Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) are residential schools in India that are run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. These schools were established to provide quality education to talented rural children to bridge the urban-rural education gap. 

JNVs are open to talented students from rural areas of India. JNVs take admission in classes 6 and 9. The selection process involves a merit-based test called the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST). It takes place annually. Students selected for admission to JNVs receive free education, including boarding and lodging facilities. This makes it possible for talented children from economically weaker societal sections to access quality education. The medium of instruction in JNVs is bilingual, typically using the regional language as well as English. 

JNVs offer a well-rounded education with a strong focus on academics, as well as co-curricular activities like sports, arts, and other extracurricular pursuits. JNVs are residential schools, and students live on campus throughout the academic year. This fosters an environment of learning, camaraderie, and overall personality development.

Admission in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya is made on the basis of a Selection Test, designed and conducted by the CBSE. The test is called the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) for admission to class 6 and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Lateral Entry Selection Test (JNVLEST) for admission to class IX. 

The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti has released the official notification for admission to class 6. For any further information regarding Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, download the official notification, apply online refer to the official website of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti https://navodaya.gov.in/nvs/en/Home1

JNV Exam Pattern for Class VI

It is an OMR-based test of two hours duration consisting of objective-type questions. The test contains three sections, namely the Mental Ability Test, Arithmetic Test, and Language Test comprising 80 questions with a total weightage of 100 marks. There is no negative marking.

JNV Exam Pattern for Class IX

It is an OMR-based test of two and a half hours duration consisting of objective-type questions. The test contains four sections, namely English, Hindi, Maths, and Science comprising 100 questions with a total weightage of 100 marks. There is no negative marking.

Eligibility Criteria for Class VI

Domicile: Admission of candidates to class VI in a JNV is district specific. A candidate who is studying class V in a district is allowed to apply for admission to JNV in the same district only. Only the bonafide resident candidates from the district concerned where the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya has been located and studying class V in the same district are eligible to apply for admission.

Educational Qualification: Candidate has to study class V in any of the Govt. or Govt. recognized schools located in the same District during 2024-25. Candidates who have passed class V before the session 2024-25 or repeated candidates are not allowed. The candidate who has not been promoted and admitted to class V before 31st July 2024 is not eligible to apply.

Age: A candidate seeking admission must not have been born before 01-05-2013 and after 31-07-2015 (Both dates are inclusive).

Date of Exam for Class VI: 12 April 2025 for hilly areas and 18 January 2025 for plains.

Hilly areas include States of Jammu and Kashmir (except Jammu-I, Jammu-II, Samba & Udhampur), Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and in the Districts of Dibang Valley and Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh, in the Districts of Chamba, Kinnaur, Mandi, Sirmour, Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti and Shimla of Himachal Pradesh, in the District of Darjeeling of West Bengal, and Leh & Kargil districts of UT Ladakh.

Plains include States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh (except Dibang Valley & Tawang Districts), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (except Chamba, Kinnaur, Mandi, Sirmour, Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti and Shimla Districts), Jammu & Kashmir (only for Jammu-I, Jammu-II, Samba & Udhampur) Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand & West Bengal (except Darjeeling), Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Pudducherry. 

To download the prospectus and notification for JNVST 2025 Class 6th Click Here

Eligibility Criteria for Class IX

Domicile: Only those candidates who are bonafide residents and studying Class VIII during the Academic Session 2024-25 in one of the Govt./Govt. recognized schools of the district where the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya is functioning and where admission is sought, are eligible.

Educational Qualification: Candidate appearing for the admission test must qualify/ pass Class VIII in the academic session 2024-25 from a Govt./Govt. recognized school in the district where he/she is seeking admission. The students who have already passed class VIII in previous academic sessions are not eligible.

Age: A candidate seeking admission must be born between 01.05.2010 and 30.04.2012 (both days inclusive).

Date of Exam for Class IX: The tentative date of examination is February 2025. (Subject to official notification)