Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya – Apply for Free Education 2025

The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) for admission to Classes 6 and 9 at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) is now open, with the application deadline set for July 29, 2025. JNVs are a network of residential schools established under the National Policy on Education, 1986, with the objective of providing quality education to talented children, primarily from rural areas. Admission is granted through the JNVST, an annual entrance examination conducted by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS). The exam will be held in two phases: Phase 1 on December 13, 2025, and Phase 2 on April 11, 2026.

This article focuses on the broader vision and functioning of JNVs, covering their educational model, admission process, fee structure, student provisions, and other institutional features.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya – Overview

Institution Name	Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Entrance Exam Name	Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST)
Type of Exam	NVS Entrance Exam
Conducted By	Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti
Class Admissions	Class 6th and 9th
Application Deadline	July 29, 2025
JNVST Exam Dates 2025	Phase 1 Exam: December 13, 2025 Phase 2 Exam: April 11, 2026
Mode of Examination	Offline
Application Fees	Free of cost
Official Website	navodaya.gov.in

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Process

The selection process for admission to JNVs consists of the following steps:

Submission of Online Application: Students need to register on the official website of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) and submit an online application form.
Conduct of Entrance Examination: An entrance examination, called the JNVST, is conducted for eligible candidates.
Declaration of Results: The results of the JNVST are declared on the official website of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and are also displayed at the respective JNVs and District Education Offices.
Final Selection: Shortlisted candidates are selected based on their performance in the entrance examination and are invited for the document verification process.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya – Fee Structure

Category	Fee Details
JNVST Registration (All Classes)	Free of cost for all applicants
Classes 9 to 12 – General Fee	₹600 per month (includes boarding, lodging, uniforms, and textbooks)
Fee Exemptions	SC and ST students All females Students from Below Poverty Line (BPL)

A fee of ₹1500 per month is charged under the Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Eligibility Criteria

To apply for Class 6 admission at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya for the academic year 2025–26, students must meet the following eligibility conditions:

Residential requirement: The student must be a resident of the district where the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya is located.
Age criteria: Applicants should have a date of birth between May 1, 2014, and July 31, 2016, inclusive. No exceptions or relaxations are allowed for any category.
Academic qualification: The student must be enrolled in Class 5 during the 2025–26 academic session in a government-recognised, aided, or funded school.
NIOS candidates: Those completing the ‘B’ level certificate course from the National Institute of Open Schooling on or before September 15, 2025, are also eligible.
Promotion requirement: Students must have been officially admitted to and promoted to Class 5 by July 31, 2025.
Previous attempts: Any student who has previously appeared for the JNV Selection Test is not permitted to apply again.

Rural category criteria:

Students must have completed Classes 3, 4, and 5 in a recognised school located in a rural area.
The current Class 5 school must be within the same district as the JNV.
Students enrolled through open schooling must submit a valid rural status certificate issued by the District Magistrate, Tehsildar, or Block Development Officer.
75% of available seats are reserved for students from rural backgrounds.

Urban category criteria:

If a student has studied in an urban school even for a single day during Classes 3, 4, or 5, they will be considered an urban applicant.

Transgender applicants:

Transgender students are included under the Boys category for all reservation types, including Rural, Urban, SC, ST, and Divyang. No separate reservation exists for this group.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Benefits

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) offer a wide range of benefits to students, making them a preferred choice for quality education among rural and underprivileged communities. Listed below are the key benefits of studying in JNVs:

Education: JNVs provide free, high-quality education that adheres to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum. The academic framework is designed to promote intellectual growth and all-round development.
Boarding facilities: Students are provided with full residential facilities, including comfortable and well-maintained hostels. These hostels ensure a safe and nurturing environment that feels like a second home.
Uniform: Each student receives school uniforms at no cost, fostering a sense of equality and belonging within the campus community.
Textbooks: All necessary textbooks and learning materials are supplied by the school, allowing students to focus on their studies without worrying about expenses.
Stationery: Essential stationery such as pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, geometry boxes, and notebooks are provided to ensure students have all the tools they need for academic success.
Daily use items: JNVs also take care of students’ personal needs by providing daily essentials like bathing soap, washing soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair oil, shoe polish, and sanitary napkins for girls. Washing and ironing of clothes are also included.
Travel expenditure: The NVS covers travel costs for students, including III AC train or AC bus fare for official journeys and travel to and from home during vacations.
Medical expenditure: All necessary medical expenses are borne by the NVS, ensuring that students receive proper healthcare throughout their stay.
CBSE fee: Students are exempt from paying CBSE examination fees, removing a significant financial barrier to appearing for board exams.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya – Reservation Scheme

Category	Reservation Criteria
Rural Students	Minimum 75% of the seats are reserved for candidates from rural areas of the district.
SC/ST Communities	Seats are reserved in proportion to district population, with a minimum of 15% (SC) and 7.5% (ST), not exceeding 50% combined.
OBC Students	27% of the seats are reserved as per the Central OBC list guidelines.
Girl Students	One-third (33.3%) of the total seats are reserved for girls.
Disabled Children	3% of the seats are reserved for children with disabilities (OH, HI, and VH).

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) Syllabus 2025

JNVST Class 6 Syllabus:

Section	Topics Covered
Mental Ability	Odd one out, figure matching, pattern completion, figure series, analogies, mirror images, paper folding, spatial visualization, embedded figures
Arithmetic	Numbers and operations, LCM & HCF, factors & multiples, fractions & decimals, time-distance-speed, percentages, profit & loss, simple interest, simplification
Language	Reading comprehension

JNVST Class 9 Syllabus:

Subject	Topics Covered
English	Sentence structure, spelling, jumbled words, passive voice, degrees of comparison, modal verbs, prepositions, tense usage
General Science	Food, materials, living and non-living things, reproduction, force, light, electric current, natural phenomena, solar system
Mathematics	Rational numbers, exponents, square roots, direct & inverse proportion, percentage, profit & loss, interest, algebra, linear equations, quadrilaterals, mensuration, data handling

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Nature of the Entrance Exam

The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) is an offline test designed to assess students’ overall intellectual abilities, reasoning, and mental aptitude. The test includes questions on subjects such as Mathematics, Mental Ability, and Language.

Class 6th Exam Pattern:

Sections: Mental Ability Test, Arithmetic, Language Test
Number of Questions: 80
Marks: 100
Mode: Pen and paper
Test Duration: 2 hours or 120 minutes
No negative marking
Multiple choice questions

Sections	Number of Questions	Marks	Duration of Test
Mental Ability Test	40	50	60 Minutes
Arithmetic	20	25	30 Minutes
Language Test	20	25	30 Minutes
Total	80	100	2 Hours

Class 9th Exam Pattern:

Subjects: English, Hindi, Science, Mathematics
Mode: Pen and paper
Test Duration: 2.5 hours or 150 minutes (+30 minutes for disabled examiners)
Medium: English/Hindi
Number of Questions: Varies
Marks: 100

Section	Marks
English	15
Hindi	15
Mathematics	35
Science	35
Total	100

JNVST How to Prepare?

