Back to studies after a break

What you need to know

1. 1
   Many people leave school or college: because of money, marriage, a baby, a job or family trouble. You can start again at any age, often from home.
2. 2
   You can finish Class 10 or 12 through NIOS or a state open school, with no upper age limit. Adults can also learn to read and get a certificate.
3. 3
   A Class 10/12 from NIOS is from a nationally recognised board, accepted for college admission and for jobs that ask for a recognised board.
4. 4
   Then you can do a degree from home, learn a skill, or apply for government jobs, where women who are widowed or divorced get extra age relaxation.

Official sources

• nios.ac.inNIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)↗

Inside this branch

• Every year: the calendar
• Where do you want to restart?1 more
• Finish Class 10 or 12 with NIOS3 more
• State open schools1 more
• Learn to read and write1 more
• Get a degree after a gap2 more
• Learn a skill and earn1 more
• Government jobs after a break1 more
• Support for mothers1 more
• Paying for it1 more
• Avoid fake boards and degrees1 more

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   NIOS Class 10/12 (regular route): admission usually mid-March to mid-September for the April–May exams, and mid-September to mid-March for the October–November exams.
2. 2
   NIOS on-demand exams (for those who failed elsewhere): admission all year, exams in set windows.
3. 3
   Adult literacy test (ULLAS FLNAT): usually held twice a year, around March and September.
4. 4
   IGNOU degrees: two sessions a year, January and July.
5. 5
   State open schools and private-candidate forms have their own windows (for example, Maharashtra's private-candidate form usually around September–October).
6. 6
   Exact dates change every year: always check the official website before you apply.

Official sources

• sdmis.nios.ac.inNIOS online admission↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Inside this branch

• Choose your path

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Can't read or write well yet? Start with free adult literacy (ULLAS), then Open Basic Education (Class 3, 5, 8 levels).
2. 2
   Left school before Class 10? Join NIOS Class 10 (age 14+; Class 8 pass or a self-certificate).
3. 3
   Have Class 10, not 12? Join NIOS Class 12 (age 15+). Have Class 12? Go for a degree (see below).
4. 4
   Need to earn now? A free skill course or an ITI can come first; you can study alongside.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 7

• Book
  NIOS free books: Class 10 subjectsFree PDF books in Hindi and English, with videos and sample papers.
  Free
• Book
  NIOS free books: Class 12 subjectsFree Class 12 books and worksheets, subject by subject.
  Free
• Video
  NIOS Secondary Courses (official YouTube)Class 10 lessons.
  Free
• Video
  NIOS Senior Secondary Courses (official YouTube)Class 12 lessons, many in Hindi.
  Free
• Official
  Free TV lessons (PM eVidya / SWAYAM Prabha)Free lesson channels, including NIOS, on DD Free Dish.
  Free
• Official
  NIOS online admissionApply, pay fees and check status (lower fees for women and some groups).
  Paid
• Official
  NIOS on-demand examTake a subject exam when you are ready (fee per subject).
  Paid

Inside this branch

• How NIOS works
• Failed or left midway at another board?
• Is it valid?

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   NIOS is India's national open school. Minimum age 14 (Class 10) or 15 (Class 12), no upper age limit. Study at home with free books and videos, plus contact classes at a study centre near you.
2. 2
   You get 9 exam chances within 5 years; subjects you pass are kept until you finish.
3. 3
   Women, SC/ST, ex-servicemen, transgender learners and learners with disabilities pay a lower fee.

Official sources

• sdmis.nios.ac.inNIOS online admission↗
• rcgangtok.nios.ac.inNIOS: nine exam chances in five years↗
• grs.nios.ac.inNIOS: admission questions and fee concessions↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   If you failed Class 10/12 at another recognised board, NIOS lets you re-try and carry over up to 2 subjects you already passed (Transfer of Credit).
2. 2
   There is also an on-demand exam route, so you don't have to wait for the main exam season.

