Last verified: 5 October 2026. This is a status explainer, not breaking news. The AISSEE 2027 notification has still not been released by NTA. The JNVST dates below are CONFIRMED as reported by multiple national publications in August 2026; everything about the 2027 AISSEE cycle is EXPECTED until NTA publishes its information bulletin.
If your child is in Class 5 or 6 and you have been thinking only about Sainik Schools, here is the second big date on the calendar: the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST) for Class 6 admission is confirmed for 28 November 2026 (CONFIRMED, via NVS schedule as reported by The Telegraph, NDTV, Times Now and Jagran Josh) — 54 days from today.
Navodaya Vidyalayas matter to AISSEE families for a simple reason: they are the country’s other major network of free, residential, merit-based schools. Admission to Class 6 is through this single selection test, and the application costs nothing. Unlike Sainik Schools, they are not defence-oriented — but for a bright Class 5 student, they are the same kind of ticket out: free quality education with boarding and lodging.
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| JNVST Class 6 exam date | 28 November 2026 (CONFIRMED) |
| Registration window | 6 July – 10 August 2026 (closed; CONFIRMED) |
| Correction window | 11–12 August 2026 (closed; CONFIRMED) |
| Paper pattern | 80 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours (CONFIRMED) |
| Sections tested | Mental ability, arithmetic, language skills (CONFIRMED) |
| Result | Expected March–April 2027 (EXPECTED) |
| Fee | Free — application and schooling with boarding (CONFIRMED) |
Be honest with yourself about one thing: if you did not apply by 10 August, this year’s JNVST is closed to your child. There is no late window. The value of this news today is for the families who did apply — and for every parent to know the calendar for next year.
The overlap is real. JNVST’s mental-ability and arithmetic sections build the exact same skills AISSEE tests under its Intelligence and Mathematics sections. And the timing works in your favour: the JNVST on 28 November becomes a full, real exam-hall rehearsal for AISSEE 2027, tentatively scheduled for 31 January 2027 (EXPECTED, per NTA’s 2026-27 exam calendar) — about two months later.
That said, the two exams are not the same. AISSEE’s Class 6 paper runs 150 minutes with 125 questions across four sections including GK, and qualifying requires 25% in each section plus 40% aggregate. JNVST is shorter, has only three sections, and is free. Do not treat one as a perfect mock of the other — treat the JNVST as warm-up pressure, not a scorecard.
When is the JNVST Class 6 exam for admission to the 2027-28 session? The selection test will be conducted on 28 November 2026, as confirmed by NVS and reported by The Telegraph, NDTV, Times Now and Jagran Josh in August 2026. It is a single-phase test for both summer-bound and winter-bound schools.
What is the JNVST Class 6 exam pattern? The paper carries 100 marks with 80 questions, to be solved in 2 hours. It tests mental ability, arithmetic, and language skills.
Is the JNVST free? Yes. The application was free, and Navodaya Vidyalayas provide free education along with free boarding and lodging for admitted students.
Can a child prepare for both JNVST and AISSEE 2027? Yes. Mental-ability and arithmetic preparation overlaps heavily, and the AISSEE 2027 exam is tentatively scheduled for 31 January 2027 — about two months after the JNVST. Note that JNVST registration for this cycle closed on 10 August 2026, so this year’s route is only for families who already applied.
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