📘 1. What Is NIOS?
NIOS is an open schooling board under the Government of India that provides flexible education for learners who can’t attend regular schools. It offers:
Open Basic Education (OBE) – equivalent to classes I–VIII
Secondary Course – equivalent to Class X
Senior Secondary Course – equivalent to Class XII
Vocational & Life Programmes
Self-paced study and flexible exam options (including On-Demand Exams)
📗 2. NIOS Curriculum Structure
🧒 Open Basic Education (OBE)
This is for foundational education and is divided into three levels:
Level A – Equivalent to Classes I–III
Level B – Equivalent to Classes IV–V
Level C – Equivalent to Classes VI–VIII
Subjects include languages, EVS (Environmental Studies), Mathematics, Computer Science, and pre-vocational skills like painting or tailoring.
📕 3. Secondary Course (Equivalent to Class X)
Subject groups:
Group A — Languages
Examples:
- Hindi
- English
- Urdu
- Sanskrit
- Tamil
- Bengali
- Marathi & more regional languages
Group B — Other Subjects
Examples:
- Mathematics (with theory & practical)
- Science & Technology (With Theory & Practical)
- Social Science
- Economics
- Business Studies
- Home Science (With Theory & Practical)
- Psychology
- Painting
- Data Entry Operations
- Indian Culture & Heritage
(You can choose up to 7 subjects total)
Minimum requirement: Pass in five subjects, including
at least one language plus three or four other subjects.
🎓 4. Senior Secondary Course (Equivalent to Class XII)
Subjects are grouped into several categories and students must select a combination:
Group A — Language Subjects
- Hindi
- English
- Urdu
- Sanskrit
- Tamil
- Bengali
- Gujarati
(Many regional languages available)
Other Groups — Electives & Streams
NIOS divides subjects into groups (B, C, D, E, F) which cover:
- Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science
- Mathematics
- Commerce & Business: Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies
- Humanities: History, Political Science, Sociology
- Vocational / Skill Subjects: Data Entry Operations, Tourism, Psychology, Home Science, Painting, Computer Science, etc.
Selection requirement: At least five subjects, including one language from Group A.
📝 5. Key Features of the NIOS Curriculum
✅ Flexible subject selection: Learners can pick subjects that suit their interests or career goals.
✅ On-Demand Exams: Students can take exams when ready rather than a fixed schedule.
✅ Self-Learning Materials (SLMs): Provided for each subject in multiple languages.
✅ Credits accumulate: You get multiple chances to attempt exams, and credits are retained until certification.