Official sources

• nios.ac.inNIOS: carrying over subjects you passed (Transfer of Credit, PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Yes. The Education Ministry recognises two national school boards: CBSE and NIOS. NIOS Class 10/12 is accepted for college admission and for jobs that ask for a recognised board.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 7

• Official
  Rajasthan State Open School (RSOS)Hindi site: admission, centres, admit cards, results.
  Paid
• Official
  MP State Open School (MPSOS)Class 10/12 including Ruk Jana Nahi.
  Paid
• Official
  Bihar Board of Open Schooling (BBOSE)Registration, study centres and notices.
  Paid
• Official
  Telangana Open School SocietyOpen SSC and Inter; free textbooks on the site.
  Paid
• Official
  Andhra Pradesh Open School SocietyOpen SSC and Inter admissions and results.
  Paid
• Official
  Maharashtra State Board of Open SchoolingOpen schooling for Class 5, 8 and 10.
  Paid
• Official
  Board of School Education Haryana (Haryana Open School)Haryana Open School forms and results are on this site.
  Paid

Inside this branch

• Open schools and private candidates

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Many states have their own open school: for example Rajasthan (RSOS), Bihar (BBOSE), Madhya Pradesh (MPSOS), Maharashtra (MSBOS), Andhra Pradesh (APOSS) and Telangana (TOSS).
2. 2
   Some state boards let you sit Class 10/12 as a private candidate (e.g. Maharashtra's Form 17). MP's "Ruk Jana Nahi" gives students who failed a second chance.
3. 3
   Use only a board on the official recognised list. Some websites pretend to be state open schools.

Official sources

• nios.ac.inNIOS: list of recognised school boards (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 4

• Official
  ULLAS: adult literacy portalRegister as a learner (15+) or as a volunteer teacher, free.
  Free
• App
  ULLAS appOfficial app with primers in Hindi and other languages.
  Free
• Course
  ULLAS lessons on DIKSHAReading, writing, numbers, money and phone basics, in Hindi.
  Free
• Official
  NIOS Open Basic EducationLevels equal to Class 3, 5 and 8, for adults too.
  Free

Inside this branch

• ULLAS and Open Basic Education

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   ULLAS (New India Literacy Programme): free reading, writing and maths for anyone 15 or older, taught by volunteers, with an app. Pass the FLNAT test and get a certificate from NIOS.
2. 2
   Open Basic Education (NIOS): certificates equal to Class 3, 5 and 8, for adults too. After Level C (Class 8) you can join NIOS Class 10.

Official sources

• dsel.education.gov.inPIB: ULLAS adult literacy and the FLNAT test (PDF)↗
• nios.ac.inNIOS: Open Basic Education guidelines (Class 3, 5, 8 levels, PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 7

• Video
  IGNOU (official YouTube)Lectures and admission help.
  Free
• Official
  UGC Distance Education BureauCheck a university is approved for distance or online degrees.
  Free
• Official
  Academic Bank of CreditsStores your credits so earlier studies count when you rejoin.
  Free
• Official
  IGNOUCentral open university; Hindi-medium options and fee waivers for some groups.
  Paid
• Official
  IGNOU online admissionApply only here, never through agents.
  Paid
• Official
  UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University (state example)Hindi-first open university with centres across UP.
  Paid
• Official
  Vardhman Mahaveer Open University (Rajasthan)Rajasthan's state open university.
  Paid

Inside this branch

• Open and distance degrees
• Restart where you stopped

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   IGNOU and state open universities offer degrees for a few thousand rupees a year, with sessions in January and July. Most courses have no upper age limit (check the prospectus).
2. 2
   Any distance or online degree must be from a UGC-DEB recognised university for that course and year.
3. 3
   No Class 12? IGNOU has had a preparatory programme for adults (18+) to enter its BA/B.Com; check if it is still offered.

Official sources

• ignouadmission.samarth.edu.inIGNOU admission portal↗
• deb.ugc.ac.inUGC Distance Education Bureau (check recognised courses)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Left a degree midway? Under the new system, credits you earned are stored in the Academic Bank of Credits (valid up to 7 years). A year can give a certificate, two a diploma, three a degree.
2. 2
   Ask your old college to upload your credits, then re-enter a course that accepts them.

