NIOS paper out of syllabus? Board says questions asked innovatively

MUMBAI: Parents of students who appeared for the Business Studies (215) paper conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) have alleged that nearly 30-40% of the question paper was outside the prescribed syllabus, affecting students' performance.In a representation to the board, several parents - including of Divyaang learners - flagged what they termed "serious discrepancies". They claimed that some questions were drawn from CBSE Class XI and XII portions, while others were based on chapters earmarked only for Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA) or on concepts not found in the NIOS secondary textbook. They also pointed to inconsistencies between the sample paper and answer key uploaded on the portal, saying these created confusion and anxiety during preparation."My child got questions which were completely out of the syllabus. Thirty to forty per cent of the paper had questions from content that was not taught at all," said one parent. "My daughter is a sportsperson. She cannot attend full-time school regularly, but she is a very bright child. In an earlier exam paper, she scored 87 out of 100. In this paper, she got 65."NIOS is often preferred by students who are unable to attend regular school - including sportspersons and students with disabilities - because of its flexible curriculum and examination schedule. Parents have urged the board to review the paper pattern, ensure fair evaluation and moderate marks where necessary.A counsellor who assists NIOS learners said the concerns reflect structural issues. "Many of these students rely strictly on the prescribed textbook and study material. If questions appear from portions not clearly mapped in the syllabus or sample papers, it disproportionately affects those who depend on clarity and structured guidance," the counsellor said.Responding to the allegations, NIOS chairman Akhilesh Mishra said complaints should have been raised immediately after the examination rather than after results were declared. "Asking questions innovatively and differently is part of the board's job. Even if the exact wording is not in the textbook, the content is there. Around 2.5 lakh students have appeared for the exams across the country, and this is the first time I am hearing of such a complaint," he said.