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Save your year

NIOS: save your year

NIOS is the national open school of India. If you failed, or want to improve a subject, its On Demand Examination (ODE) lets you appear when you are ready instead of waiting a full year. This page explains the system in plain words and what to verify first.

Ask a counsellor about this route

NIOS at a glance

National Institute of Open Schooling. Checked on 26 October 2026.

Run byNational Institute of Open Schooling, an autonomous organisation set up in November 1989 (as National Open School) under the Government of India's education ministry
LevelsSecondary (Class 10 level) and Senior Secondary (Class 12 level), plus vocational and life-enrichment courses
Exam routesPublic exams twice a year (April/May and October/November) and the On Demand Examination (ODE) for eligible learners
ODE for failed or improving learnersStream 3 (Secondary) and Stream 4 (Senior Secondary): for learners who passed, or appeared but did not clear, at a recognised board and want 1 to 4 subjects
FeesA fee is charged per subject, with an extra amount for a subject that has a practical. The current amounts are on nios.ac.in; confirm them before paying
LanguagesHindi and English, with several regional languages for some subjects (check the subject list for your year)

Who it suits

  • Students who failed Class 10 or Class 12 in one to four subjects and want to clear them quickly
  • Students who passed but want a better score in a subject, or a subject they need for the course they want
  • Students who missed an exam because of illness or a clash and were eligible to appear
  • Students who need a flexible schedule because of sport, art, health or work

How it works, step by step

  1. 1Check your streamFailed or improving learners with a recognised board result usually apply for Stream 3 (Class 10) or Stream 4 (Class 12). A learner already registered in NIOS Stream 1 uses ODE only after the regular public exams.
  2. 2Register onlineFill the NIOS online admission form, upload the failed marksheet or admit card, age and address proof and a photograph. If you want credit for subjects already passed, apply for Transfer of Credit (TOC) and send the original marksheet with the reference number as the instructions say.
  3. 3Pay the feesAdmission, registration and examination fees are paid online by card or net banking. The ODE examination fee is charged per subject, with an extra amount for subjects that have a practical. Read the current amounts on nios.ac.in.
  4. 4Get your enrolment number and identity cardYou need an enrolment number and a valid NIOS identity card before you can book an ODE slot.
  5. 5Book the exam slotChoose the subject, date and centre on the NIOS ODE portal. Centres include NIOS Headquarters (Noida), regional centres and designated Kendriya Vidyalayas, subject to seats. ODE is not held in April, May, October and November, when the public exams run.
  6. 6Sit the examCarry the original NIOS identity card, another valid photo ID and a printout of the ODE registration application.
  7. 7Result and marksheetResults are published by NIOS. Marksheets are prepared only when you have passed overall; others can request one through the e-service.

Rules to know

  • You can book the same subject only once in a month; plan the next attempt accordingly.
  • Learners in Stream 3 and Stream 4 can appear only through ODE, not in the April/May or October/November public exams.
  • Different or additional subjects from the parent board carry an extra per-subject fee, so ask for the full cost in writing.
  • Overseas learners can appear at any ODE centre.

Documents to keep ready

  • Marksheet or admit card of the earlier Class 10 or Class 12 exam (failed or passed)
  • Proof of age and proof of address
  • Passport-size photograph and signature
  • An identity document for authentication (Aadhaar, passport or another valid government ID)
  • Class 10 certificate (for Class 12 admission)
  • Category or disability certificate, only if you claim a concession

Scan each one to PDF in your Padhaidekho.in student portal and keep it safe in the locker.

Acceptance: NEET, colleges and exams

  • NEET-UG: in February 2025 the National Medical Commission clarified that NIOS Class 12 holders can appear for NEET-UG and study MBBS. The NEET-UG 2026 bulletin asks for Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English from a duly recognised board, with the minimum PCB marks for your category. Read the bulletin of your own year.
  • If you take Biology as an additional subject after Class 12, check the NMC notice on where it must be done. Do not assume any institute is valid.
  • Engineering and other courses: the admitting university or exam sets its own rules about subjects and minimum marks. Ask them in writing.
  • State quotas and domicile rules depend on where you studied. Ask the counselling authority before you choose.

Acceptance is decided by the exam body and the college, not by us and not by the board. Ask in writing, keep the reply, and only then pay a fee.

Tips from our counsellors

  • Choose the subjects that your target course needs (for example Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English for medical courses) before you register.
  • Start with the subject you failed. Use ODE for one or two subjects at a time and keep a calendar of slot dates.
  • Keep every receipt, admit card and result safe in your Padhaidekho.in locker.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the NIOS exam any time of the year?

ODE is held through the year on dates the portal shows, except in the months when the regular public exams run. Slots depend on seat availability at the centre, so book early and check the date for your subject.

I failed Class 12 in Physics. Can I just clear Physics?

Many learners do exactly this using Stream 4 and, where available, Transfer of Credit for subjects already passed. The rules for your marksheet decide this, so confirm with NIOS before paying.

Will MBBS colleges accept a NIOS marksheet?

NMC has clarified that NIOS Class 12 holders can appear for NEET-UG and be considered for MBBS. Each counselling authority and college still checks your subjects, marks and certificates, so we help you confirm with them in writing.

What is the fee?

NIOS charges an examination fee per subject, with an extra amount for subjects that have a practical, in addition to admission and other charges. The amounts change, so we do not quote them here: read the current list on nios.ac.in and ask us to add it up for your subjects.

Is NIOS the same as CBSE?

No. They are different boards. Equivalence for admissions is decided by the receiving institution and the rules of the year. Always ask the college or exam body in writing.

Do you guarantee that I will pass?

No. You still have to prepare and pass the exam. We guide the process and help you not to miss a date or a document.

Sources

Where a page could not be opened we have said so in the text. Facts are labelled as the provider's own statement where we could not check them independently.

Other routes

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NWAC

A US accreditation body whose American High School Diploma is offered in India through SERI. Equivalence for Indian admissions needs a certificate, and acceptance varies, so verify first.

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BOSSE

A state open-school board set up by the Government of Sikkim, for Class 10 and Class 12 level, with flexible subjects and exams.

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Compare all three

The table and the questions to ask before you choose.

We are a counselling service and are not part of NIOS. We do not guarantee a pass, an admission or the acceptance of any certificate.

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