March 29, 2026

. NEW DELHI: Union education ministry will launch a nationwide drive to identify and enrol out-of-school and dropout children through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), as part of efforts to achieve 100% gross enrolment ratio (GER) from pre-school to secondary level by 2030.Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 shows nearly 2 crore children in the 14-18 age group are not attending school. Around 11% of children in Classes III to VIII remain out of school, while over 50 lakh students fail board examinations each year.Officials of the department of school education and literacy said open schooling will be used to bring such children back into the education system, especially those unable to attend regular schools due to economic, social or geographical reasons. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Israel pounds Tehran as Iranians mark Nowruz; UAE, Kuwait defences respond to missile barrage’World’s first hit’: Iran claims strike on US F-35 lightning 2 – why it’s a big dealIran hits Ras Laffan facility: Qatar’s 17% LNG capacity gone, $20bn loss; which countries will be impacted?NIOS offers flexible admissions, multiple attempts to clear exams, on-demand examinations and vocational courses, with certification recognised at par with other boards.The ministry will work with states and UTs to identify out-of-school children using district-level survey data and enrol them through targeted outreach. A programme titled “NIOS Mitra” will be introduced to support this effort. Trained facilitators will identify children, counsel families and assist with enrolment and academic guidance, with a focus on marginalised and disadvantaged groups.To improve access, the ministry plans to expand the network of NIOS centres. At present, NIOS operates over 10,800 study and examination centres across the country. The government aims to establish at least one centre in every block.PM SHRI schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and government senior secondary schools will be used as NIOS centres to support enrolment and examinations.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Sending Troops To Strait Of Hormuz?; ‘Iran Being Decimated’: Bibi Denies Dragging U.S Into WarDiplomacy In New Avatar: Why Vikram Doraiwami Picked Chinese Name Wei Jiameng As India’s New EnvoyHow Iran’s Attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Gas Hub Sparks India’s Energy EmergencyIndian National Killed In Riyadh, MEA Confirms Total 6 Dead, 1 Missing Amid Israel-Iran WarRussia Tip Off Led To NIA Arrest Of Matthew VanDyke, Global Insurgency Network Exposed In Northeast’Some Say India Can Stop The War’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Big StatementPremium Petrol Prices Hiked By Up To ₹2.35 Per Litre In India Amid West Asia ConflictPakistan’s Fake War Narrative Exposed: India Busts Digital Attack After Iran’s IRIS Dena StrikeIndia Warns Against Attacks On Commercial Ships Amid Hormuz Crisis, Calls For Peace And DialogueRestraint vs Outrage: Congress Divide Exposed Again As Shashi Tharoor Backs Modi Govt On Iran Crisis123Photostories5 most scenic riverside retreats in India perfect for April travel5 advanced features in bikes that enhance performanceWhy no one stays in this forest after sunset: Unraveling the mystery of Nidhi Van6 spiritual cities emerging as India’s real estate hotspots in 20265 ways to use avocado peel in daily meal plans10 simple activities that boost memory and cognition naturally‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Dhol’: Films that failed at first but became cult classics over timeInside Shiv Nadar’s Luxurious Delhi Residence: A blend of art, elegance, and grandeurDhokla recipe mistakes: 6 common mistakes to avoid while making dhokla‘Garam Masala’, ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’: Must-watch Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan films on OTT before ‘Bhooth Bangla’123Hot PicksIran newsGlobal Terrorism Index 2026World Happiness Report 2026Gold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingElena GaleraUttarakhand High CourtAndhra Pradesh high courtQatar LNG ExportsIran Karaj Missile PlantIsrael Haifa Refinery AttackStrait of HormuzMaharastra LocalsAli Mohammed NainiPremium Petrol Price Hike

