Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2026 (Class 6) – Age Limit, Exam Pattern, Reservation Rules & Selection Process

Every year, millions of children from rural and semi-urban India compete for one of the most valuable free education opportunities in the country — a seat in a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV).

Free residential schooling. CBSE curriculum. Meals, uniform, accommodation — all provided at no cost to the family. And at the end of it, a gateway to some of India’s top colleges and competitive examinations.

The entry point for all of this is one exam: the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) — conducted by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

For Academic Year 2026-27, the JNVST Class 6 Phase 1 exam was held on December 13, 2025, and Phase 2 is scheduled for April 11, 2026. The Phase 1 result is expected in March 2026 and Phase 2 result in May 2026.

If your child missed the 2026 cycle, this guide gives you a complete roadmap for JNVST 2027 — starting with eligibility, the full exam pattern and syllabus, reservation rules, and everything that comes after selection.

What Is a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya?

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are fully residential, co-educational schools established by the Government of India with one specific goal: to provide quality modern education to talented children predominantly from rural areas, regardless of their family’s economic background.

There are 661 functional JNVs across India, with at least one in almost every district (excluding a few states with their own similar schemes).​

Everything is free at a government JNV:

• Tuition — free.

• Boarding (hostel) — free.

• Meals — free.

• Uniform — provided.

• Books and stationery — provided.

• A nominal fee of ₹600 per month is collected from students (except SC/ST, girls, and BPL family students, who are fully exempt even from this).

The schools follow the CBSE board from Class 6 to Class 12. Students who show aptitude for science, maths, and competitive exams have strong tracks to NDA, IIT-JEE, and NEET after Class 12 from these schools.​

JNVST 2026-27 – Key Dates

Phase 1 vs Phase 2 — What is the difference?

India’s JNVs are divided into two groups based on geography and climate:

• Summer-bound schools (plains, peninsular states): Exam held in December (Phase 1). These are schools in most of North India, South India, and central India.

• Winter-bound schools (hilly and north-eastern states — J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, etc.): Exam held in April (Phase 2).

A child applies to their home district’s JNV, and the exam phase depends on which state that district falls in.

Eligibility Criteria for JNVST Class 6 (2026-27)

Meeting every eligibility condition is non-negotiable. Applications found ineligible at the verification stage are rejected even after selection.

Age Limit

The candidate must be born between May 1, 2014 and July 31, 2016 (both dates inclusive) for JNVST 2026-27 Class 6 admission.​

This means the child must be between 9 and 12 years of age at the time of applying. No age relaxation is available under any category — SC, ST, OBC, or otherwise.

Educational Qualification

• The candidate must be studying in Class 5 in the academic year 2025-26 at a government, government-aided, or recognised private school.​​

• Students who have already passed Class 5 or who have studied Class 5 in a previous academic year are not eligible.​

• The candidate must have studied Class 3, Class 4, and Class 5 from a school located in the same district as the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya they are applying for.

District Residence Condition

• The candidate must be a resident of the same district as the JNV they are applying for.​

• You cannot apply for a JNV in a different district from where you study and reside. Each JNV accepts applications only from students of its own district.

One Attempt Rule

A candidate can appear in JNVST only once. If a child appeared in JNVST 2026 and did not qualify, they cannot appear again in 2027 or any future cycle — even if they are still within the age limit.​​

This rule makes preparation for the single attempt critically important.

Private School Students — Are They Eligible?

Yes. Students studying Class 5 in recognised private schools in the same district are eligible to apply and appear in JNVST. There is no condition that the student must be from a government school. However, they must still meet the district residence and rural/urban classification conditions (explained in the reservation section below).​

JNVST Class 6 Exam Pattern 2026

The JNVST is an offline, OMR-based, objective (MCQ) test. A single test booklet contains all three sections and candidates must manage their time across sections.

Section-wise Exam Pattern

• Mode: Offline, pen and paper, OMR sheet.​

• Negative marking: None — wrong answers carry no penalty.​

• Medium: English, Hindi, and regional languages (the Language Test is offered in the local regional language of each state).​

• Extra time for PwD candidates: 30 additional minutes.​

Important note on marks distribution: Mental Ability carries 50 marks (half the total paper), making it the single most important section. A child who excels at MAT has a significant structural advantage.

