AICTE Clarifies: NIOS Certificates Are Fully Valid for Higher Ed Admissions

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued a stern warning to educational institutions refusing to admit students with National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) certificates. The council reaffirmed that these qualifications are entirely valid for entering higher and professional education programs.

AICTE highlighted that such exclusionary practices breach National Education Policy provisions and threaten students' rights to access higher education. The issue arose following reports that some AICTE-approved institutions were turning away students meeting prescribed criteria, merely because their qualifications were obtained through NIOS.

NIOS operates autonomously under the Ministry of Education in the Government of India, receiving the same recognition as prominent boards like CBSE and CISCE. AICTE has mandated all higher education institutions to treat NIOS-qualified students equally to those from recognized boards, ensuring their eligibility criteria receive deserved acknowledgment.