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. NEW DELHI: Union education ministry will launch a nationwide drive to identify and enrol out-of-school and dropout children through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), as part of efforts to achieve 100% gross enrolment ratio (GER) from pre-school to secondary level by 2030.Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 shows nearly 2 crore children in the 14-18 age group are not attending school. Around 11% of children in Classes III to VIII remain out of school, while over 50 lakh students fail board examinations each year.Officials of the department of school education and literacy said open schooling will be used to bring such children back into the education system, especially those unable to attend regular schools due to economic, social or geographical reasons. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Israel pounds Tehran as Iranians mark Nowruz; UAE, Kuwait defences respond to missile barrage’World’s first hit’: Iran claims strike on US F-35 lightning 2 – why it’s a big dealIran hits Ras Laffan facility: Qatar’s 17% LNG capacity gone, bn loss; which countries will be impacted?NIOS offers flexible admissions, multiple attempts to clear exams, on-demand examinations and vocational courses, with certification recognised at par with other boards.The ministry will work with states and UTs to identify out-of-school children using district-level survey data and enrol them through targeted outreach. A programme titled “NIOS Mitra” will be introduced to support this effort. Trained facilitators will identify children, counsel families and assist with enrolment and academic guidance, with a focus on marginalised and disadvantaged groups.To improve access, the ministry plans to expand the network of NIOS centres. At present, NIOS operates over 10,800 study and examination centres across the country. The government aims to establish at least one centre in every block.PM SHRI schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and government senior secondary schools will be used as NIOS centres to support enrolment and examinations.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Sending Troops To Strait Of Hormuz?; ‘Iran Being Decimated’: Bibi Denies Dragging U.S Into WarDiplomacy In New Avatar: Why Vikram Doraiwami Picked Chinese Name Wei Jiameng As India’s New EnvoyHow Iran’s Attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Gas Hub Sparks India’s Energy EmergencyIndian National Killed In Riyadh, MEA Confirms Total 6 Dead, 1 Missing Amid Israel-Iran WarRussia Tip Off Led To NIA Arrest Of Matthew VanDyke, Global Insurgency Network Exposed In Northeast’Some Say India Can Stop The War’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Big StatementPremium Petrol Prices Hiked By Up To ₹2.35 Per Litre In India Amid West Asia ConflictPakistan’s Fake War Narrative Exposed: India Busts Digital Attack After Iran’s IRIS Dena StrikeIndia Warns Against Attacks On Commercial Ships Amid Hormuz Crisis, Calls For Peace And DialogueRestraint vs Outrage: Congress Divide Exposed Again As Shashi Tharoor Backs Modi Govt On Iran Crisis123Photostories5 most scenic riverside retreats in India perfect for April travel5 advanced features in bikes that enhance performanceWhy no one stays in this forest after sunset: Unraveling the mystery of Nidhi Van6 spiritual cities emerging as India’s real estate hotspots in 20265 ways to use avocado peel in daily meal plans10 simple activities that boost memory and cognition naturally‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Dhol’: Films that failed at first but became cult classics over timeInside Shiv Nadar’s Luxurious Delhi Residence: A blend of art, elegance, and grandeurDhokla recipe mistakes: 6 common mistakes to avoid while making dhokla‘Garam Masala’, ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’: Must-watch Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan films on OTT before ‘Bhooth Bangla’123Hot PicksIran newsGlobal Terrorism Index 2026World Happiness Report 2026Gold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingElena GaleraUttarakhand High CourtAndhra Pradesh high courtQatar LNG ExportsIran Karaj Missile PlantIsrael Haifa Refinery AttackStrait of HormuzMaharastra LocalsAli Mohammed NainiPremium Petrol Price Hike


Government to expand NIOS outreach to bring back out-of-school children, target full enrolment by 2030

NEW DELHI: Union education ministry will launch a nationwide drive to identify and enrol out-of-school and dropout children through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), as part of efforts to achieve 100% gross enrolment ratio (GER) from pre-school to secondary level by 2030.Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 shows nearly 2 crore children in the 14-18 age group are not attending school. Around 11% of children in Classes III to VIII remain out of school, while over 50 lakh students fail board examinations each year.Officials of the department of school education and literacy said open schooling will be used to bring such children back into the education system, especially those unable to attend regular schools due to economic, social or geographical reasons. NIOS offers flexible admissions, multiple attempts to clear exams, on-demand examinations and vocational courses, with certification recognised at par with other boards.The ministry will work with states and UTs to identify out-of-school children using district-level survey data and enrol them through targeted outreach. A programme titled “NIOS Mitra” will be introduced to support this effort. Trained facilitators will identify children, counsel families and assist with enrolment and academic guidance, with a focus on marginalised and disadvantaged groups.To improve access, the ministry plans to expand the network of NIOS centres. At present, NIOS operates over 10,800 study and examination centres across the country. The government aims to establish at least one centre in every block.PM SHRI schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and government senior secondary schools will be used as NIOS centres to support enrolment and examinations.



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