JNVST Class 6 Syllabus 2026 – Section by Section

Section 1: Mental Ability Test (MAT) — 40 Questions, 50 Marks

MAT is designed to test non-verbal reasoning, pattern recognition, and spatial thinking — skills that are independent of school-level subject knowledge.​​

Key topics:​​

• Figure Series / Pattern Completion: A sequence of figures where the next figure must be identified.

• Odd Figure Out: Identifying the figure that doesn’t belong to a group.

• Analogy: Understanding the relationship between two figures and applying it to a third.

• Geometrical Figure Completion: Completing a figure with a missing part from given options.

• Mirror Image: Identifying the correct mirror image of a given figure.

• Embedded Figures: Finding a small figure hidden inside a larger complex figure.

• Punched Hole / Paper Folding: Visualising the result after folding a paper and punching a hole.

• Space Visualisation: Forming shapes from parts of other given shapes.

Preparation tip: MAT cannot be “studied” from a textbook. It improves only through consistent practice. Solving 20–30 MAT questions daily for 3–4 months before the exam produces measurable improvement in speed and accuracy.​

Section 2: Arithmetic Test — 20 Questions, 25 Marks

All Arithmetic questions are based on Class 4 and Class 5 level Mathematics as per NCERT/SCERT curriculum.​​

Key topics:​​

• Number System: Place value, comparison of numbers, rounding off.

• Four Operations: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of whole numbers and decimals.

• Fractions and Decimals: Comparison, conversion, operations.

• LCM and HCF: Finding LCM and HCF of 2–3 numbers.

• Factors and Multiples: Prime and composite numbers, prime factorisation.

• Measurement: Units of length, weight, volume, time, and money — conversion between units.

• Simplification: BODMAS-based simplification of expressions.

• Percentage and Unitary Method: Basic percentage, simple ratio and proportion.

• Geometry Basics: Perimeter and area of rectangles and squares, basic properties of triangles.

• Data Handling: Reading simple bar graphs and tables.

Preparation tip: NCERT Class 4 and Class 5 Mathematics textbooks are the complete source. Solve every exercise at the end of each chapter. Then move to previous year JNVST Arithmetic questions to understand how questions are framed.​

Section 3: Language Test — 20 Questions, 25 Marks

The Language Test assesses reading comprehension and basic grammar in the medium of instruction (Hindi, English, or regional language).

Structure of the Language Test:​

• 4 passages are given, with 5 questions each based on the passage content.

• Questions test: understanding the main idea, finding specific information, inferring meaning, and vocabulary in context.

• No standalone grammar questions — all questions are passage-based.​

Preparation tip: Read short passages in your preferred medium daily and answer questions about them. Focus on understanding the passage fully before attempting questions, rather than searching for keywords.​

Reservation Rules for JNVST Class 6

The seat reservation system in JNVs is designed with a very specific social objective: to ensure rural children — who are the primary intended beneficiaries — get the majority of seats, while also protecting representation for SC, ST, OBC, and girls.

1. Rural Area Reservation — 75% of Seats

75% of all seats in every JNV are reserved for candidates who have studied Class 3, 4, and 5 in a rural area school (as defined by the Census of India).

25% of seats are available for candidates from urban area schools (towns and cities with a municipal body or cantonment board).​

This is the most important filter in JNVST. Urban children do not compete with rural children for the same seats. They have a completely separate pool — but with far fewer seats, which means urban candidates face significantly higher competition per seat than rural candidates.​

2. SC/ST Reservation

Within both the rural and urban categories, SC and ST candidates have reserved seats proportional to their population in the district:

• SC candidates: Reserved seats proportional to SC population in the district.

• ST candidates: Reserved seats proportional to ST population in the district.

• In districts with a very high tribal population, ST reservation may be higher than the national standard.

• If sufficient SC/ST candidates are not available to fill reserved seats, those seats are filled by General category candidates.​

3. OBC Reservation

OBC candidates are given reservation as per the central government OBC list applicable to the district.​

4. Girls’ Reservation — Minimum 1/3 of Seats

A minimum of one-third (33%) of total seats in every JNV are reserved for girl candidates.

If girls’ enrolment through the regular merit process naturally crosses 33%, no special action is needed. If it falls below, the shortfall is filled from the girls’ merit list even if their scores are lower than some boys not yet selected.​

5. Differently-Abled (PwD) Reservation

3% of seats are reserved for differently-abled candidates across all categories. Extra time of 30 minutes is also given in the exam for PwD candidates.

