The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) takes conscious steps to provide quality education through a flexible and learner-centric open schooling system. The Government of India has vested NIOS with the authority to conduct Public Examinations and issue Secondary & Senior Secondary level certificates, which are equivalent to certificates awarded by other recognised Boards of School Education.

All National and State Boards, including NIOS, follow the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). NIOS is one of the three National Boards of Education, the other two being:

• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
• Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

Eligibility

• The learner must have passed the Secondary (Class 10) examination from NIOS or any recognised board such as CBSE, CISCE (ICSE), or State Boards.
• The minimum age for enrolment in the Senior Secondary course is 15 years.
• There is no upper age limit for admission.

Medium of Instruction

The Senior Secondary course is offered in the mediums: Hindi, English, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, Sanskrit and Odia mediums at the Senior Secondary stage. The medium of instruction must be selected at the time of admission.

Mode of Study

NIOS offers a flexible and learner-centric open & distance learning system designed to suit diverse learning needs.

Study support includes:

• Academic assistance through authorised NIOS Study Centres (AI).
• Specially designed printed Self Learning Material (SLM) for each subject.

The study material, along with other support resources, is sent by post to the learner’s registered home address. Learners are therefore advised to provide a complete and correct postal address at the time of admission.

Admission Cycles

Admissions to the Senior Secondary course are conducted twice a year:

• Block I: March - April
• Block II: September- October

Early registration deadlines are announced for each admission cycle. Late admissions are permitted with applicable late fees, as per NIOS norms.

Enrollment Process

NIOS has introduced a 100% online admission process to facilitate easy and transparent registration for learners.

Learners may apply:

• Directly through the NIOS Online Admission Portal, or
• With assistance from a nearby Study Centre, Authorised NIOS Facilitation Centre, or Common Service Centre (CSC) of the Ministry of IT, Government of India.

Steps for Online Admission

• Visit the official NIOS Online Admission Portal: http://sdmis.nios.ac.in
• Create a new account and select Senior Secondary (Class 12).
• Fill in personal details such as name, date of birth, and contact information.
• Upload the required documents (see below).
• Select the preferred subjects and study centre.
• Pay the admission/registration fee online and submit the application.
• Receive enrollment confirmation and study material.

Learners are not required to send hard copies of the admission form or documents. However, uploading clear scanned copies of original documents is mandatory.

In case of discrepancies or if required by NIOS authorities, the learner may be asked to submit a printed application form along with documents and photographs. Such communication will be made through email and SMS.

Documents Required

• Class 10 marksheet or equivalent certificate
• Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or Class 10 certificate)
• Valid identity proof (Aadhaar Card, Passport, etc.)
• Recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature
• Address proof (if present address & permanent address is different and not as per Aadhaar Card)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/PwD), if applicable

Subject Choice

Learners may choose subject combinations from the list of subjects offered, in accordance with the Scheme of Studies prescribed by NIOS.

Learners intending to use the NIOS Senior Secondary certificate for higher education are advised to carefully review the subject requirements of the concerned Boards, Universities, or Institutions, as some require specific subject combinations.

• Learners may opt for one or two additional subjects either at the time of admission or during the course of study, if required.

Note: Subjects should be selected thoughtfully, keeping in view future plans for higher studies, career goals, and eligibility criteria prescribed by universities or recruiting bodies.

Content aligned with the NIOS Academic Prospectus 2025-26.