What is NIOS

NIOS is "Open School" to cater to the needs of a heterogeneous group of learners up to pre-degree level. It was started as a project with in-built flexibilities by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 1979. In 1986, the National Policy on Education suggested strengthening of Open School System for extending open learning facilities in a phased manner at secondary level all over the country as an independent system with its own curriculum and examination leading to certification.

Consequently, the Ministry of Education (MOE) , Government of India set up the National Open School (NOS) in November 1989. The pilot project of CBSE on Open School was amalgamated with NOS. Through a Resolution (No. F.5-24/90 Sch.3 dated 14 September 1990 published in the Gazette of India on 20 October 1990), the National Open School (NOS) was vested with the authority to register, examine and certify students registered with it up to pre-degree level courses. In July 2002, the Ministry of Education (MOE) amended the nomenclature of the organisation from the National Open School (NOS) to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) with a mission to provide relevant continuing education at school stage, up to pre-degree level through Open Learning system to prioritized client groups as an alternative to formal system, in pursuance of the normative national policy documents and in response to the need assessments of the people, and through it to make its share of contribution:

To universalization of education,
To greater equity and justice in society, and
To the evolution of a learning society.

What does NIOS do?

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) provides opportunities to interested learners by making available the following Courses/Programmes of Study through open and distance learning (ODL) mode.

Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme for 14+ years age group, adolescents and adults at A, B and C levels that are equivalent to classes III, V and VIII of the formal school system.
Secondary Education Course
Senior Secondary Education Course
Vocational Education Courses/Programmes
Life Enrichment Programmes

Envisages schooling by providing a learning continuum based on graded curriculum ensuring quality of education for children, neo-literates, school drop-outs/left-outs and NFE completers.

For implementation of OBE programme, the NIOS has partnership with about 853 Agencies providing facilities at their study centres. It is a sort of academic input relationship with partnering agencies. The NIOS provides resource support (such as adaptation of NIOS model curricula, study materials, joint certification, orientation of Resource Persons and popularisation of OBE) to the voluntary agencies and Zila Saksharta Samities (ZSSs) etc., for implementation of its OBE programme.

At the Secondary and Senior Secondary levels, NIOS provides flexibility in the choice of subjects/courses, pace of learning, and transfer of credits from CBSE, some Board of School Education and State Open Schools to enable learner's continuation. A learner is extended as many as nine chances to appear in public examinations spread over a period of five years. The credits gained are accumulated till the learner clears required credits for certification. The learning strategies include; learning through printed self-instructional material, audio and video programmes, participating in personal contact programme (PCP), and Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA). Enrichment is also provided to the learners through the half yearly magazine "Open Learning". The Study Material is made available in English, Hindi and Urdu mediums. The On-Demand Examination System (ODES) is in operation at Secondary and Senior Secondary stage. NIOS offers 28 subject in eight mediums (Hindi, English, Urdu, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati, Malayalam and Odia) for Secondary Examinations and 28 subjects in Hindi, English, Urdu, Bengali and Odia mediums for Senior Secondary Examinations. Besides these, NIOS has provision of offering Vocational subjects in combination with Academic subjects at secondary stage and 20 vocational subjects in combination with Academic subjects at Senior Seondary level.

Acknowledging the fact that the young entrepreneurs will be the wealth of the nation, the learner friendly Vocational Education programmes of NIOS provide excellent prospects for the learners. It offers Vocational Education programmes in different areas such as Agriculture, Business and Commerce, Engineering and Technology, Health and Paramedical, Home Science and Hospitality Management, Teacher Training, Computer and IT related sectors, Life Enrichment Programmes and General Services. Knowledge, skills and qualities of entrepreneurship have been made essential components in curricula for Vocational Education with emphasis on practical and on the job training in related industrial units.

In order to upscale and place the Open Vocational Education Programme on a sound pedestal, NIOS is seeking collaboration with leading organizations in different educational development sectors like Industries, Medicines, IT etc. Within the overall provisions of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF-2005), NIOS has brought out a significant documnet titled "Vocational Educaiton and Training: A Framework on Curriculum Imparatives with a Foucs on Knowledge Acquisition and Skills Development: Initiative through Open and Distance Learning". It is hoped that this document with prove useful as the basis for preparing a well deliberated Programme of Action (POA) for implementation of Vocational Education Programmes through ODL.

The NIOS programmes pay special attention towards requirements of the first generation learners, physically, mentally and visually challenged learners and candidates from disadvantaged sections of the society.

How does NIOS Function?

NIOS operates through a network of five Departments, 23 Regional Centres, two Sub Regional Centres, two NIOS Cells, and more than 7400 Study Centres (AIs/AVIs) spread all over the country and abroad.NIOS is the largest Open Schooling system in the world with cumulative enrolment of 4.13 million (during last 5 years).

Secondary - X and Senior Secondary - XII

Courses (Academic)

Dear Learner,

I congratulate and welcome you for choosing the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) as your preferred option for continuing your studies. About Twenty-Four lakh learners are on the roll of NIOS pursuing their Secondary, Senior Secondary, and Vocational Education Courses. By joining NIOS, you have also become a part of the largest open schooling system in the world!