Selection Process After the Exam

Stage 1: Answer Key and Challenge Window

After the exam, NVS releases a provisional answer key. Candidates who disagree with any answer can submit a challenge through the official portal within the specified window.​

Stage 2: Result Declaration

Separate result lists are published for Phase 1 (March 2026) and Phase 2 (May 2026) on navodaya.gov.in.

The result is available in two forms:

• Online: Log in with roll number and date of birth.

• Offline: School-wise selection lists are sent to districts.

Selected candidates are issued a provisional selection letter — this is not a final admission letter.

Stage 3: Document Verification

Provisionally selected candidates must report to the designated JNV or district NVS office for document verification within the notified timeline.

Documents required at verification:

• Birth certificate or Class 3/4 marksheet confirming date of birth.

• Class 5 study certificate from the current school.

• School-issued certificate confirming that Classes 3, 4, and 5 were studied in the same district.

• Rural area certificate (confirming the school is located in a rural area — required for rural quota).

• Caste certificate — SC/ST/OBC — issued by competent authority.

• Residence proof from the district of application.

• Aadhaar Card (for identity confirmation).

• Passport-size photographs (4–6 copies).

The rural area certificate is the most critical document for 75% of applicants. This is a certificate from the school or local authority confirming that the school where the child studied Classes 3–5 is located in a village or rural area as per Census definition. Parents must arrange this certificate in advance — do not wait until selection is announced.

Stage 4: Admission and Reporting

After document verification, final admission is confirmed. The child reports to the JNV hostel on the specified date with:​

• Final admission order.

• Medical fitness certificate (standard format from a registered doctor).

• Prescribed clothing and personal items list provided by the school.

What Life Looks Like Inside a JNV

Understanding what your child is entering is as important as preparing for the exam.

Daily routine:
JNV follows a structured residential schedule — waking at 5:30 AM, morning PT/yoga, school from 8 AM, self-study in the evening, lights out at 9:30 PM. The structure is disciplined but not militaristic.​

Migration scheme:
One of the most distinctive features of JNVs is the Migration Scheme — students in Class 9 are exchanged between JNVs in Hindi-speaking and non-Hindi-speaking states for one year. This exposes children to different languages, cultures, and environments from an early age.​

After Class 10:
Top-performing JNV students are offered lateral entry into premier institutions like Kendriya Vidyalayas or remain at the JNV for Class 11–12. Many JNVs have strong Science streams and their students regularly qualify for IIT-JEE, NEET, and NDA after Class 12.​

JNVST 2027 Preparation Strategy (Starting Now)

If your child is currently in Class 3 or 4, you have 2–3 years to prepare. If they are in Class 4, the JNVST 2027 application will open around July 2026.

12-month preparation plan:

Resources to use:

• NCERT Class 4 and 5 Mathematics textbooks (free to download at ncert.nic.in).

• Previous year JNVST question papers — last 10 years, available from authorised publishers.

• NVS official website (navodaya.gov.in) for official information and sample papers.​

FAQs

Q. Can a child from a private school appear in JNVST?
Yes. Students studying Class 5 in a recognised private school in the same district are eligible to apply. If the private school is in a rural area, the student may qualify for the rural 75% quota.​​

Q. Can a child appear in JNVST twice if they don’t qualify?
No. Each candidate is allowed to appear in JNVST only once. There is no second attempt under any circumstance.​

Q. What is the official website for Navodaya Vidyalaya admission?
All official information, application forms, admit cards, and results are published at navodaya.gov.in.

Q. Is JNVST Class 6 conducted in regional languages?
Yes. The Language Test section is available in Hindi, English, and recognised regional languages. The Medium of examination for MAT and Arithmetic is also available in Hindi and regional languages.​

Q. Is there negative marking in JNVST?
No. There is no negative marking in JNVST Class 6. Wrong answers carry zero marks — no deduction.​

Q. What percentage is required to qualify JNVST?
There is no fixed cut-off percentage. The merit list is prepared from the top scores, adjusted for category and rural/urban quota within each district. The effective cut-off varies district-to-district based on the competition level.

Q. Are SC/ST students exempt from paying the ₹600 monthly fee?
Yes. SC/ST students, girls, and students from BPL (Below Poverty Line) families are completely exempt from the ₹600 per month nominal fee. Education at JNV is entirely free for these groups.

Q. Can urban area students apply for the rural 75% quota?
No. Only students who have studied Classes 3, 4, and 5 in a school located in a rural area are eligible for the rural 75% quota. Urban school students can only apply under the 25% urban quota.