What Are Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs)?

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are Central Government boarding schools run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) under the Ministry of Education (Government of India). They provide free quality education from Class 6 onwards with a focus on all-round development.

Entrance Test: JNV Selection Test (JNVST)

The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) is the entrance exam for admission mainly into:

• Class 6
• Class 9 (lateral entry)
• In some years, Class 11 (vacancy based)

Upcoming/Recent Exam Schedule

Class 6 Admission

• Phase 1: December 13, 2025
• Phase 2: April 11, 2026

(The actual date will be on the admit card issued before the exam)

Class 9 Admission

• Conducted once per year (e.g., Feb–Mar period in previous cycles) depending on seat availability.

Note: Each JNV typically has around 80 seats for Class 6 and a smaller number of seats for lateral entry in Class 9.

Eligibility Criteria

Class 6

• Must be studying in Class 5 in a recognised school during the year of the test.
• Age: Generally 9–13 years (based on official notification).
• Rural quota: 75% of seats are reserved for students from rural areas (having studied in a rural school for at least 3 years).

Class 9 (Lateral Entry)

• Must be studying in Class 8 in a recognised school in the year of the test.
• Age: Usually 13–16 years (as per prior notifications).
• Admission is only if seats are available after Class 6 admissions fill up.

Exam Pattern

JNVST for Class 6

Mode: Offline (pen-and-paper) multiple-choice questions

• Total Questions: 80
• Total Marks: 100
• Time: 2 hours (extra time for Divyang students)

Section	No. of Questions	Marks
Mental Ability Test	40	50
Arithmetic Test	20	25
Language Test	20	25

Language: Available in English, Hindi, and several regional languages.

JNVST for Class 9 (Lateral Entry)

Contains questions from core subjects:

• Maths
• Science
• English
• Hindi

• Duration: ~2.5 hours
• Total: ~100 questions — ~100 marks

Selection & Admission Process

1. Written Test (JNVST): Based on merit.
2. Result & District Merit List: Finalised by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.
3. Document Verification: Required at the allotted JNV (including birth certificate, residence proof, school certificate, category certificate if applicable).
4. Medical Fitness: Some schools may require a basic medical check-up.

Selection is generally based only on the entrance test merit list and reservation policies at the district level.

Reservation & Seat Policy

• Rural Quota: ~75% seats for students in rural areas.
• Girls’ Quota: At least one-third of seats reserved for girls.
• Category Reservations: SC/ST/OBC/PWD as per Government of India rules.

How to Apply

Online Application

Through the official Navodaya websites:

• http://navodaya.gov.in/
• cbseitms.rcil.gov.in (for form submission and updates)

Instructions

Upload necessary documents:

• Birth certificate
• School/residence certificates
• Photo
• Signature

Keep printouts of the application and admit card.

Preparation Tips

• Focus on mental ability reasoning
• Basic math
• Language skills (English/Hindi)
• Practice sample/previous year papers for time management and accuracy
• Strengthen basics from NCERT Class 5 and Class 8 books, depending on the test level

Quick Summary

Feature	Class 6	Class 9
Eligibility	Class 5 students	Class 8 students
Age	~9–13 yrs	~13–16 yrs
Exam	JNVST	JNVST (Lateral Entry)
Mode	Offline MCQ	Offline MCQ
Marks	100	~100
Seats per School	~80	Varies (vacancies)