The NIOS follows learner centric approach of teaching through Open andDistance Learning (ODL) Mode. It offers a wide range of subjects in comparison toany other formal schooling programme. The learners are free to choose subjectcombination as per their needs and goals. The learners study at their own pacewith the help of specially designed self learning materials (SLM). Learning issupplemented by audio-video and face to face contact classes which are held atthe study centres on holidays and weekends. The learners have freedom toappear in examination in their subjects as per their preparation.

Academic courses that are offered by NIOS are:

i. Secondary Course: Equivalent to class X
ii. Senior Secondary Course: Equivalent to class XII

Academic courses that are offered by NIOS are:

Yes. The Secondary/Senior Secondary certificates obtained from NIOS havethe same recognition as certificates issued by other Boards. NIOS is vested withthe authority to conduct Public Examinations at Secondary and Senior Secondarylevel vide Govt. of India's resolution dated 14 September 1990. Further, all theBoards either National or State including NIOS are following the NationalCurriculum Framework (2005). Thus, the Secondary and the Senior SecondaryCertificates of NIOS are equivalent and at par to the Secondary and the SeniorSecondary Certificate of other Boards.

Yes. NIOS learners are eligible to seek admission in any university andprofessional college if otherwise fulfilling the eligibility criteria of that particularuniversity/professional college.

Admission once registered is valid up to next 5 years.

Fee concession is provided to female and SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen and thedifferently abled candidates as per NIOS norms.

Documents which are required for taking admission in secondary course under NIOS are:

• Mark sheet of 8th class or self verification
• Birth certificate
• Caste certificate
• Signature
• Photographs of candidates

Documents which are required for taking admission in senior secondary course under NIOS are:

• Mark sheet of 8th class or self verification
• Birth certificate
• Caste certificate
• Signature
• Photographs of candidates

Several subjects available for secondary course under NIOS are: English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati, Kannada,Punjabi, Assamese, Nepali, Malayalam, Odia, Arabic, Persian, Tamil,Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Science, Economics, BusinessStudies, Home Science; Psychology, Indian Culture and Heritage, Painting, and DataEntry Operations.

Several subjects available for senior secondary course under NIOS are: Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, Urdu, Sanskrit, Mathematics, Physics,Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, BusinessStudies, Accountancy, Home Science, Psychology, Computer Science,Sociology, Painting, Environmental Science, Mass Communication, and Data EntryOperations.

Yes, it is permissible.

A learner can change his/her subject or can add any additional subject aftertaking admission, on payment of requisite fee.

The public examinations are held twice a year in the months of April-Mayand October-November on the dates fixed by the NIOS. However, if one isalready a registered learner of NIOS at the Secondary or the Senior Secondarylevel, he/she can avail the facility of On Demand Examination. Internalassessment is an integral component of evaluation. Practical examinations in therelevant subjects are conducted at the Study Centre.

Yes, to appear for the NIOS exams, a candidate has to fill the examinationform on-line and also need to pay prescribed examination fee.

The exam fee can be paid online through debit card, credit card, net bankingand other modes as made available on NIOS website.

The exam fee can also be paid offline through bank draft, drawn in favour of“Secretary, NIOS” payable at concerned Regional Centre. Duly filled-in examform along with Demand Draft may be submitted at the Regional Centreconcerned before start of examination.

Following relaxations are allowed to differently abled persons duringexaminations.

• Provision of an Amanuensis (writer).
• Maximum one hour additional to visually impaired or differently abled persons or spastic candidates.
• Relaxations for candidates suffering from sudden illness/accident.
• Separate sitting arrangement.
• Disability-wise relaxations to candidates with locomotor/orthopaedic disability, visually and hearing impaired.
• Multiple disability/Cerebral Palsy, Mentally Retarded and Leprosycured.
• The relaxations are available in theory examination only, and not in practicals.

The Mark-sheet and other documents are dispatched at the mailing addressof the individual learners by the concerned Regional Centre.

The learner may apply for correction to the Regional Director of his/herregion within 30 days of declaration of results, if any discrepancy is found in theresult.

Any School which is affiliated with any national/state board can apply forbecoming the study centre of NIOS for offering Academic programmes atSecondary and Senior Secondary levels. The study centres offering Academicprogrammes are known as Accredited Institutions (AIs).