NIOS timetable out: open school learners begin theory papers on October 22
Representative image: wal_172619 / Pixabay
NIOS released its October-December 2026 theory timetable on October 8: Class 10 and 12 papers run from October 22 to early December, mostly afternoons.
What Happened
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) published the timetable for its October-December 2026 theory examinations for secondary (Class 10) and senior secondary (Class 12) learners on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The theory papers begin on October 22. The Class 12 papers end on December 5 and the Class 10 papers on December 7. According to the published schedule, most papers are held in the afternoon, generally from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm depending on the subject, with 15 minutes of reading time. Learners can check their subject-wise dates on the official NIOS portal. NIOS had not announced a firm release date for hall tickets at the time of writing.
Key Facts
- NIOS released the October-December 2026 theory exam timetable on October 8, 2026.
- Theory exams begin on October 22, 2026 for both Class 10 and Class 12.
- Class 12 (senior secondary) papers end on December 5; Class 10 (secondary) papers end on December 7.
- Papers are generally held from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, with 15 minutes of reading time, depending on the subject.
- The subject-wise timetable is available on the NIOS portal, sdmis.nios.ac.in.
- Reports differed on hall tickets; NIOS had not given a fixed release date, so learners should keep checking the portal.
Why It Matters
NIOS runs open schooling, which lets learners study and sit board exams outside the regular school system. For learners who are working, studying part-time or returning to education, the October-December exam cycle is a chance to complete Class 10 or Class 12 without waiting for the next year.
The timetable matters for planning. A learner who is also working or preparing for an entrance exam needs to plan leave, travel to the exam centre and revision around specific dates. The long window, from October 22 to early December, means some learners will have papers spread across several weeks, while others may have only a few.
The afternoon timing is also worth noting for learners who work in the mornings or have other commitments. Learners should download the subject-wise timetable from the official portal rather than rely on lists circulated on social media, and should check their hall ticket details, including the exam centre, as soon as they are released.
| Exam | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Class 10 (secondary) theory | October 22, 2026 | December 7, 2026 |
| Class 12 (senior secondary) theory | October 22, 2026 | December 5, 2026 |
| Usual timing | 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm | with 15 minutes reading time |
Impact
Short-term: NIOS learners can now plan their revision, travel and work schedules around papers that begin on October 22.
Long-term: Completing the exams lets learners obtain Class 10 or Class 12 certificates and move on to higher studies, jobs or skill courses.
Who is affected: NIOS learners appearing for Class 10 and Class 12 theory exams, their families and study centres, and employers of working learners who may need leave for exam days.
Key Takeaway
NIOS theory exams for Class 10 and 12 run from October 22 to early December 2026, mostly in the afternoon, with hall tickets still to come.
Questions and Answers
When do NIOS October 2026 theory exams start?
On October 22, 2026, for both Class 10 and Class 12 learners.
When do the NIOS exams end?
Class 12 papers end on December 5, 2026, and Class 10 papers on December 7, 2026.
What time are the NIOS exams held?
Most papers are held from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, depending on the subject, with 15 minutes of reading time.
Where can I find my subject-wise dates and hall ticket?
On the official NIOS portal, sdmis.nios.ac.in; the hall ticket release date had not been fixed at the time of the timetable's release.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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