NTA opens SHRESHTA NETs 2026 registration; 3,000 SC students to get fully-funded seats in Classes 9, 11
Anu Parthiban | October 10, 2025 | 08:50 PM IST | 2 mins read
The last date to fill application form for SHRESHTA (NETS) 2026 is October 30. The exam will be based on NCERT syllabus of Class 8 and Class 10.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started the registration process for the National Entrance Test for Scheme for Residential Education for Students in Higher Classes in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA (NETS) 2026). The scheme is aimed at providing high-quality residential education to meritorious SC students in CBSE-affiliated schools.
Under the SHRESHTA scheme, the central government will bear all expenses of around 3,000 students in Classes 9 and 11. The online application process began today and will remain open until October 30. Students will be given an opportunity to edit the submitted form between November 1 and 2.
The SHRESHTA NETS exam will be conducted in December. The entrance exam will be held in multiple-choice format in pen-and-paper mode. Students will be given 3 hours to attempt the questions. The medium of the question paper will be bilingual – English and Hindi.
The results of the exam will be declared within 4 to 6 weeks, the NTA said.
SHRESHTA Scheme: Eligibility criteria
Admission will be strictly merit-based. To be eligible for the central government’s fully-funded residential education , students should meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Students belonging to scheduled castes (SC), studying in Class 8 and Class 10 in the current academic year (2025-26).
- Parent’s annual income should be up to Rs 2.5 lakh.
- Students opting for Class 9 should be born between April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2014, and should be 12 to 16 years of age as on March 31, 2026
- Students opting for Class 11 should be born between April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012, and should be 18 to 14 years of age as on March 31, 2026.
Also read Gender parity or safety risk? Maharashtra’s co-educational school mandate sparks debate
SHRESHTA NETS: Exam pattern
The exam comprises one paper having four sections – mathematics, science, social science, and general knowledge. The question paper will be based on NCERT syllabus of Class 8 and Class 10.
|
SHRESHTA NETS question paper |
Number of questions |
|
Mathematics |
30 |
|
Science |
20 |
|
Social Science |
25 |
|
General Awareness/Knowledge |
25 |
|
Total |
100 |
Follow us for the latest education news on colleges and universities, admission, courses, exams, research, education policies, study abroad and more..
To get in touch, write to us at news@careers360.com.
Next Story
]'How can you do this?': Supreme Court seeks response on 100% fee hike in Delhi private schools
Delhi Public School, Dwarka has been penalising students for not paying the enhanced fees and were made to sit in the library. The plea alleged the school also used bouncers to block students.
Press Trust of India | 2 mins readFeatured News
]- Assam Agricultural University Jorhat enrolled excess students for 5 yrs despite 41% vacant faculty posts: CAG
- AICTE Approval Process Handbook: From 2026-27, more foreign-student seats, minor specialisation in diploma
- 'We refuse to be forgotten’: Students boycott classes at film school govt opened, and then abandoned
- ISB fees high due to quality, 50% students should get some scholarship: Dean
- ‘Teaching through logins’: School teachers waste time on ‘data-entry’ as apps become integral to monitoring
- Not even 30% of central university teachers are women; 25.4% posts vacant: Education ministry data
- Public policy, social impact courses boom despite tepid job scene
- MBA Jobs: Capstone projects, case competitions become key placement tools amid hiring slowdown
- Director General of IMI: ‘MBA courses now need modular curriculum linked to industry problems’
- Goa Institute of Management plans major boost to online courses; ‘AI literacy crucial,’ says director