All the candidates/ parents applying for NVS admissions are required to read the eligibility requirements before filling out the application form. They must fill out the application form only if they satisfy the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility criteria for admission to NVS in all the classes (i.e. VI, IX & XI) are as follows:

• Candidates must be from the district where the JNV has been opened.

 Class VI

• Candidate must be of age group 9 to 13 years (Applicable to all categories).
• Students must have qualified class V from a recognized board.
• Candidates should have not appeared in the JNVST test earlier.

 Class IX

• Candidates must be of age between 13 to 16 years as of 1st May of the year of admission (for all candidates).
• Candidates must have studied class VIII from govt./ Govt. aided recognized school.  

 Class XI

• Candidates must be of age between 14 to 18 years as of 1st July of the year of admission.
• Must have qualified class X from a recognized board.
• Must have reasonable competency in English and Hindi.

 NVS Selection Procedure

Every year NVS release application for admission to class VI, VIII, and XI. Admission to NVS is mainly done on the basis of selection tests and merit.

• JNVST Selection test

Admission to class VI and class IX are made strictly on the basis of an entrance test class

 Selection Test (JNVST). All the candidates who want to get admission to JNVs have to appear and qualify for JNVST. After the completion of the entrance test, conducting authority invites the selected candidates for document verification and finally, the admission made to the respected school.

• Class 11 Lateral Entry

No selection test is conducted for admission to class XI. Admission to class XI in JNVs is done through lateral entry. Candidates are selected on the basis of merit which is prepared on the basis of marks obtained by the candidates in class X.

JNVST Selection Test

 Exam Pattern for Class VI

• Mode of exam- Offline (OMR-based)
• Total questions-  questions
• Question type- objective type
• Subjects – Mental ability, Arithmetic, Language
• Medium of question paper- Any language out of 21 languages
• Duration- 2 hours
• Negative marks- No

 Exam Pattern for Class IX

• Mode of exam- Offline (OMR-based)
• Question type- objective type/ Descriptive
• Section- 4
• Subjects – English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science
• Medium of question paper- English/ Hindi
• Duration- 3 hours
• Total marks- 100
• Negative marks- No
• Syllabus- based on class VII

 NVS Test Centre

The selection test is conducted at the various NavodayaVidyalayas established across the country. Candidates are usually assigned the same NavodayaVidyalaya of the district for which they have filed the application as the test center. No request for a change of exam center is accepted under any circumstance.

 NVS Admission Documents to submit

All the selected candidates are required to report to the allotted school for verification of all the certificates and documents on the specified dates.

Below is the list of all the documents that are required to be verified at the time of admission

• Address/residence proof
• Age proof- Birth certificate for class VI & IX and for class XI, mark sheet of class X is considered age proof.
• Certificate of caste and category issued by the competent authority (in case of SC/ST candidates)
• Relevant certificate if the candidate applies for admission under Rural Category.
• Physically disable certificate
• Relevant certificate if the candidate applies under transgender category.
• Other documents (if applicable)

 NVS Admission- Unique feature

• Migration of students for national integration

NVS has a unique feature under which it allows the migration of NVS students from one area to another.  Under this scheme, 30% of students from one NavodayaVidyalaya of a linguistic region are migrated to another JNV of a different linguistic region in class IX so that they understand the diversity and plurality of Indian culture.

Migration is usually done between Hindi-speaking to Non-Hindi speaking regions. In case the selected students or their parents refuse to migrate to another state then they will not be allowed to continue their studies in JNVs.  

• Migration of students and Three language formula

This unique feature of migration of students in NVS is to promote national integration that basically follows a three-language formula. The three languages include Hindi, English, and Regional languages.

The third language in Hindi-speaking regions is the language of migrated students and vice-versa. This language is compulsory for all.

 Some important instructions

• Marks obtained by candidates in the selection test are not communicated in the NVS admission process.
• There is no provision for re-evaluation of answer books.
• Parents must be present at the allotted school with their wards for the verification of documents. Two final notices are sent to them through the registered post.
• If the selected candidate does not report for certificate verification even after two reminders then the regional office will release the waitlist.
• The admission process to class VI through the main list is usually completed by 30th June and to class XI by 15th July every year.