The national institute of open schooling (nios) is an educational organization which imparts education through open and distance learning mode and also conducts examinations for grant of certificates up to pre-degree level at par with other national boards viz. The central board of secondary education (cbse) and council for the indian school certificate examination (cisce).

NIOS offers the following programs /courses:- open basic education (OBE) program, which includes following three levels Courses : 

(i) OBE 'A' Level Course -Equivalent to class III

(ii) OBE 'B' Level Course -Equivalent to class V

(iii) OBE 'C' Level Course -Equivalent to class VIII

1. a) Academic Courses

(i) Secondary Course-Equivalent to class X

(ii) Senior Secondary Course-Equivalent to class XII

1. b) Vocational Education Courses
2. c) Life Enrichment Programs.

Regular schooling is a traditional method of face to face learning in a formal set-up of class room situation with a rigid time-table; whereas open schooling is a flexible method of providing self-learning and its evaluation to a learner according to his/her own schedule. The open learning system is very helpful to learners who could not avail the facility of formal schooling on account of economic, social or geographical considerations or they want to continue their study while working in some gainful employment.

Open and Distance learning (ODL) is an innovative approach of providing opportunity of learning through Self Learning Material (SLM) and certain other strategies in a flexible manner at the pace of learners. In this mode, the learner is also provided academic support in the form of PCP and TMA in addition to SLM.

YES, The NIOS Board is constituted under the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. NIOS is the world's largest open school system. It is the third largest board after CBSE and ICSE and has an equal value of CBSE and ICSE. With over 1.3 million enrollments, it has become the world's largest open schooling system. Its exam pattern and schedule also make it quite popular among the students. NIOS board helps such students who are preparing for various competitive exams like NEET, JEE, AIEEE and who have failed or failed to appear in the exam due to some reason.

Yes, the Association of Indian Universities vides its letter no. EV11/ (354)/91 dated 25th July, 1991 has granted equivalency of courses of NIOS with those of other examinations of recognized Boards for purpose of admission to higher

studies in Indian Universities.

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

YES the student passed from NIOS board can appear any Medical entrance examination, engineering entrance examination and even in NDA Entrance exam. No University/Institution in India can question the authenticity of NIOS board. The student passed from NIOS board is also eligible to appear in any Government job oriented entrance exams in which the minimum qualification required is Secondary or Senior Secondary.

If any university/institution objects in taking admission of a NIOS passed students then it is directly challenging the Ministry of Human Resource and development, government of India as the NIOS is passed 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 NIOS has the same rights and privileges as any other board and is in no way inferior to them.