Official sources

• static.pib.gov.inPIB: Academic Bank of Credits (PDF)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapAfter Class 12: every option→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

Learn from these 5

• Official
  Skill India Digital HubGovernment skill courses (PMKVY, Jan Shikshan Sansthan), jobs and certificates.
  Free
• App
  Skill India Digital Hub appOfficial app from NSDC.
  Free
• Official
  DDU-GKY and RSETI portalFree placement-linked training for rural youth, and free self-employment courses.
  Free
• Official
  RSETI (bank-run training institutes)Short free residential courses in your district.
  Free
• Official
  Lakhpati DidiIncome support for women in self-help groups, through your SHG and block office.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Free skill programmes

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Jan Shikshan Sansthan: skill training for non-literates, neo-literates and school dropouts (15–45, relaxed for women), mostly free.
2. 2
   DDU-GKY: free residential training with placement for rural youth, women up to 45. RSETI: free bank-run courses to start your own work (18–45).
3. 3
   PMKVY: free short courses (15–45). Already skilled from work? Get a certificate through Recognition of Prior Learning (18–59).
4. 4
   Women in self-help groups can build income through the rural livelihood mission (the "Lakhpati Didi" goal).

Official sources

• Vaidaani roadmapITI, Polytechnic and Skills→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Inside this branch

• Extra age for some women

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Central government: widowed, divorced or judicially separated women who have not remarried get an upper age limit of up to 35 (40 for SC/ST) for many Group C posts (court decree needed for divorce).
2. 2
   Most government job notices ask for a pass from a recognised board: NIOS counts. See the Government Jobs roadmap for exams and age rules.

Official sources

• gconnect.inAge relaxation for widowed and divorced women (DoPT order)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapGovernment Jobs→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 5

• Official
  Mission ShaktiOne Stop Centres, the 181 helpline, Palna crèches and Sakhi Niwas hostels.
  Free
• Official
  National Commission for Women (helpline 14490)24×7 helpline and online complaints.
  Free
• Official
  Helpline numbers for women (NCW list)181 women helpline, 112 emergency, 1098 child, 1930 cyber.
  Free
• Official
  SHe-BoxReport sexual harassment at any workplace.
  Free
• Video
  Ministry of Women and Child Development (YouTube)Short explainers of schemes for women.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Help that exists

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Palna crèches (Mission Shakti): day care, pre-school and food for children from 6 months to 6 years, including at some Anganwadis.
2. 2
   Sakhi Niwas working women's hostels, where daughters up to 18 and sons up to 12 can stay with you.
3. 3
   In trouble or facing violence? Women Helpline 181 (24×7) and a One Stop Centre in every district.

Official sources

• static.pib.gov.inPIB: Palna crèches under Mission Shakti (PDF)↗
• static.pib.gov.inPIB: Sakhi Niwas hostels and the 181 helpline (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Inside this branch

• Money help

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   NIOS charges women and several groups a lower fee; for out-of-school children, the state may pay NIOS fees.
2. 2
   Post-matric scholarships can cover distance and open courses in many states (check yours). Some scholarships have age limits (for example, 30 for one UGC scholarship), so read the rules.

Official sources

• Vaidaani roadmapScholarships for every stage→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 5

• Official
  NIOS: list of fake websites and appsNIOS has no official learner app; check this list.
  Free
• Official
  UGC: list of fake universitiesDegrees from these are not valid.
  Free
• Official
  COBSE: notice on fake school boardsAlso confirm with your state education department.
  Free
• Official
  PIB Fact CheckCheck viral 'free scheme' messages.
  Free
• Official
  Cyber crime portal (helpline 1930)Report fraud quickly.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Red flags

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   "10th/12th in one sitting", "pass without exams" or "degree in 6 months" offers are scams. Their certificates are worthless.
2. 2
   Many fake "boards" use names like "Board of Secondary Education, India". Check the recognised boards list; for universities, the UGC fake list.
3. 3
   NIOS has only one official website and keeps a list of fake sites, apps and WhatsApp groups. Never pay an agent.

Official sources

• sdmis.nios.ac.inNIOS: list of fake websites and apps↗
• bseh.org.inHaryana Board: list of fake school boards (PDF)↗
• ugc.gov.inUGC: list of fake universities↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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