Familiarize Yourself with the Exam Pattern: Understand the structure and format of the JNVST exam, including the number of sections, subjects, and time allocated for each section.
Gather Study Materials: Collect relevant study materials, including textbooks, practice papers, and previous years’ question papers to get an idea of the exam pattern and types of questions asked.
Create a Study Schedule: Plan a study schedule that allocates time for each subject and topic. Regular and consistent study sessions will help you cover the entire syllabus effectively.
Focus on the Basics: Build a strong foundation in subjects like Mathematics, English, and Mental Ability. Practice solving problems, understanding concepts, and improving language skills.
Solve Sample Papers: Solve sample papers and mock tests regularly to familiarize yourself with the exam format and improve your speed and accuracy.
Time Management: Practice time management while solving questions. Allocate appropriate time to each section and avoid spending too much time on a single question.
Revision: Regularly revise the topics you have covered to reinforce your understanding and retention of information.
Seek Help if Needed: If you come across challenging concepts or topics, don’t hesitate to seek help from teachers, peers, or online resources for clarification.
Stay Positive and Motivated: Maintain a positive attitude throughout your preparation. Stay motivated by setting goals, rewarding yourself for achievements, and believing in your abilities.
Stay Healthy: Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise regularly, and take short breaks during study sessions to refresh your mind.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test Important Books

For Class 6th:

Kiran’s Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Class VI 2019 Entrance Exam Practice Work Book (Kiran Prakashan)
Target Class 6 JNVST – 10 Year Solved Papers with 10 Practice Sets – Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Entrance Exam Guide for (6th) Class VI (RPH Editorial Board)
Study Package for Jawahar Navodaya VIdyalaya: Selection Test for Class 6 (Mcgraw-Hill Education)
20 Practice Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya 2018 for Class 6 (Arihant Experts)

For Class 9th:

Other Books (Subject-Wise)

Mental Ability

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal

Mathematics

Mathematics for Class 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 by R.D. Sharma
Mathematics: An Exemplar Approach by NCERT

English

Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi
English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy

General Knowledge

General Knowledge 2022 by Manohar Pandey
The Mega Yearbook 2022 by Disha Experts

Previous Years’ Question Papers

JNVST Class 6 Solved Papers by Arihant Experts
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial Board

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya – Documents Required

The following documents are required to be uploaded in the prescribed format while filling the online application form:

Candidate’s signature (file size: 10–100 KB)
Parent’s signature (file size: 10–100 KB)
Candidate’s photograph (file size: 10–100 KB)
Certificate signed by the parent and candidate, and verified by the Headmaster (file size: 50–300 KB)

The following documents must be submitted in person at the time of admission to the Principal of the concerned JNV:

Passing certificate of Class 5 from the concerned district
Certificate by the Head Master of the school regarding study details
Proof of date of birth (A copy of birth certificate issued by a competent Government Authority)
Residence certificate [A valid residential proof (as notified by Govt. of India) of the parent from the same district where the JNV is located and candidate has studied class 5]
Aadhar Card of the student (As per section 7 of Aadhaar Act, 2016, the provisionally selected candidate has to submit a copy of considering benefits of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme)
Undertaking by the parent/guardian to pay Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi every month as per norms of NVS (Note: All students of Class 6 to 8, SC, ST, Girls, Divyang students & wards of BPL parents are exempted from VVN)
Medical fitness certificate
Disability certificate (if applicable)
Category/community certificate (SC/ST) [if applicable]
Category/community certificate OBC, as per central list (if applicable)

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya – How to Apply?

Visit the official website of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.
Hit the “Click here to submit online application form for Class VI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test 2025” button.
For online application, hit the “Click here for Class VI Registration 2025” button.
Fill up the details and upload the required documents to successfully register for the exam.
Download and save the application receipt for future reference.

JNVST 2025 (Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test) – FAQs

What is the last date to apply for the JNVST 2025 exam?

The last date to apply for the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) 2025 is July 29, 2025.

Who conducts the JNV entrance exam?

The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) conducts the JNV Selection Test for admission to Classes 6 and 9.

Is there any application fee for the JNVST exam?

No, the application is completely free of cost for all eligible students.

When will the JNVST 2025 exam be held?

The exam will be held in two phases:
• Phase 1 – December 13, 2025
• Phase 2 – April 11, 2026

What is VVN (Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi) at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya?

VVN is a development fund of ₹1,500/month collected from students of Classes 9 to 12 for school welfare. SC/ST students, all girls, those with disabilities, and BPL families are fully exempt from this fee.