The NEP 2020 lays emphasis on making education more holistic and effective by integrating academic and vocational education while ensuring the vertical and horizontal mobility of students and learners between the streams. NIOS already has an integrated model wherein a learner can choose a vocational subject along with an academic subject to earn a Secondary or a Senior Secondary certificate.

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is one of the two national boards of school education and offers courses through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. It has been vested with the authority to enroll, examine, and certify learners up to the pre-degree level. The curriculum of the courses in NIOS has the same standard and equivalence as the curriculum of other national or state-level boards of School Education. Learners have joined colleges and professional institutions after completing their studies at NIOS.

NIOS offers 39 subjects (including 19 languages) at the secondary stage in 13 (thirteen) mediums (Hindi, English, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese, Sanskrit and Kannada) and 44 subjects (including 13 languages) at the Senior Secondary stage in 7 (seven) mediums (Hindi, English Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, Sanskrit and Odia). A cafeteria approach in the choice of subjects is offered where no subject is compulsory except one language. One can choose subjects according to his/ her interests, needs, and visions of career path. Provision has also been made for the learners to opt for one vocational subject with academic subjects. You have the freedom to choose your subjects, place, and pace of learning.

NIOS has shifted to 100% online admissions through its website www.nios.ac.in (https://sdmis.nios.ac.in). The complete cycle of NIOS learners, starting from admission to final certification is available on the website/ student portal/ learner’s dashboard. Upon confirmation of your admission, NIOS promptly sends your study materials to your registered address without any additional cost. AI (Study Centre) will inform you about the Counseling Schedules, commonly known as the Personal Contact Programme (PCP), designed to provide academic assistance and address any doubts in any subject. Attending PCP sessions/ PCP Practical allows you to interact with your Tutors to solve your difficulties related to subjects. NIOS has implemented various strategies to support learners in their pursuit of successful learning. Throughout the course, learners will undergo formative assessment through Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs). These assignments serve as a tool for learners to gauge their progress, measure their achievements, and cultivate consistent study habits. The TMAs are accessible on the NIOS website, allowing learners to download and upload TMAs through their dashboard on https://sdmis.nios.ac.in. Skilled tutors will assess the Assignment Response Sheets, offering valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement. I strongly recommend that you approach these assignments with dedication and seriousness for fruitful results as this will be a part of your final result.

NIOS renders quality education through print media such as ‘Self Learning Material’ followed by ‘Personal Contact Programme’ and ‘Tutor Marked Assignments’. This is further supplemented by various ICT forums like audio and videos on the NIOS website nios.ac.in/ Youtube/ DIKSHA platform and live interactive programs on PM e- Vidya channels: channel number 17 - Secondary, 18 - Senior Secondary, 19 - IKT/ISL/OBE and 20 - Vocational courses. The live telecasts are also available on the NIOS Live Video youtube channel. These resources are further augmented by podcasting the contents of secondary and senior secondary courses through Mukt Vidya Vani (MVV). Community issues such as Guidance and Counseling, Skill Development, Gender Sensitization, Issues of Divyangjans, Yoga, Environment etc., are also podcasted through our community radio station Radio Vahini FM 91.2 MHZ. For any subject-related queries, you can also write to concerned faculty through the ‘Ask Your Teacher’ option under the ‘Contact Us’ section on the website.

You will keep receiving SMS alerts at each step. You can also reach us through e-mail at lsc@nios.ac.in. Also, if you wish to share something with me, you can write to me on my email id cm@nios.ac.in.

Welcome once again to the NIOS.

Reasons to Choose

National Institute of Open Schooling

1. 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 :

❖ 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.

❖ Admission: The learner has the option to take admission Online under various streams or through Study Centre, Facilitation Centre, Regional Centre for the Secondary and the Senior Secondary Education Courses.

❖ 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) of NIOS at the Secondary and the Senior Secondary levels at the NIOS Headquarters, NOIDA, and at designated Kendriya Vidyalayas across India. A learner is eligible for On Demand Examination after the first public examination.

3. Relevance

The NIOS courses and programmes are functional, useful in daily life and also set pathways for further studies. Successful alumni of NIOS are pursuing higher nbn institutions of international and national repute like IITs, the Delhi University, the Jamia Hamdard, the Jamia Millia Islamia, the Aligarh Muslim University, the Punjab University, the Allahabad University and many other reputed institutions of higher learning and in professional institutions.

4. 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.

5. Recognised Quality Education

The NIOS takes conscious steps to provide quality education. 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).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About NIOS and its Programmes

1. What is the procedure for taking admission in NIOS?

Ans: The NIOS has 100% Online admission at the Secondary and the Senior Secondary Education levels in order to facilitate learners to register.

Under this scheme, the learner has four options:

(i) Learner can register online directly by visiting the website of NIOS i.e., www.nios.ac.in and sdmis.nios.ac.in.

(ii) Learner may visit his/her nearest AI (Study Centre)/Facilitation Centre and take help for online registration.

