Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2027-28: Class 9 and 11 Lateral Entry Registration Open, Apply at navodaya.gov.in by September 30

There's a fresh chance for students to join one of India's most sought-after residential school systems. The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) has opened online registration for Class 9 and Class 11 lateral entry admission to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) for the 2027-28 academic session. Applications went live on September 2, 2026, and the last date to apply is September 30, 2026 (11:59 PM) — so eligible students have a limited window to register.

Admission to both classes is granted against vacant seats through the Lateral Entry Selection Test (LEST) 2027, which will be held on April 10, 2027. Best of all, there is no application fee for any candidate. Forms can be submitted online at navodaya.gov.in and cbseitms.nic.in. Here's the complete guide to eligibility, dates, exam pattern and the application steps.

जवाहर नवोदय विद्यालय में कक्षा 9वीं और 11वीं में प्रवेश हेतु पंजीकरण के लिए LEST-2027 के आवेदन शुरू हो गए हैं।

अंतिम तिथि: 30 सितंबर 2026

IX: https://t.co/dbCw8qX9lZ

XI: https://t.co/uPPnI6Kvya
आज ही आवेदन करें! #JNV #LEST2027 pic.twitter.com/1lJmnrSH1e

— NVS INDIA (@NVS_HQ) September 2, 2026

Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2027-28: Overview

What Is JNV Lateral Entry Admission?

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are co-educational, fully residential schools run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and affiliated to the CBSE. They operate in 27 states and 8 Union Territories (Tamil Nadu is the only state without a JNV). Education, boarding, lodging, uniforms and textbooks are provided free of cost.

While the main entry into JNVs happens in Class 6, the Samiti also fills up vacant seats in Classes 9 and 11 through a separate Lateral Entry Selection Test each year — which is exactly what this 2027-28 notification is about.

Navodaya Class 9 Admission 2027-28: Eligibility

To apply for JNV Class 9 lateral entry, a candidate must meet the following conditions:

• Must be studying in Class 8 during the 2026-27 session in a Government or Government-recognised school in the district where the JNV is located.

• Students who have already passed Class 8 in an earlier academic session are not eligible.

• Date of birth must fall between May 1, 2012 and July 31, 2014 (both dates inclusive), applicable to all categories.

• Must be a bonafide resident of the concerned district.

Navodaya Class 11 Admission 2027-28: Eligibility

For JNV Class 11 lateral entry, the eligibility norms are:

• Must be studying in Class 10 during the 2026-27 session in a Government or Government-recognised school (CBSE or a recognised State/other board) in the concerned district.

• Candidates who passed Class 10 before the 2026-27 session are not eligible.

• Date of birth must fall between June 1, 2010 and July 31, 2012 (both dates inclusive), applicable to all categories.

• Admission is against vacant seats and is stream-wise (such as Science, Commerce and Humanities), depending on availability at each JNV. Applicants can select stream and district preferences in the form.

Navodaya Admission 2027-28: Important Dates

JNV LEST 2027 Exam Pattern

The Lateral Entry Selection Test for both classes follows a similar structure:

• Mode: Offline, OMR-based (answers marked on an OMR sheet).

• Total questions/marks: 100 questions for 100 marks.

• Duration: 2.5 hours (with additional time for eligible candidates as per NVS rules).

• Negative marking: None.

• Medium: Bilingual — Hindi and English.

For Class 9, the question paper is based on the Class 8 level syllabus, covering English, Hindi, Mathematics and General Science. For Class 11, the paper is based on the Class 10 level syllabus and typically spans Mental Ability, English, and core subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Social Science.

Is There Any Fee for Navodaya Admission 2027-28?

The application is completely free — no fee is charged from any candidate. However, after admission, students of Classes 9 to 12 pay ₹600 per month towards the Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi. This is waived for SC/ST students, Divyang (differently-abled) students, all girl students, and students from BPL (Below Poverty Line) families.

How to Apply for Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2027-28

Follow these steps to complete the JNV Class 9/11 lateral entry registration:

1. Visit the official website navodaya.gov.in or cbseitms.nic.in.

2. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) — this can also be done via the mySSC/NVS registration portal as instructed.

3. Open the Lateral Entry Selection Test (LEST) 2027 application link for Class 9 or Class 11.

4. Fill in your personal, academic and district details, and select your stream and district preferences.

5. Upload the required signature and photograph in the prescribed format.

6. Submit the completed application form (no fee is required).

7. Download and save a copy of the confirmation page for future reference.

Keep your residence and Class 8/Class 10 study documents ready, as residence proof of the concerned district must be submitted at the time of admission if selected.

Direct Links

• Navodaya Class 9 Apply Online: https://t.co/dbCw8qX9lZ

• Navodaya Class 11 Apply Online: XI: https://t.co/uPPnI6Kvya

• Official website: https://navodaya.gov.in