Check all conditions together
For the 2026–27 programme, the official conditions include the following. Meeting the age condition alone is insufficient.
- Date of birth: 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2012, both dates included.
- Class: X, XI or XII at the time of enrolment.
- Passport eligibility: eligible to hold an Indian passport, subject to the official OCI provision.
- Study and residence: residing and studying in India since 30 November 2024 or earlier, or studying in an Indian school system since that date or earlier.
- Class XII: must not have passed, or be scheduled to complete, the Class XII board examination before 30 November 2026.
- University: must not have started, or plan to start, university or equivalent studies by 1 June 2027.
- NSEJS: must not also appear in NSEJS 2026.
OCI applicants: the official rules provide provisional eligibility through OCSC, subject to the remaining conditions, but exclude selection for the Indian international team. Read the exact official provision before making a decision.
Use the current cycle
Older eligibility pages can have different dates and school-class rules. Always check the 2026–27 source and any subsequent correction. This page summarises rules; it cannot certify an individual candidate’s eligibility.
Can a Class 9 student appear in NSEB 2026?
The current HBCSE conditions specify Class X, XI or XII at enrolment. Do not rely on older advice saying that any lower class can appear.
Does meeting the age limit guarantee eligibility?
No. All relevant school-class, residence, education, passport and examination conditions must also be satisfied.
Read the complete official eligibility conditions ↗