NVS Syllabus 2026: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Topics for PGT, TGT and Other Posts

The NVS syllabus is built around two written stages. Tier 1 is a common screening test on reasoning, numbers, computers, general knowledge and languages. Tier 2 is the paper that decides your rank, and it tests pedagogy and your teaching subject. This page explains what to study for the NVS recruitment cycle notified in November 2025, post by post and stage by stage.

A note on sources: the notification names the Tier 1 sections and describes Tier 2 only in outline, and a detailed topic list for every subject is not published. The topic lists below are therefore a working checklist built from the notification and from the standard content of teacher recruitment papers. Use them to plan your study, not as an official list.

Table of Contents

NVS Syllabus at a Glance

The Tier 2 structure above is the reported pattern for PGT and TGT. Timings, negative marking and the stage-wise rules are explained on the NVS exam pattern page.

Key Points About the NVS Syllabus

• Tier 1 is common: all posts share the same six sections, so one preparation plan covers every post group.

• Tier 2 is post-specific: a PGT Physics candidate and a TGT Social Science candidate study different subject content, but both are tested on pedagogy.

• Tier 1 is for screening: its marks are not added to final merit for teaching posts, so you only need to clear it comfortably.

• Level matters: PGT content is at postgraduate depth for Classes 11 and 12, while TGT content is at graduation depth for Classes 6 to 10.

• Language of the paper: Tier 2 is reported to be in English and Hindi, except for language posts, which use their own language.

Older web pages may list syllabi from earlier NVS recruitments with different stages. Always match what you study with the latest notification.

NVS Tier 1 Syllabus

Tier 1 has 100 questions across six sections, and every section is small. That makes it a test of breadth: you cannot skip a section and still score well.

Reasoning, numeric ability, computers and general knowledge together carry 240 of the 300 marks, so these four sections deserve most of your Tier 1 time. Since each wrong answer costs 1 mark and each right answer gives 3, only attempt questions where you can remove at least one or two options.

Choosing the Modern Indian Language

Candidates choose one language for the last Tier 1 section while filling the form. Pick a language in which you can read a passage quickly and answer grammar questions without hesitation. Ten questions carry 30 marks, which is the same as the whole English section, so this is an easy place to gain marks if your language is strong. Hindi candidates should revise sandhi, samas, muhavare, vilom shabd and unseen passages.

NVS Tier 2 Syllabus for Teaching Posts

Tier 2 combines two parts: pedagogy, which is common to all teaching candidates, and subject knowledge, which depends on your post. The descriptive section can draw from both.

Pedagogy and teaching aptitude

• Child development: growth and development stages, theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Kohlberg and Erikson, and the role of heredity and environment.

• Learning and motivation: behaviourism, constructivism, cognitive theories, motivation, memory, transfer of learning, individual differences and intelligence.

• Teaching methods: lesson planning, teaching-learning material, classroom management, active learning, questioning skills and use of technology in teaching.

• Inclusive education: children with special needs, gifted learners, learning difficulties, and the provisions that support them.

• Assessment: formative and summative assessment, continuous and comprehensive evaluation, competency-based assessment, and feedback.

• Policy and law: National Education Policy 2020, the National Curriculum Framework, the Right to Education Act 2009 and the structure of school education in India.

Because Navodaya schools are residential, expect some questions or interview prompts on student welfare, mentoring and co-curricular activity as part of school life.

Subject knowledge

PGT candidates are tested at postgraduate depth in their subject and TGT candidates at graduation depth. NCERT textbooks are the safest base for both, and PGT candidates should add standard university-level books for their subject. The subject-wise checklist below shows the main areas.

Descriptive section

The descriptive part is worth 40 marks, which is a large share of a 100-mark paper. Expect short and long answers that ask you to explain a concept, apply a method or write in a structured way. Practise writing answers in a fixed time and keep each answer organised with a clear opening, key points and a closing line.

Subject-Wise Checklist for PGT and TGT

The table lists the main areas to revise for common teaching subjects. It is a working checklist: the exact weightage differs by post and year.

Check your own post in the notification for the exact subject name, as some subjects are combined and others are split between PGT and TGT.

How to prioritise topics within a subject

Not every chapter is equally valuable. A simple way to prioritise is to sort topics into three groups after your first read of the syllabus.

• Core topics: concepts that repeat across classes and appear in most teacher recruitment papers, such as mechanics in Physics or grammar in English. Revise these first and most often.

• Application topics: areas where questions test problem solving or classroom application. Practise these with solved examples and timed questions.

• Rare topics: chapters that seldom appear. Read them once for awareness and revisit only in the final weeks.

Previous year papers of KVS, NVS and other teaching exams help you decide which group a topic belongs to. Mark the topics you got wrong in practice and move them up a group.

Syllabus for Non-Teaching Posts

For non-teaching posts such as Junior Secretariat Assistant, Lab Attendant and Multi-Tasking Staff, Tier 1 follows the common pattern described above. Tier 2 is built for the post, and the notification gives its outline. For Junior Secretariat Assistant, a skill test on typing and computer proficiency follows the written stage, so keep daily typing practice in your plan.

The typing speed and the proficiency tasks asked in the skill test are set in the notification. Treat any figure you see on other sites as unconfirmed until you match it with the notification.

Overlap Between Tier 1 and Tier 2

Some preparation helps both stages, which lets you study once and use it twice.

Interview and Demo Lesson

There is no syllabus for the interview. Teaching candidates are assessed on subject understanding, teaching ability and suitability for a residential school, and the interview carries 15% of final merit. Prepare two or three short lesson plans from your subject, practise explaining a concept in about ten minutes, and revise your own educational background and experience. Dates and format are shared in your candidate login.

Common Mistakes While Studying the Syllabus

• Ignoring pedagogy: many candidates spend all their time on subject content, yet pedagogy questions are common to every teaching candidate and are often the quickest to score.

• Over-preparing Tier 1: Tier 1 only screens candidates for Tier 2, so clearing it comfortably is enough. Do not spend half your hours there.

• Skipping descriptive practice: reading answers is not the same as writing them. Write at least two timed answers every week.

• Using an old syllabus: topic lists from earlier recruitment drives may include stages or sections that no longer apply.

• Neglecting current affairs: a few questions from education policy and national events can be the difference in a tight Tier 1 score.

How to Cover the NVS Syllabus

A phased plan keeps preparation steady and gives you time for revision. Adjust the weeks to the time you have.

1. Weeks 1 to 4, foundation: finish pedagogy theories and the basics of your subject from NCERT books. Start daily reasoning and numeric practice.

2. Weeks 5 to 8, depth: cover the full subject checklist, add computer basics, and begin monthly current-affairs notes.

3. Weeks 9 to 12, practice: attempt topic-wise tests, previous year papers and short descriptive answers every week.

4. Final phase, mocks and revision: take full-length tests, analyse each one the same day, and revise from an error log.

Check every topic against the official notification: https://navodaya.gov.in/