SHRESHTA NETS Scheme Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Check Eligibility for Class 9 & 11
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SHRESHTA NETS Scheme Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Check Eligibility for Class 9 & 11

Mangane PriyankaUpdated on 11 Oct 2025, 11:16 AM IST

Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) is a new scheme approved by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The purpose of the scheme is to provide seats to the SC boys and girls on a meritorious basis. The NTA publishes the SHRESHTA NETS eligibility criteria, and admissions are offered in the best private residential schools for class 9 and 11 students.

This Story also Contains

  1. SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria
  2. SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria for Round 2 Counselling
  3. SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria for Round 3 Counselling
  4. SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria for Round 4 Counselling

SHRESHTA NETS will also provide access to bright Scheduled Caste (SC) students in high-quality education, and they can explore better future opportunities. Before applying for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme admissions, students are required to go through the eligibility criteria. Read on to learn more about the SHRESHTA NETS scheme eligibility criteria.

SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria

Students from the SC category in Classes 9 and 11 are eligible for SHRESHTA NETS admissions. They must prepare for the exam following the SHRESHTA NETS syllabus, covering the important topics and sub-topics. Check out the eligibility criteria for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme.

  • Candidates who are applying for class 9 admissions must be born between April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2014 (i.e., they must be 13 to 17 years of age as of March 31, 2026)

  • Candidates who want to apply for class 11 admissions must be born between April 1, 2008, to March 31, 2012 (i.e., they must be 15 to 19 years of age as of March 31, 2026).

  • Students belonging to the SC category studying in class 8 or 10 in the current academic year can apply for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme admissions.

  • The parents’ annual income must be up to INR 2.5 lakhs.

Also, read - SHRESHTA NETS Admit card

SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility (In tabular format)

Particulars

Born Between

Age as of March 31, 2026

Class 9

April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2014

13 to 17 years

Class 11

April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012

15 to 19 years

(Note: Candidates are eligible to apply for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme round 1 counselling based on the above eligibility criteria.)

SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria for Round 2 Counselling

Candidates must go through the SHRESHTA NETS exam pattern before appearing for the exam. They must check out the counselling requirements and prepare for it as per the eligibility criteria. Counselling is done based on the marks scored by the students in the SHRESHTA NETS result. Students should check out the round 2 counselling eligibility for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme.

  • Fresh Candidates: Students who did not register for round 1 counselling can register for round 2. For new students, the rules for choice filling and locking will be the same as Round 1 counselling.

  • Registered in Round 1 but did not fill in any choices: Candidates who registered in Round 1 and could not fill in any choices can fill in the fresh choices in Round 2. The same rules apply to round 2.

  • Registered and filled choices in Round 1 but no seat allotment: Students who have registered and filled choices in Round 1 but have not been allotted any seats can fill the fresh choices again in Round 2 or can modify the previously submitted choices.

SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria for Round 3 Counselling

Candidates can check out the round 3 counselling eligibility criteria for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme.

  • Fresh Candidates: Candidates who did not register in Round 1 and 2 counselling are eligible for Round 3, and they can fill their choices.

  • Registered but did not fill in any choices in rounds 1 and 2: Students who have registered for rounds 1 and 2 counselling but did not fill in any choices can fill in the fresh choices in the SHRESHTA NETS round 3 counselling.

  • Registered and filled choices in Rounds 1 and 2, but no seat allotment: Candidates can fill the fresh choices again in round 3 counselling who have registered and filled in choices but have not been allotted any seats in rounds 1 and 2.

SHRESHTA NETS Eligibility Criteria for Round 4 Counselling

Check out the round 4 counselling eligibility criteria for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme admissions.

  • Fresh Candidates: Candidates who did not register in Round 1, 2, and 3 counselling are eligible for Round 3, and they can fill in the choices.

  • Registered but did not fill in any choices in rounds 1, 2, and 3: Students who have registered for rounds 1, 2, and 3 counselling but did not fill in any choices can fill in the fresh choices in the SHRESHTA NETS round 4 counselling.

  • Registered and filled choices in Rounds 1, 2, and 3, but no seat allotment: Candidates can fill the fresh choices again in round 4 counselling who have registered and filled in choices but have not been allotted any seats in rounds 1, 2, and 3.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are the eligibility criteria for SHRESHTA NETS class 9 admissions?
A:

Students must be born between April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2014 (i.e., 13 to 17 years of age as of March 31, 2026).

Q: What are the eligibility criteria for class 11 SHRESHTA NETS admissions?
A:

Candidates must be between 15 to 19 years of age, i.e., they must be born between April 1, 2008, to March 31, 2012. 

Q: Who can apply for the scheme of SHRESHTA NETS?
A:

Candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC) studying in classes 8 and 10 can apply for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme admissions to Classes 9 and 11 respectively. 

Q: Who approves and conducts the SHRESHTA NETS scheme for students?
A:

The National Testing Agency is the conducting body of the SHRESHTA NETS scheme.

Q: What is the full form of the SHRESHTA NETS?
A:

Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas.

Q: How many tentative rounds of counselling will be done for the SHRESHTA NETS scheme?
A:

The NTA will conduct around 4 rounds of counselling for the scheme of the SHRESHTA NETS.

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