The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) provides opportunities to interested learners by making available the following Courses/Programmes of Study through open and distance learning (ODL) mode.

1. Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme for 14+ years age group, adolescents and adults at A, B and C levels that are equivalent to classes III, V and VIII of the formal school system.
2. Secondary Education Course
3. Senior Secondary Education Course
4. Vocational Education Courses/Programmes
5. Life Enrichment Programmes

NIOS operates through a network of five Departments, eleven Regional Centres and 3367 Accredited Institutions (Study Centres) in India and abroad. It has a current enrolment of about 1.5 million students at Secondary and Senior Secondary levels which makes it the largest open schooling system in the world.

The main objectives of the NIOS are:

1. To provide opportunities for continuing and developmental education at the school stage;
2. To provide consultancy services to the Government of India and States;
3. To serve as an agency for effective dissemination of information related to distance education and open learning;
4. To identify and promote standards of learning in distance education system and state open schools; and
5. To exercise normative and coordinating functions while promoting standards in distance and open learning system in the country.