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Transforming Lives Through Open and Distance Learning

Index
What is NIOS
Admission
Scheme of Examination
Transfer of Credit
Certification Criteria

What is NIOS?

About Us
NIOS

About NIOS – National Institute of Open School

National Institute of Open School was set up in the year November 1989. It is often abbreviated as NIOS. National Institute of Open School was known as National Open School. This is an autonomous organization following National Policy on Education 1986 by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of India. NIOS

is the best board for the students who seek admission for distance education. Along with General and Academic Courses at Secondary and Senior Secondary level, NIOS provides a number of Vocational, Life Enrichment and community-oriented courses. Also, NIOS offers Elementary level Courses via its Open Basic Education Programs (OBE).

Through its open and distance learning model, BOSSE provides learners with the freedom to choose courses and programs that suit their needs, enabling them to continue their education anytime, anywhere.

  • Secondary Programme
  • Senior Secondary Programme

NIOS – Eligibility Criteria for Admission in Secondary and Senior Secondary

  • Valid Identity Proof (Adhaar Card / Passport / Ration Card / PAN Card)
  • Valid Proof of Date of Birth (Passport / School Leaving Certificate / Transfer Certificate / Adhaar Card with DOB mentioned)
  • Valid Proof of Residence
  • Domicile Certificate for students of Sikkim
  • To complete 15 years of Age before exams for Secondary Programme.
  • Secondary / Class X Certificate in case of Senior Secondary Programme.
  • Self attested copy of Caste Certificate in case of SC / ST / OBC
  • Disability Certificate (in case a learner has any kind of disability)
  • Passport Size Photographs (recent, as per NIOS guidelines).
ENTRY REQUIREMENT CUT OFF DATES SECONDARY PROGRAMME SENIOR SECONDARY PROGRAMME
Block 1 31st July 15 years as on 31st March (before exam) SECONDARY PASSED
Block 2 31th January 15 years as on 30th September (before exam) SECONDARY PASSED
a) Essential Supporting Documents for Date of Birth. Any one of the following documents is acceptable for Age Proof
  1. Birth Certificate issued by Municipal Authority or District Office of the Registrar of Birth and Deaths (for those born on or after 26.01.1989)
  2. Passport issued by Govt. of India
  3. Original Transfer / School Leaving Certificate showing applicant’s DOB, issued by the last attended school.
    Govt. Schools: signed by the principal. Private Schools: countersigned by State / District Education Officer.
  4. Aadhaar Card issued by Govt. of India
Note: Date of birth once given in the Admission Form shall not be changed. Please check and state the correct DOB in the Admission Form. 		The Certificate of Matriculation / Secondary Examination having a record of the Date of Birth.
b) Minimum Education Qualifications Certificate of Class VIII pass OR Self Certificate stating that the candidate can read and write the language/s of medium. Certificate of Secondary Examination passed from a recognized National / State Board of School Education.

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) conducts public examinations twice a year in the months of April–May and October–November at designated Examination Centres across India and abroad.

In addition to the public exams, NIOS also provides the facility of On-Demand Examination (ODE) at the Secondary and Senior Secondary levels, giving learners flexibility to appear for exams as per their readiness.

  • Admission is available round the year under two blocks:
    Block 1: Admission from April to September (public exams in April–May).
    Block 2: Admission from October to March (public exams in October–November).
  • The admission is valid for five years. Within these five years, learners are eligible to appear in a maximum of nine examination attempts to pass and earn the Secondary or Senior Secondary certificate.
  • NIOS follows a Credit Accumulation System. Credits/marks obtained in successfully passed subjects are accumulated until the learner passes all required subjects as per the Pass Criteria.
  • To appear in examinations, learners must submit the Examination Form online and pay the prescribed examination fee within the notified schedule.
  • To qualify for certification, learners must secure a minimum of 33% marks in each subject as well as in the aggregate of the required five subjects including at least one language. In subjects having theory and practicals, learners must pass separately in both components.
  • Examinations are conducted in Hindi, English, and other scheduled regional languages as available at different exam centres.
  • NIOS also provides an On-Demand Examination System (ODES), allowing learners to appear for exams at their convenience (after completion of the minimum study period).

Transfer of Credit (TOC)

  • Best part of NIOS Secondary And Senior Secondary Courses Exams from NIOS Board is the failed students either in SSLC standard or Plus Two standard need not appear for all the subjects again.
  • NIOS Board offers Transfer of Credit (TOC) in respect of maximum two subjects passed in their previous Board Exams.
  • The marks in these passed subjects are transferred to the NIOS Board Certificates and a student has to appear for exams in failed subjects only.

Change of Subject / Additional Subject

  • During the admission period of five years, a learner can change one or more subjects, provided that total number of subjects does not exceed seven.
  • Such a change is permissible within four years of registration, so that the learner can appear in Public Examinations within the validity period of admission.
  • No change/addition of subjects will be allowed for the first examination. Subjects already passed by a learner cannot be changed.

The Pass/Certification criteria is given in the Table below:

Class/Programme Pass Criteria In Individual Subjects Certification Criteria
Secondary A minimum of 33% marks in the aggregate of Theory and Practical (where applicable). In subjects with both Theory and Practical, learners must pass separately in Theory and Practical. Pass in a minimum of 5 subjects, including at least one language, as per the Scheme of Studies.
Senior Secondary A minimum of 33% marks in the aggregate of Theory and Practical (where applicable). In subjects with both Theory and Practical, learners must pass separately in Theory and Practical. Pass in a minimum of 5 subjects, including at least one language, as per the Scheme of Studies.
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