1. Introduction & Overview
The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy, Govt. of India, has officially released the prospectus-cum-notification for the Class IX Lateral Entry Selection Test (LEST) 2027. This test is designed to fill vacant seats in Class IX across 665 functional Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in 27 States and 8 Union Territories for the academic session 2027-28.
JNVs are fully residential, co-educational schools affiliated with the CBSE curriculum. Education, lodging, uniforms, and textbooks are completely free of cost. A nominal fee of ₹600/month is charged under Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi (VVN) only from Classes IX to XII, with complete exemptions for SC/ST, Divyang, all girl students, and BPL families.
2. Key Dates & Event Schedule
| Event / Milestone | Important Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Start | Already Open on Official Portal |
| Last Date for Submission | Wednesday, 30th September 2026 |
| Correction Window | 2 Days after registration closes |
| Admit Card Download | ~1 Month before examination |
| Date of Selection Test | Saturday, 10th April 2027 (Duration: 2½ Hours) |
3. Comprehensive Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must fulfill all of the following requirements to be eligible for admission:
- Residential Requirement: The candidate must be a Bonafide resident of the district where the JNV is located.
- Academic Status: Must be currently studying in Class VIII during Academic Session 2026-27 in a Government or Govt. Recognized school in the same district.
- Age Limits: Date of birth must lie between 1st May 2012 and 31st July 2014 (both dates inclusive). This applies to all categories (General/SC/ST/OBC/Divyang).
- Attempt Limit: Candidates who passed Class VIII prior to 2026-27 or appeared for Class IX LEST in previous years are ineligible.
4. Exam Pattern & Selection Structure
The Selection Test will be objective (OMR sheet based) of 2.5 hours duration (additional 50 minutes for Divyang candidates). Questions will be based on Class VIII difficulty level.
| Sl. No. | Subject | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | English | 15 | 15 |
| 02 | Hindi | 15 | 15 |
| 03 | Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| 04 | General Science | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 4 Subjects | 100 Questions | 100 Marks |
5. Subject-Wise Syllabus Breakup
A. Mathematics (35 Marks)
Rational Numbers, Squares & Square Roots, Cubes & Cube Roots, Exponents & Powers, Direct & Inverse Proportions, Comparing Quantities (Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest), Algebraic Expressions & Identities, Linear Equations in One Variable, Understanding Quadrilaterals, Mensuration (Area, Surface Area & Volume), Data Handling.
B. General Science (35 Marks)
Crop Production & Management, Microorganisms: Friend & Foe, Coal & Petroleum, Combustion & Flame, Conservation of Plants & Animals, Reproduction in Animals, Reaching the Age of Adolescence, Force & Pressure, Friction, Sound, Chemical Effects of Electric Current, Some Natural Phenomena, Light.
C. English & Hindi (15 Marks Each)
English: Unseen Passage, Word & Sentence structure, Jumbled words, Passive Voice, Degrees of Comparison, Modal Auxiliaries, Prepositions, Tense forms, Reported Speech.
Hindi: वर्ण विचार/वर्तनी, शब्द-à¤ेद, पर्याय/विलोम, पद परिचय, अशुद्ध वाक्य संशोधन, वाक्य रचनांतरण, मुहावरे और लोकोक्तियाँ, अपठित गद्यांश।
6. How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Visit the official portal: www.navodaya.gov.in.
- Keep scanned copies of Photograph, Candidate Signature, and Parent Signature ready (JPG format, 10–100 KB).
- Fill basic credentials including State, District, Address, APAAR ID/PEN, and parent details.
- Free Help Desks are available at all JNVs across India to assist candidates with form filling.
7. Expert Suggestions & Preparation Strategy
- Master NCERT Class 8 Fundamentals: Since Math and Science carry 70% total weightage, thoroughly practice NCERT exercises.
- Focus on OMR Speed & Accuracy: Use only Blue/Black ballpoint pens. Practice bubbling answers on sample OMR sheets to prevent errors.
- No Negative Marking Advantage: Attempt all 100 questions since there is no penalty for wrong answers.
- Language Choice Optimization: Strengthen whichever language (Hindi or English) you are more confident in, as the higher score counts toward the merit list.

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