following the National Curriculum Framework brought out by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The NIOS is one of the three National Boards; the other two Boards are (i) the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and (ii) the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE).
Government of India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Department of Elementary Education & Literacy
To Education Secretaries,
All States/UTs
11th December 2002
Subject: According recognition to the Examinations at Primary and Middle level Courses conducted by National Institute of Open Schooling (formerly National Open School (NOS).
Sir,
The National Institute of Open Schooling (N.I.O.S.) (formerly National Open School (NOS) is an autonomous organization set up the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, in 1989 as per the Resolution issued vide No. F 6-2/89-Sch. III dated 21.11. 1989 to provide education upto pre-degree level to those who for one or the other reason could not make use of the formal education system. N.I.O.S. has also been vested with the authority to conduct and certify examinations for Secondary and Senior Secondary levels by the Government of India as per the resolution issued vide No. F 5-24/90-Sch. III dated 14.9.1990 (copy enclosed).
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has also intimated the Registrars of all Indian Universities vide their Notification No. EV /11 (354)91/ dated 25.7.1991 (copy enclosed) of its decision to grant equivalence to N.I.O.S. courses with those of other examinations of recognized Boards for purposes of admission to higher courses of study at Indian Universities.
As you would be aware, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) also runs Open Basic Education Programmes through Distance Education Mode (Open Learning System) at the Elementary stage and awards Joint Certificate with the partnering NGOs at three levels- A level (equivalent to’ class III or class II of the Southern States where elementary stage is only till class VII), B level (equivalent to class V /lV) and C level (equivalent to class VIII/VII). This is applicable to their programme of equivalency under distance education programme where similar certificates are provided at the same level of competency and equivalency.
You may like to issue necessary instructions to all concerned to consider certificates issued by N.I.O.S. jointly with partnering NGOs for the above levels as equivalent to concerned stage of education in matters of admissions and employment etc. Formal communication/Notification regarding grant of recognition to the examination conducted by National Institute of Open Schooling may issue and the same widely circulated to all concerned.
For further details / clarifications in the matter, the Chairman, National Institute of Open Schooling may be contacted at N.I.O.S., B-31 B, Kailash Colony, New Delhi-110048 or visit their Website at http: //www.nios.ac.in.
Sd/-
(Amit Kaushik)
Director Tel No. 23382604
Copy for forwarded for information to :-
- All the Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India.
- All the Officers / Sections in the Deptt. of Elementary Education and Literacy and Department of Secondary and Higher Education.
- Chairman, National Institute of Open Schooling, B-31 B, Kailash Colony, New DeIhi-l10048 with reference to his letter No. NIOS/CMOI1-l/02/2607 dated the 10th October 2002
Sd/-
(Amit Kaushik)
Director
RESOLUTION
(Department of Education)
New Delhi, the 14th September 1990
Subject: Vesting of authority in the National Open School Society for holding certain examinations through distance and open learning system at the school stage and for certification thereof.
No. F5.24/90 Sch.3 -The Government of India had setup the National Open School Society. an autonomous and registered body on 23rd November. 1989 to cater to the educational needs of school dropouts, working adults, housewives and socially disadvantaged sections, through distance education at the school stage. The Society runs the management of the National Open School which, through distance and open learning system, has been offering courses, preparing students for the Secondary and Senior Secondary School Examinations and also offers Bridge (Preparatory) Courses.
It has now been decided that in pursuance of Section 3 (ii) of the Memorandum of Association of the National Open School Society, the Society shall conduct the above examinations at the school stage of education upto predegree level, whether academic, technical or vocational, which are developed either by the National Open School itself or in collaboration with other agencies, subject to the approval of the Society’s Executive Board or as it may be called upon to conduct by the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education. The Society shall also be the certifying authority for such courses and programmes and do such acts ancillary to these objects as may be necessary. The Central Board of Secondary Education which was the certifying and examining authority on behalf of the National Open School Society, will cease to be so with effect from the date of issue of this Notification in the Gazette of India.
ORDER
Ordered that a copy of the Resolution be sent to all State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, all Ministries Departments of the Government of India, University Grants Commission. Prime Minister’s Office, National Council of Educational Research and Training. Council of Boards of Secondary Education, Association of Indian Universities, Central Board of Secondary Education, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations and the State Boards of Education.
Ordered also that the Resolution be published in the Gazette of India for general information.
D.M.DE. REBELLO
Jt. Secy.