(iii) Learner may visit the concerned Regional Centre of NIOS and take help for online registration.

(iv) Learner can use the services of the Common Services Centres of the Govt. of India for Online registration throughout the country.

2. What is the eligibility criteria for admission to the Secondary Course?

Ans: ➤ A learner who has passed class VIII and has a valid proof that Learner has attained 14 years of age can apply for registration to the Secondary Course.

➤ The learner who gives a self certificate stating that “I have studied and able to pursue the secondary course” is also eligible for admission to the Secondary Course.

➤ The learner who had studied at the Secondary level can also seek admission in NIOS either to complete his course or to improve his performance.

➤ Residential proof of the learner.

3. What is the valid proof of date of birth?

Ans: The certificate of date of birth issued by a Municipal Corporation, a Municipal Body, a Village Panchayat or any other body authorised by the Registrar, Birth and Death, Government of India, and the Aadhaar Card issued by Govt. Agency is a valid proof of date of birth. However, in case of orphans, street children etc., a medical certificate in respect of age issued by a Government Hospital is also acceptable as a valid proof of date of birth.

4. What is the validity period of admission?

Ans: The Admission (once registered) is valid for a period of 5 years from the date of admission.

5. Does NIOS allow any fees concession?

Ans: The fee concession is provided to females, SC/ST/ Ex-Servicemen and differently abled/Divyang learners as per NIOS norms.

6. Can any learner take direct admission in the Senior Secondary courses?

Ans: No. In order to take admission in the Senior Secondary course, the learner must have passed the Secondary course from a recognised Board.

7. What is the Minimum age to take admission in the Senior Secondary Course?

Ans: The minimum age to take admission in the Senior Secondary Course is 15 years.

8. What are the mediums of studies available in NIOS?

Ans: The NIOS offers the Secondary course in English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Odia, Telugu, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam, Punjabi, Assammese, Sanskrit and Kannada mediums; and the Senior Secondary course in English, Hindi, Odia, Bengali, Gujarati, Sanskrit and Urdu mediums.

9. What are the subjects available for the Secondary Course (Class-X)?

Ans: Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Bengali, Odia, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati, Kannada, Punjabi, Assamese, Indian Sign Language, Nepali, Malayalam, Arabic, Persian, Tamil, Sindhi, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Science, Economics, Business Studies, Home Science; Psychology, Indian Culture and Heritage, Painting, Data Entry Operations, Accountancy, Hindustani Sangeet, Carnatic Sangeet, Veda Adhyan, Sanskrit Vyakaran, Bharatiya Darshan, Sanskrit Sahitya, Natyakala, Folk Art, Enterpreneurship (39 subjects including 19 languages).

10. What are the subjects available for the Senior Secondary Course (Class-XII)?

Ans: Hindi, English, Bengali, Odia, Tamil, Urdu, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Punjabi, Persian, Arabic, Malyalam, Sindhi, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Business Studies, Accountancy, Home Science, Psychology, Computer Science, Sociology, Painting, Environmental Science, Mass Communication, Data Entry Operations,

11. Whether a learner can change his/her subjects during the validity period of his/her admission?

Ans: Yes. A learner has the option to change one or more subjects, provided the total number of subjects does not exceed seven. Subjects already passed cannot be changed.

12. How many subjects are required to be taken for obtaining the pass certificate?

Ans: For obtaining a pass certificate at the Secondary level, a learner is required to pass in minimum five subjects including one or maximum two languages.

13. Can the learner seek admission in additional subjects also?

Ans: Yes. A learner can opt upto two additional subjects. Thus, in all, a learner can choose maximum of seven subjects.

14. What is the admission fee for registration and the examination fee?

Ans: The latest fee structure for registration and examination has been given on NIOS website and also in the Prospectus.

15. Can a learner take admission in the Secondary/ Senior Secondary Course of NIOS after passing the Secondary/Senior Secondary course from a formal Board of School Education?

Ans: Yes. In case the learner has completed the Secondary/Senior Secondary Course from any National/State Board of School Education and wish to seek admission in NIOS for the same course, he/ she will be allowed to take admission in NIOS in upto four subjects. On successful completion, the learner will get only the Marksheet. No Certificate is issued under the Dual/Part Admission Scheme.

16. How do the learner get confirmation of his/her admission?

Ans: The admission to a particular course is confirmed by NIOS by issuing an online Identity Card having his/ her admission particulars as per the records available with NIOS. On confirmation of admission, Enrollment Number is also online generated.

17. Is there any provision for correction in admission records?

Ans: Since the admission is 100% online, the learner is required to be careful while making entries in him/her application form. However, the correction will be done through e-service as per the Guidelines displayed on NIOS website.

18. Whether NIOS issues Duplicate Identity Card?

Ans: Yes, In case of loss of Identity Card, a duplicate Identity Card can be issued. For obtaining Duplicate Identity Card, first lodge an FIR with the concerned Police Station. Than apply online through E-Service and the learner may upload the copy of FIR and pay the fee of Rs. 100/- through online mode and second time for obtaining the duplicate Identity Card, the learner will have to pay the fee of Rs. 500/-.

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